Pope Francis's first trip as pope took him to Rio de Janeiro, where he celebrated mass for 3 million people. Despite being the first Latin American pope, he has struggled to halt the decline of Catholicism in the region, particularly in Brazil where the Catholic population has dropped from 65% to 50% over the last decade. This trend is exemplified by the rise of evangelical Protestantism, leading experts to predict that evangelicals may surpass Catholics in the next decade. Critics argue that Francis has not effectively stemmed the loss of followers, challenging the church's influence in a historically Catholic continent.
The share of Catholics in Brazil has shrunk from 65 percent to an estimated 50 percent over the past decade, showcasing the decline of traditional Catholicism.
Despite his heritage as the first Latin American pope, Francis's leadership did not stall the decline of Catholicism in a region leaning towards evangelicalism and secularism.
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