Die Welt

For the first time in history Muslims outnumber Catholics worldwide.

Figures for 2006 disclose that Muslims comprise 19.2 per cent of the world’s population, and Catholics 17.4 per cent.

"For the first time in history we’re no longer in the lead" Monsignor Vittorio Formenti told the Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

"While Muslim families are famous for having many children, Christian families tend to have fewer" said Mgr. Formenti, who is responsible for compiling the Vatican’ statistical yearbook.

Mgr. Formenti said that, if the Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants are included, Christians as a whole were still ahead of the Muslims with 33 per cent of world population.