"The young saw the fidelity that the Pope had for his vocation and were attracted by his faith,” he said. The number of vocations is higher today than it was three years ago, he added.
The average age of candidates has risen. Fr. Embery said the typical candidate to the priesthood today is a 30-year-old graduate, English or Welsh. Very few are from non-white ethnic minorities.
”In 2003 the low point was reached with only 24 new entrants into seminaries. Last year, by contrast, there were 44 new priests, an increase that is a strong sign of hope," said Fr. Embery.
Still, the number of candidates to the priesthood is very low compared with the 1950s and 1960s, and there are fewer priests that are ordained each year than the number who die or retire.
“In a typical diocese, two to three priests retire or die each year and only one new one is ordained,” he said. “Last year, 20 priests were ordained in England and Wales, a number insufficient to replace those who died.”