The Roman Catholic Church in Uruguay is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
There are 2.3 million Catholics in the country, 53% of the total population.
There are 9 dioceses and the archdiocese of Montevideo; the ordinaries gather in the Episcopal Conference of Uruguay. The current archbishop is Daniel Sturla, who was appointed on 11 February 2014.
The patron saint of Uruguay is Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, venerated at the Cathedral Basilica of Florida.
Evangelization of Uruguay followed Spanish settlement in 1624. Montevideo became a diocese in 1878, after being erected as a Vicarate in 1830. Missionaries followed the reduction pattern of gathering Indians into communities, training them in agriculture, husbandry, and other arts, while forming them in the Faith.
The constitution of 1830 made Catholicism the religion of the state and subsidized missions to Indians. In 1878, Montevideo was elevated to Diocese and, in 1897, to Archdiocese.
The constitution of 1917 enacted separation of Church and state.
Two Eastern Catholic churches are also present in Uruguay, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Maronite Church.
Uruguay is a country where religious calling is low. Every year, some young people engage in religious careers. Currently there are 34 students at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Montevideo.
So far, there are not any Uruguayan saints, but several causes are open:
Servant of God Jacinto VeraServant of God Rubén Isidro AlonsoServant of God Walter ChangoBlessed Francesca RubattoBlessed Consuelo Aguiar-Mella y DíazBlessed Dolores Aguiar-Mella y DíazSeveral religious orders are present in Uruguay. Some of them arrived in colonial times (although their presence was intermittent during the first centuries):
Franciscans (O.F.M.Cap.), since 1624Dominicans (O.P.), since 1660Society of Jesus (S.J.), 1680-1757, 1842-1859 and since 1872After Uruguay was established as an independent country, several other religious orders established their own missions in Uruguay:
Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M.Conv.)Betharram Fathers, known also as "Padres Bayoneses" (S.C.I. di Béth.), since 1856Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.), since 1877Sisters of Adoration (R.A.), known also as "Adoratrices", since 1885Sisters of Christian Charity, known also as "Hermanas Alemanas" (S.C.C.), since 1885Pallottine Fathers (S.A.C.), since 1886Brothers of the Holy Family of Belley (F.S.F.), since 1889Vicentians (C.M.), since 1892Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto (S.C.M.R.), since 1892Claretians (C.M.F.), since 1896Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.), since 1896Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.), since 1912Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, or simply "Dominicas" (D.A.), since 1913Sons of Divine Providence (F.D.P.), since 1921Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (O.M.M.), since 1924Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.), since 1929.Augustinians (O.S.A.), since 1932Marist Brothers (F.M.S.), since 1934Brothers of the Sacred Heart, known also as "Corazonistas" (S.C.), since 1935Dehonians (S.C.I.), since 1940Passionists (C.P.), since 1940Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.P.), known also as "Menesianos", since 1951Religious of Jesus and Mary (R.J.M.), since 1952Christian Brothers (C.F.C.), since 1955Opus Dei, since 1956Sisters Hospitaller of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (H.S.C.), since 1961Scalabrinians (C.S.), since 1970Missionaries of Charity (M.C.), since 1991Visitandines (V.S.M.)Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy, known as "Misericordistas" (F.D.M.)Poor Servants of Divine Providence (P.S.D.P.)Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco (F.M.A.)Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga (1771–1848), naturalist and first Apostolic Vicar of UruguayJuan Francisco Larrobla (1775–1842), theologian and patriot, writer of the Declaration of the IndependenceJosé Benito Monterroso (1780–1838), secretary of the national hero José ArtigasJosé Benito Lamas (1787–1857), patriot and lecturerManuel Barreiro (1787–1838), patriot and constituentLorenzo Antonio Fernández (1792–1852), constituent and rector of the UniversityServant of God Jacinto Vera (1813–1881), first Bishop of MontevideoBlessed Francisca Rubatto (1844–1905), founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother RubattoMariano Soler (1846–1908), first Archbishop of MontevideoAntonio Barbieri, OFM Cap (1892–1979), first Uruguayan cardinalJuan Luis Segundo, S.J. (1925–1996), liberation theologianServant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso, S.D.B. (1929-1992), streetwise priestGonzalo Aemilius (born 1978), principal of the Liceo Jubilar
