Six million attended Vatican events this year

Almost six million people attended papal events at the Vatican this year, the Holy See announced.

The Prefecture of the Papal Household today released statistics showing that the total number of people who attended the 43 general audiences was 1,199,000; for special audiences 567,100; for liturgical celebrations 1,110,700, and the Angelus 3,040,000 – making a total of 5,916,800. Easter celebrations attracted more than a million people.

The total is slightly lower than last year, the first year of Francis’ papacy, when the corresponding total figure was 6,600,000.

The figures do not include those who participated in papal events outside Vatican City, such as foreign visits.

In 2012 some 2.3 million pilgrims and visitors joined Pope Benedict XVI for an audience, liturgy or prayer at the Vatican and the year before, that figure was 2.5 million.