The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

, the curia

Curia

A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...

 in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

, and the Chilean Bishops Conference.

There are about eleven million Catholics - around 70% of the total population (16.500.000 in 2008). There are 5 archdioceses, 18 dioceses, 2 territorial prelatures, 1 apostolic vicariate, 1 military ordinariate and a personal prelature (Opus Dei).

Catholicism was introduced by Dominican

Dominican Order

The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...

 and Franciscan

Franciscan

Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....

 friars who accompanied the Spanish colonialists in the 16th century. The first parish was established in 1547 and the first diocese in 1561. Most of the native population in the northern and central regions was evangelized by 1650. The southern area proved more difficult. Church activity was hindered during the campaign for independence (1810–18) and in the first years of the new government. In the 20th century, further success was impeded by a shortage of clergy and government attempts to control Church administration. Separation of Church and state was defined by a new constitution in 1925. Relations between Church and state were strained during the Marxist presidency of Salvador Allende and under the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet

Augusto Pinochet

Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...

. During the Pinochet regime, while some Catholic bishops and priests supported the regime, others under the leadership of the Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez, set up the "Vicaria de la Solidaridad" (the "Vicariate of Solidarity

Vicariate of Solidarity

The Vicariate of Solidarity was an agency of the Chilean Catholic Church, established by Pope Paul VI at the request of Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez with the goal of assisting the victims of the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet....

"), a human rights organization where "everyone went for help once their loved ones vanished."

There are six Catholic universities in the country: Catholic University of the Holy Conception, Catholic University of the Maule, Catholic University of the North, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (in Santiago), Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso

The Pontificial Catholic University of Valparaíso , is a university of approximately 11,000 students located in Valparaíso, Chile....

, and Temuco Catholic University. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Santiago) is considered one of the "World's Best Colleges and Universities" in the new 2009 US News and World Report. The new president elect, Sebastian Pinera

Sebastián Piñera

Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...

, is a graduate of that university.

Several religious orders sponsor a number of secondary and primary schools. One of the most famous is St. George's College

St. George's College

There are a number of institutions called St. George's College around the world, named for Saint George, including:* Royal St. George's College, Toronto, Canada* Saint George's College, Santiago, Chile* St. George's College, Agra, India...

, run by the Congregation of Holy Cross

Congregation of Holy Cross

The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....

. One third of the CEO's of the top 200 companies of Chile are alumni of St. George's College. The school was recently highlighted by alumnus, Andres Wood, who directed the film, Machuca

Machuca

Machuca is a 2004 Chilean film written and directed by Andrés Wood. Set in 1973 Santiago during Salvador Allende's socialist government and shortly before General Augusto Pinochet's military coup in 1973, the film tells the story of two friends, one of them the very poor Pedro Machuca who is...

.

The Government observes the following Catholic Holy Days as national holidays (if on a week day): Good Friday, Christmas, Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on 8 December, nine months before the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September. It is the patronal feast day of the United States and the Republic of the...

, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June...

, the Feast of the Assumption, and All Saints Day.

Footnotes