I refer to Robert Busuttil’s article ‘Church’s uncertain future’ (March 16). In his bestseller book The triumph of faith, Rodney Stark, one of the best sociologists in the world, categorically denies that the Catholic Church is facing an uncertain future.

The Catholic population is on the increase. Statistics released by the Vatican press office show that the world’s Catholic population rose from 1.115 billion (17.3 per cent of the world’s population) to 1.72 billion (17.8 per cent). In particular, there has been a stunning awakening of faith in Latin America. Perhaps the visits there by recent popes are bearing fruit. Even the Church in Africa and Azerbaijan is noticeably growing fast.

More encouraging still is the rising number of priests andpermanent deacons (32.6 per cent in Africa, 27.1 per cent in Asia as against eight per cent drop in Europe).

The Church’s relations with other Christian denominations are at present very promising as well. In fact, in the dialogue with the Protestant Church, there is agreement on 80 per cent of their respective creeds and the recent historic meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Church is for me the jewel in the crown of the Church’s achievements.

This seems to be the will of God.