The number of avowed Catholics in Austria has dropped over the years with 20 percent less than in 1971, according to a poll and Austrian Science Academy statistics published Tuesday by Die Presse.Archbishop of Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schnborn linked the lack of Catholic believers to "turbulence" in the Catholic Church, which explains the annual reduction rate of six percent.
The poll was published before the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Austria, which will start on Friday.
The Pontiff's agenda includes a moment of reflection at the monument to Holocaust victims and celebration of a mass at Mariazell Sanctuary at the 850th anniversary of that site, as well as meet with members of the Austrian Episcopal Conference.
Before going back to Rome on Sunday, the Pope will take part in a procession in Vienna, officiate at mass, pray the Angelus in the plaza adjacent to Saint Stephen Cathedral and will visit the Abbey of Heiligenkreuz.
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