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Religion has played a significant role in social and political life throughout Argentinian history. Roman Catholicism is particularly pervasive in Argentine culture, politics and society. According to 2019 estimates, approximately 62.9% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic.¹ While the constitution declares support for the Roman Catholic Church, the Supreme Court of Argentina has ruled Roman Catholicism is not the official or state religion.²

Moreover, freedom of religious choice is protected under the Argentine constitution.² Indeed, there are various religious groups in the country: 15.3% identify as Evangelical as of 2019 (more specifically, 13% identify as Pentecostal),1.4% identify as Jehovah’s Witness and Church of Jesus Christ, 1.2% identify with some other religious affiliation (including Islam and Judaism), while 18.9% identify with no religion and 0.3% did not specify.¹

Catholicism in Argentina

For much of Argentina’s history, the Catholic Church has had significant influence and power over the country. The religion was introduced to Argentina in the 17th century by Jesuit missionaries from Spain. As a branch of Christianity, Catholicism presents the doctrine of God as the ‘Holy Trinity’, consisting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Like most Catholics, many Argentines accept the authority of the priesthood and Roman Catholic Church, which is led currently by an Argentinian Pope – Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis. As the first pope to come from Latin America, Pope Francis is a great source of pride for many Argentines.

Catholicism is deeply interwoven in the public life of Argentina. Indeed, it is common to see religious symbols such as crucifixes and churches everywhere one goes. Church attendance is most common for events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. While some attend church on Sundays, many Argentines reserve the weekend as a time to be spent with family. The older generation tends to be more connected to Catholicism than the youth of Argentina, particularly regarding church attendance. Indeed, Catholicism has been decreasing in popularity over the decades. Simultaneously, there has been a rise in Protestantism and an increase in the percentage of the population considered to be unaffiliated with organised religion.

The distribution of practising Catholics and Protestants varies significantly by socioeconomic status in Argentina. Many Argentines who identify as Protestant are people from lower-income groups within society. Indeed, Protestantism is often popular among marginalised individuals who feel disconnected from the Catholic Church. One of the most popular branches of Protestantism in Argentina is Evangelical Christianity.

There are also regional differences in the practice and degree of religiosity in Argentina. The capital (Buenos Aires) is considered to be the most secularised region of the country while the desert provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán tend to show a strong sense of religious devotion. One of the biggest religious gatherings in Argentina is the feast of ‘Señor y Virgen del Milagro’ (the Lord and Virgin of the Miracle), typically celebrated in Salta. The event contains a large procession of people who walk, bike or ride by horseback from their farmlands and desert towns into the province.