Canada: Difference between revisions

Canada spans 9,984,670 km², bordered by the [[United States]], the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, and including provinces like [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada: Geography |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/canada/ |publisher=CIA World Factbook |date=2023-12-01 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref> Its varied climates, from temperate to arctic, support resource extraction and tourism, sustaining Catholic communities in Quebec and the Maritimes. Major cities include [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], and [[Vancouver]], with Quebec City’s [[Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame]] as a key Catholic site. Pilgrimage routes, such as those to [[Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré]], foster devotion.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Canada |author=New Advent |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |year=1913 |isbn=}}</ref>

The Catholic Church in Canada operates through 18 Latin Rite ecclesiastical provinces and 2 Eastern Catholic metropolitanates, totaling 74 dioceses and eparchies, serving about 12.6 million Catholics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Dioceses in Canada |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/CA.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |date=2025-01-22 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref> Primarily Latin Rite, with Ukrainian and other Eastern Catholic jurisdictions, the Church supports parishes, schools, and charities via [[Caritas Canada]], fostering community engagement.[](https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/CA-type)

The Catholic Church in Canada has 18 Latin Rite ecclesiastical provinces and 2 Eastern Catholic metropolitanates, with dioceses and eparchies under metropolitan bishops, totaling 74 jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Dioceses in Canada |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/CA.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |date=2025-01-22 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dioceses and Bishops |url=https://www.cccb.ca/dioceses-eparchies-ordinariates/ |publisher=Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops |date=2024-12-01 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref> Jurisdictions include:[](https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/CA-type)[](https://www.cccb.ca/the-catholic-church-in-canada/ecclesiastical-circumscriptions/dioceses/)

Milestones include the  

 

* founding of Quebec (1608)

* establishment of the [[Diocese of Quebec]] (1658)

* canonization of the [[Canadian Martyrs]] (1930)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Church in Canada |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-06/canada-catholic-history.html |publisher=Vatican News |date=2021-06-10 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref>  

The Church’s role in residential schools (19th–20th centuries) remains controversial.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Canada |author=New Advent |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |year=1913 |isbn=}}</ref>

The Church runs schools and supports [[Caritas Canada]], aiding the poor and Indigenous communities, aligning with Catholic Social Teaching.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caritas Canada: Our Work |url=https://www.devp.org/en/ |publisher=Caritas Canada |date=2024-03-10 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref>

Saints include the [[Canadian Martyrs]], martyred 1642–1649, canonized 1930; [[Saint Marguerite d’Youville]], died 1771, canonized 1990; and [[Saint André Bessette]], died 1937, canonized 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis: Saints of Canada |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/2023-02-10.pdf |publisher=Vatican |date=2023-02-10 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref> Blessed [[Marie-Léonie Paradis]], beatified 1984, is notable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marie-Léonie Paradis Beatification |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/1984-09/paradis-beatification.html |publisher=Vatican News |date=1984-09-01 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref>

The Church promotes Catholic Social Teaching through [[Caritas Canada]] and education, influencing social issues like Indigenous rights despite limited political power.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caritas Canada: Our Work |url=https://www.devp.org/en/ |publisher=Caritas Canada |date=2024-03-10 |access-date=2025-05-23}}</ref> It fosters community in a diverse society.