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Belgium: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "{{Country | country_name = Belgium | continent = Europe | region = Western Europe | area_sq_km = 30528 | population = 11600000 | catholic_population = 6500000 | catholic_percentage = 56 | rank_among_religions = 1 | catholicism_status = Majority religion, secular state | official_languages = Dutch, French, German | capital_city = Brussels | date_catholicism_introduced = 4th century AD | ecclesiastical_provinces_count = 1 | dioceses_count = 8 | patron_saints...") |
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'''Belgium''' is a Western European nation, covering approximately 30,528 km² with a population of about 11.6 million as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgium |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belgium/ |publisher=CIA World Factbook |date=2024-12-01 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> Its official languages are [[Dutch]], [[French]], and [[German]], and its economy relies on trade, manufacturing, and services. The [[Catholic Church]], with approximately 6.5 million adherents (56% of the population), is the largest religious group, introduced in the 4th century AD during Roman rule.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in Belgium |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/04/15/religion-in-belgium/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=2020-04-15 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> Catholicism shapes Belgium’s culture through historic cathedrals, festivals, and saints like [[Saint Joseph]] and [[Our Lady of Beauraing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholicism in Belgium |url=https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/belgium |publisher=Catholics & Cultures |date=2020-06-15 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> | |||
The Church’s influence is evident in Belgium’s history, from medieval monasticism to modern social programs, with one ecclesiastical province and eight dioceses under the [[Belgian Episcopal Conference]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Dioceses in Belgium |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/BE.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |date=2025-01-22 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> Sites like the [[Basilica of the Holy Blood]] in [[Bruges]] and the [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Beauraing]] draw pilgrims, though secularization and declining church attendance challenge the Church in Belgium’s secular state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgium’s Catholic Church Faces Secular Challenges |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/belgium-catholic-church-secularism.html |publisher=Vatican News |date=2021-03-12 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref> | |||
{{Country | {{Country | ||
| country_name = Belgium | | country_name = Belgium | ||
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}} | }} | ||
== Saints == | |||
{{SaintsByCountry|Location=Belgium}} | |||
== Geography == | == Geography == | ||