A growing number of Mexicans are leaving the Catholic Church, one of the reasons why Pope Francis is currently visiting their country, a bastion of Catholicism for centuries, Charisma News reported.

Pope Francis seeks to use his pastoral visit to convince Mexican Catholics to stay within the church. With a record number of people here now embracing evangelical Christianity, Pope Francis is hoping his visit will re-energise his flock and keep Mexicans faithful to the Catholic Church.

However, the pope faces a difficult task as thousands of Mexicans are turning away from Catholicism and embracing evangelical Christianity.

In 1970, official records showed that 96 percent of Mexicans claimed to be Catholic. However, in the latest Mexican national census, that figure has dropped to less than 85 percent.

One reason for the decline was that Mexicans find Evangelical leaders spiritually closer to them than their Catholic counterparts.

Recent surveys attested to this, with one survey showing that only one Catholic priest is available to serve every 6,000 Catholics in Mexico, compared to one evangelical pastor for every 200 followers.

Other reasons cited in the surveys on why Mexicans are leaving the Catholic Church are more evangelical outreach programmes in communities and the tarnished image of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Church spokesman Father Jose de Jesus admitted that the church is indeed suffering from an image problem, telling reporters that Catholic Church leaders "... must recognise that certain scandals have caused many to be disappointed by the church and to seek a different spirituality."

Sara Granados is one of those who have left the Catholic faith. Speaking to CBN News, she said she was born into a devout Catholic family. However, when she turned 17, she said she realised that she wasn't getting any closer to God.

"After 17 years old, I still had emptiness in my heart," Sara said. "I had no desire to live and for me, it was better to die than to live. A friend of my mother told me, 'I'm taking you to this place.' She never mentioned church, but she brought me to church. That day the pastor was preaching and he said a word that touched my heart."

Pastor Benjamin Lomeli of Iglesia El Buen said Mexico is a fertile ground to spread the evangelical faith. "The work of the evangelical Christian church in evangelism has been successful in past few decades. Many have come to hear a different message that brings peace, harmony, blessing, and salvation to human beings," he said.