Why did Pentecostalism become popular in Latin America?

Pentecostalism gained significant popularity in Latin America during the late 20th and early 21st centuries due to several key factors that distinguished it from traditional religious institutions.12

• Emphasis on the Individual: The movement places a primary focus on individual spiritual improvement and salvation, which resonated with many people seeking a personal religious experience.2
• Relational Closeness: Pentecostal churches fostered a level of closeness between ministers and the laity that neither traditional nor renewed Roman Catholicism could match.2
• Missionary Expansion: The movement spread through dedicated missionary efforts, beginning with Spanish-speaking branches of groups like the Assemblies of God and the Church of God, as well as the formation of autonomous local denominations.1
• Contrast with Catholicism: While the Roman Catholic Church faced internal divisions regarding liberation theology and struggled with declining sacramental participation, Pentecostalism offered a more spontaneous and accessible alternative.23

By the end of the 20th century, this growth was so substantial that in countries like Brazil and Guatemala, the number of Protestants—largely driven by Pentecostal and Evangelical churches—surpassed that of actively churchgoing Roman Catholics.2