TheCatholic Church inPanama is part of the worldwideCatholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Panama Conference of Catholic Bishops and thePope inRome.
There are around 3.549 million Catholics in Panama, representing about 79% of the population[1] and the country is divided into sixdioceses, including onearchdiocese. In addition, there is aTerritorial Prelature and anApostolic Vicariate.
TheDiocese of Panama is thought to be the oldest in the Americas. It was set up in 1514, with the arrival ofFranciscan missionaries.
The Catholic Church in Panama has favoured status, though all religions are free; Catholic instruction in public schools is mandatory, but exemptions are allowed.[2]
In 2020, 431 priests served across 200 parishes.[3]
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