The number of Catholics worldwide has risen to 1.4 billion, according to official statistics published on Thursday by the Vatican-based news agency Fides. The statistics, updated to December 31, 2022, show that the number of Catholics increased by almost 14 million compared to the previous year, rising on all continents except Europe. In Africa and the Americas in particular, there were significant increases of 7.2 million and 5.9 million respectively. By contrast, Europe saw a decline of 474,000 believers due to withdrawals from the church, deaths and fewer baptisms. The statistics were publi…