What Is the Main Religion in Italy?
The main religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. According to the CIA’s World Factbook, 80 percent of Italians are Christian, with the vast majority of those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. The remaining 20 percent are non-believers or agnostics, and there is a small but growing population of Muslims, mostly from Africa.
Italy is home to the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the Vatican City, which is located in the heart of Rome, is technically a separate country, it is deeply embedded into Italian and Roman culture. For many years, popes came exclusively from Italy, and one of the pope’s official titles is “Bishop of Rome.” This historic link with the Roman Catholic Church pervades Italian culture. Another study reports that 88 percent of Italians are Roman Catholic, though only 37 percent consider themselves to be active in the Church.
