---
title: "Religion weekly update, Nov. 11, 2026"
description: "Religion & Public Life A weekly digest of the Center’s latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ Media mentions Pope Leo readies to visit a Latin America where Catholicism is on the declineNov. 4 – Reuters * In the news Could Texas repeal abortion bans? Democrats file […]"
date: "2026-11-11"
authors:
  - name: "Jeffrey Diamant"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/religion-weekly/religion-weekly-update-nov-11-2026/"
categories:
  - "Uncategorized"
---

# Religion weekly update, Nov. 11, 2026

---

November 11, 2026

## Religion & Public Life

*A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · [**Subscribe ↗**](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)*

---

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/11/05/carousel-facts-about-catholicism-in-latin-america-ahead-of-pope-leo-xivs-november-2026-visit/)

## [**A Look at Catholics in Latin America as Pope Leo Visits**](https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/11/05/carousel-facts-about-catholicism-in-latin-america-ahead-of-pope-leo-xivs-november-2026-visit/)

Pope Leo is currently touring several Latin American countries – including Peru, where he lived for about two decades. Catholics still make up a majority in many of the region’s countries, but their share of the population has fallen in many places in Latin America over the last decade, according to [a recent Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/11/05/carousel-facts-about-catholicism-in-latin-america-ahead-of-pope-leo-xivs-november-2026-visit/) of six countries in the region.

In Peru, for example, Catholics make up 67% of the population in 2026, down from 76% in our 2013-14 survey. And the share of Catholics in Mexico has fallen from 81% to 71%.

The survey shows high levels of religiousness among Catholic Latin Americans. For example, 70% of Brazilian Catholics and 52% of Chilean Catholics report praying at least once a day. And majorities of Catholics in Brazil (76%), Colombia (68%) and Peru (60%) say religion is very important in their lives.

#### Media mentions

[Pope Leo readies to visit a Latin America where Catholicism is on the decline](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/pope-leo-readies-visit-latin-america-where-catholicism-is-decline-2026-11-04/)
Nov. 4 - Reuters *

#### In the news

[](#)

[Could Texas repeal abortion bans? Democrats file bills to try](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/texas/2026/11/11/texas-democrats-file-bills-to-undo-loosen-states-abortion-laws/92710006007/)
Nov. 11 - USA Today *

[Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha defends celebrations linked to evangelical group](https://apnews.com/article/dortmund-nmecha-religion-homophobia-christianity-a4207c768261d72069f3cd6587d5a374)
Nov. 10 - The Associated Press

[The clergy in Congress](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/09/briefing/religious-democrats.html)
Nov. 9 - The New York Times *

[Boycott of Jewish-owned Philly businesses draws counterprotest](https://6abc.com/post/boycott-bike-ride-pro-palestinian-protest-targets-jewish-owned-restaurants-rittenhouse-square/20024381/)
Nov. 9 - 6abc

['Indian Christmas:' Hindus celebrate and mourn the commercialization of Diwali](https://religionnews.com/2026/11/08/indian-christmas-hindus-celebrate-and-mourn-the-commercialization-of-diwali/)
Nov. 8 - Religion News Service

[Maduro studies religion and meets clergy behind bars](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/08/nyregion/maduro-prision-life.html)
Nov. 8 - The New York Times *

[Democratic candidates with a Christian message help flip Congress](https://apnews.com/article/clergy-midterm-elections-religious-left-talarico-hamilton-538f03ee115702c528d04450f01b77b3)
Nov. 6 - The Associated Press

[](#)[Largest U.S. Muslim advocacy group suspends Florida operations over 'terrorist' designation law](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/largest-us-muslim-advocacy-group-suspends-florida-operations-over-terrorist-2026-11-06/)
Nov. 6 - Reuters *

[El-Sayed cited Islamic faith with this phrase. What it means](https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/11/05/alhamdulillah-el-sayed-candidate-religion-james-bible-arabic/92622831007/)
Nov. 5 - Detroit Free Press *

[Nithya Raman, a practicing Hindu, elected as mayor of Los Angeles](https://religionnews.com/2026/11/05/nithya-raman-a-practicing-hindu-elected-as-mayor-of-los-angeles/)
Nov. 5 - Religion News Service