Lolly Bell, a 42-year-old mother of two from Bromley, southeast London, is a new convert. Raised as a non-believer, she was so moved by Francis’s inaugural speech on the Vatican balcony she began attending church.
Source/Credit: The Sunday Times
By George Arbuthnott and Luke Garratt
Published: 17 November 2013
POPE FRANCIS has inspired a surge in attendances and confessions in the Roman Catholic Church, reversing decades of decline.
In the eight months since he was chosen, cathedrals in Britain have seen a rise of about 20% in congregations, drawing in both new and lapsed members.
More than half of the priests surveyed in Italy said there had been a rise in support for the church. In Spain, the church has halted a decade-long slump in attendance.
Catholic leaders in the US, France and Latin America report growth in the faithful. In Argentina, the Pope’s home country, 12% more now define themselves as religious than before his appointment.
The results suggest Francis’s “electrifying” appeal is breathing new life into a church badly stained by the serial paedophile priest scandals. It is understood he is now talking about setting up church courts around the world to deal with paedophile priests more swiftly and severely.
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Read original post here: Rome: ‘Francis effect’ pulls crowds back to church
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