Brazil Religion
Religion in Brazil
The Brazil religion is predominantly Catholicism, with Brazil
having the largest Roman Catholic population in the world. In a
census which took place in 2000, seventy percent of the Brasil
population declared being Roman Catholic, with approximately
ninety percent declaring some religious belief system.
The Brazil culture and religion is part of the
worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual
leadership of the Pope, Benedict XVI, who visited Brazil in
May 2007.
Statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)
at Rio de Janeiro
How Catholicism became Brazil's
Religion
The influence of Catholicism on brazil culture and religion occurred followed its introduction by
the missionaries who accompanied the Portuguese explorers and
settlers of Brazil.
It is said that the
first Mass celebrated in Brasil was on Easter Sunday in 1500,
carried out by a priest in the party who claimed possession of
Portugal.
Brazil culture and religion does not however encompass only
Brazil people of the Catholic faith. There has been a growing
number of other religions in Brazil such as Protestant communities
over the last decades.
In addition Christianity - Pentecostalism,
Babtistism and methodism, which are also growing in numbers,
there are many other belief systems, many of which have been
absorbed into Catholicism.
There is also a large number of
Jehovah's Witnesses in Brasil. A very small number of people are
followers of African traditional religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda.
The merging of the Brazil people, Brazil's cultures,
traditions, customs and religious beliefs especially, have been
important elements, which have all helped to inform and shape
Brazil Art forms.
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