Fall in numbers at papal audiences

There has been a large fall in the number of people attending papal events in Rome, according to figures released by the papal household, writes Christopher Lamb.

Just over 3.2 million attended Vatican audiences and liturgies in 2015 compared with 5.9 million the year before. The large disparity is in part due to the large numbers attending the canonisations of John Paul II and John XXIII in 2014. The figures do not include those taking part in papal visits which last year included Philippines and the United States.

The Pope’s Jubilee Year of Mercy has so far not attracted large numbers with pilgrims attending papal events last month – the start of the jubilee – standing at 324,000, down from 461,000 in December 2014.

A drop in numbers is unlikely to concern the Pope, who has stressed that the jubilee celebrations should take place in local churches. He unofficially inaugurated the Year of Mercy by opening the holy door in Bangui Cathedral, in the Central African Republic.

The Year of Mercy, Francis explained in his New Year’s message, should inspire people to “concretely improve the world around us” beginning with families, neighbours and places of employment.