Catholics & Cultures

Jordan is a primarily Muslim country, but within the Catholic community, the Roman Catholic and Greek Melkite churches are the most popular. However, because the population of Catholics is so small, there are few lay organizations in the country, so family gatherings and youth groups are integral to the Catholic community. The 3 core values for Jordinian Catholic families are the frequency and size of family gatherings, the role of elders in decision making, and the importance of one’s family origin in public interactions. To learn more about Catholicism in Jordan check out the link in our bio.

One of the largest religious gatherings in the world occurs annually in Uganda on June 3rd. The Uganda Martyr’s Feast honors the 45 martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887, 22 of which were Catholic. The Catholic martyrs, who were canonized by the Church in 1964, play a prominent role in Ugandan religious life, as many shrines and churches honor them. The feast takes place at the Namugongo shrine, which has been visited by Pope’s Francis, John Paul II, and Paul VI. Each year thousands of pilgrims travel to the site, where they unite with nearly a million attendees, to pray for and honor the martyrs. Check out the article link in our bio to learn more.

In Argentina, Catholicism can be seen nearly everywhere, as churches, Catholic schools, and shrines line both the large cities and rural areas. However, personal devotion has seen a decline, as 86% of Argentinians say that they were raised Catholic, but only 71% say that they are Catholic today. Moreover, only about 15% of Argentine Catholics attend weekly mass. These shifts can be attributed to the diversity of culture and religion in Argentina, a complicated history with the Church, and modern attitudes. Our website provides statistics on religious practice for nearly every country. Check out the link in our bio to learn more.

Today marks the start of the conclave, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis visited hundreds of countries during his papacy and was the first Pope to visit Iraq. Although less than 1% of Iraq identifies with the Catholic faith, Pope Francis’ visit to the country in 2021 promoted interfaith dialogue and solidarity with Muslims and Christians alike. If you are interested in learning more about the Chaldean Catholic church—Chrisitians whose rites and bishops descend from the Church of the East—check out our page in the link in our bio.

One of the largest annual gatherings in Romania occurs in Csíksomlyó on the seventh Sunday of Easter. This Christian festival of Pentecost is known as Whitsunday and attracts 50,000-100,000 attendees. The Whitsunday Mass is held in a natural ampitheater at noon, so pilgrims begin the long march very early in the morning, or for some, days in advance. After the mass, some pilgrims begin their journey home while others attend a nighttime vigil in a Franciscan church and return to the ampitheater to watch the sunrise. To read more about Whitsunday in Romania, check out the article link in our bio.

The town of Obando, Philippines is known as the “town of three saints,” because annually from May 17-19 they hold a large celebration for San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara, and Our Lady of Salambáo. In Obando and other regions of the Philippines, Santa Clara is associated with fertility, so on her feast day an elaborate fertility dance is performed. During the dance, Catholics give thanks for their children and couples ask for her intercession. To read more about the festivities, check out the article at the link in our bio.

One of the largest annual gatherings in Romania occurs in Csíksomlyó on the seventh Sunday of Easter. This Christian festival of Pentecost is known as Whitsunday and attracts 50,000-100,000 attendees. The Whitsunday Mass is held in a natural ampitheater at noon, so pilgrims begin the long march to attend very early in the morning, or for some, days in advance. After the mass, some pilgrims begin their journey home while others attend a nighttime vigil in a Franciscan church and return to the ampitheater to watch the sunrise. To read more about Whitsunday in Romania, check out the article link in our bio.

On our website we have two new articles about the distinctive Catholic culture in Goa, India. From a blend of Konkan traditions and a long history of Portuguese Catholicism through colonial rule, Goa developed a Luso-Indian Catholic identity. The region itself is extremely diverse and Goans embrace religious fluidity, which can be seen in the home shrines and community prayer groups that reflect both Catholic and Hindu traditions. To learn more about Goa, check out the article at the link in our bio.

The feast of Corpus Domini, widely known as Corpus Christi, is revered as a hallmark of Catholic celebration in the small Italian town, Camaiore. On the Saturday night before the feast, townspeople create sawdust carpets or tappetis that correspond with that year’s feast theme. Carpet designers spend months designing and preparing for the procession, where their work is displayed for only a few hours. The tradition, which dates back to 1844, is significant to the community as it blends artistic expression with religious devotion. Check out the article linked in our bio to learn more.

Together with Catholics across the world, we mourn the loss of Pope Francis. As the first Pope from the Americas or the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis embraced and celebrated the global church and used the papacy to speak out for the world’s most marginalized communities. His travels reflected his commitment to addressing contemporary challenges – many of his international trips were to countries where Christians are a minority or where the most important issues are on the fringes of the world’s attention. Here is just a small selection of the 65+ countries Pope Francis visited:

Image 1: In 2016, nearly 200 dance groups participated in a 10-day feast for the Virgen del Carmen in La Tirana, Chile. Pope Francis visited the country in 2018.
Image 2: Catholics praying before Our Lady of Madhu in Sri Lanka, which Pope Francis visited in 2015.
Image 3: Millions attend the annual “translation” of the statue of the Black Nazarene in Manila each year. Pope Francis’s visit to Manila in 2015 became the largest papal event in history, with around 6-7 million attendees.
Image 4: A 2014 wedding in Kampala, Uganda, which Pope Francis visited in 2015.
Image 5: Saint Elijah’s Monastery (Dair Mar Elia), south of Mosul, Iraq, was cared for by the Chaldean Church for centuries. In 2021, Pope Francis became the first ever Pope to visit Iraq.
Image 6: An outdoor stall sells religious goods after weekday mass in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pope Francis visited the city in 2023.

You can learn more about Catholic practices and traditions in all of these countries at the link in our bio.

In Ethiopia, Orthodox Christianity is the most prominent religion, influencing many aspects of the country and the faith practices of the Catholic minority. One way that Orthodox influence can be seen in Catholic communities is their use of iconography. Angels and saints play an important role in Catholic Ethiopian devotion, which can be observed throughout the country through elaborate visuals and displays. To learn more about the visual practice in Ethiopia, check out the article in our bio.

Happy Easter Sunday! Today is the day that Catholics celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The day may look different around the world, but it is always marked by celebrating life and renewal. How will you be celebrating Easter Sunday?