The Dominican Republic is a nation of Spanish Catholic origins that has defended its unique character until today. Catholicism was the religious and political foundation of the colony, especially in its concept of the divine origin of political authority. Even after it separated from Spain at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the country maintained its Catholic character: not so much in its hierarchical organisation, mostly lacking, but in a religious substrate that was present through popular religious practices such as devotion and prayers to the saints and the Virgin Mary, baptism when the priest was available, and funeral prayers. Until well into the twentieth century, it was accepted that Catholicism was the majority religion of Dominican society.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a movement of pastoral cooperation was generated throughout the Catholic Church, driven particularly by European and American religious congregations. This cooperation was very well received by the Catholic hierarchy, and with the blessing of the government it was possible to create new dioceses and parishes, found schools and offer hospital services. The Dominican Catholic Church has grown in personnel and through institutions inserted into Dominican society. Schools and medical dispensaries, universities and radio stations, peasant cooperatives and associations should be highlighted. The presence of Catholic Action was important until the 1970s, which saw the development of new lay movements, namely Renewal in the Spirit, the Neocatechumenal Communities and the Emmaus Brotherhoods. These have been integrated into Catholic life through the vigour of the small base communities, bringing the faith to new generations. By the start of the twenty-first century, the Catholic Church, according to the Dominican Catholic Directory, consisted of 11 dioceses, 20 bishops, 420 parishes and 760 diocesan priests. The seminarians numbered 300 majors and 192 minors. There were 73 religious congregations for women and 30 for men, with 460 male religious and 2,282 female religious. Permanent deacons numbered 200 and catechists 18,876.

Towards the end of the twentieth century, Santo Domingo was the venue for the fourth meeting of CELAM (the conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council), inaugurated by John Paul II in 1992.