Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is one of the three major branches of Christianity, alongside Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. With approximately 1.3 billion followers worldwide, it is the largest Christian denomination and one of the world's oldest and largest international institutions. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ, and that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles. The term Catholic Church means universal assembly, and the earliest known written record of the term dates back to AD 107, when it was used in a letter to the Christians of Smyrna. The history of the Catholic Church is marked by significant events such as the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire in 313, the establishment of the state religion in 380, the spread of Catholicism by missionaries in northern Europe, and the East-West schism in 1054. The question of whether the early church was Catholic or simply Christian is a matter of perspective and interpretation, with some arguing that the term Catholic accurately describes the unity of the early church.
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's origins
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation.
The Catholic Church considers itself to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. According to Catholic teaching, the Church is a continuation of the early Christian community established by the Disciples of Jesus, with its bishops as the successors of Christ's apostles, and the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as the successor of Saint Peter, upon whom primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ. The first known use of the phrase "the Catholic Church" was in a letter written around AD 110 by Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans. In the letter, Ignatius uses the term "Catholic" to refer to the universal Church that follows Christ.
The official beginning of the Roman Catholic Church occurred in 590 CE with Pope Gregory I, marking the consolidation of lands controlled by the pope's authority into what became known as the Papal States. However, the early Church was quite different from the Catholic Church of today. During the apostolic age, from around 33 to 100 CE, the early Church was headed by the 12 apostles of Jesus, who began missionary work to spread Christianity. The early Church was united as one Church, with no denominations, just local churches in different cities. This unity persisted until the Great Schism in 1054 CE, when the bishop of Rome and the bishop of Constantinople excommunicated each other, creating two distinct churches: the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church.
In the centuries that followed, the Catholic Church continued to spread and consolidate its power. Monastic Ireland became a centre of learning, and early Irish missionaries such as Columbanus and Columba spread Christianity and established monasteries across continental Europe. During the Crusades, which began in 1096, the Catholic Church sought to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim rule, leaving a legacy of mutual distrust between Muslims and Western and Eastern Christians. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, European missionaries and explorers brought Catholicism to the Americas.
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The role of St. Peter
St. Peter, born Shimon Bar Yonah, was a Jewish fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He is regarded as the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first bishop of Rome.
St. Peter is believed to have been the leader of the 12 disciples, and his leadership role in the early church is recognised, especially in the early days in Jerusalem. He is said to have preached at Pentecost, the day the church began its mission to the world, and he established the conditions for being an apostle, requiring that they had spent time with Jesus. Peter is also noted for his miracles of compassion, such as healing the sick and lame, and raising Tabitha from the dead. These acts contributed to the number of believers in the early church.
In the New Testament, St. Peter is among the first disciples called during Jesus' ministry. He is the first listed apostle ordained by Jesus and is regarded as the first pope of the nascent church. He is also recognised as the first bishop of Antioch. Peter's leadership of the early believers is estimated to have spanned from AD 30 or 33 until his death. He is said to have been crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero and is venerated as a major saint and the founder of the Church.
St. Peter is also known for introducing Gentiles into the church. Through the conversion of Cornelius, Peter baptised individuals without requiring their prior circumcision, which was a rite necessary for Gentile converts according to Jewish requirements. This independent course set by Peter caused opposition from Jewish Christians and others.
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The spread of Catholicism
Catholicism, as one of the three major branches of Christianity, has played a significant role in the history of Western civilization. The spread of Catholicism can be traced back to the early Christian community established by the Disciples of Jesus. According to tradition, the Catholic Church considers itself a continuation of this early community, with its bishops as the successors to Jesus's apostles and the Bishop of Rome, or the Pope, as the sole successor to St. Peter.
The term "Catholic Church" first appeared in a letter written around AD 110 by Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans. In this letter, Ignatius emphasised the unity of Christians, referring to the "universal [katholike] Church". The use of "Catholic" was further emphasised in the edict De fide Catolica issued in 380 by Theodosius I, the last emperor of both the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire, when establishing the state church.
In the following centuries, monastic Ireland became a centre of learning, and early Irish missionaries such as Columbanus and Columba spread Christianity and established monasteries across continental Europe. The conversion of Clovis I, the Frankish ruler, to orthodox Catholicism in 497 CE, was a pivotal moment, as it allied him with the papacy and monasteries, followed by the Visigoths in Spain and the Lombards in Italy in subsequent centuries.
The Crusades, beginning in 1096, also contributed to the spread of Catholicism. Driven by the goal of returning the Holy Land to Christian control, these military campaigns left a lasting impact on the relationship between Christians and Muslims. While the Crusades did not permanently achieve their goal, they played a part in the expansion of Catholicism.
The Synod of Whitby in 664 CE was another important moment in the spread of Catholicism. This event facilitated the reintegration of the Celtic Church of the British Isles into the Roman hierarchy, which had been disrupted by pagan invaders. Additionally, the 8th-century Byzantine iconoclasm and the 728 Donation of Sutri and the 756 Donation of Pepin further strengthened the papal position over the western part of the former Roman Empire.
Through the late 15th and early 16th centuries, European missionaries and explorers played a significant role in spreading Catholicism to the Americas. This expansion contributed to the global reach of Catholicism and solidified its influence in different regions.
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The Crusades
The First Crusade, which lasted from 1096 to 1099, was called in response to a request for help from the Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus. It was led by Raymond of Saint-Gilles, Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois, Bohemond of Taranto (Otranto), and Robert of Flanders. The Crusaders conquered Nicaea (in modern-day Turkey), Antioch, and Jerusalem, establishing a string of Crusader-ruled states.
The Second Crusade took place from 1147 to 1149 and was led by King Louis VII of France and Emperor Conrad III of Germany. The Third Crusade, from 1189 to 1192, was led by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Phillip II Augustus of France, and Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) of England.
The Fourth Crusade, from 1202 to 1204, was marked by the sack of Constantinople, which left Eastern Christians embittered. The Fifth Crusade lasted from 1217 to 1221 and was followed by the Sixth Crusade (1228-1229), led by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. The Seventh Crusade (1248-1254) and the Eighth Crusade (1270) were both led by King Louis IX of France (St. Louis).
In addition to these major expeditions, there were smaller crusades against dissident Christian sects within Europe, such as the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229). The Children's Crusade of 1212 was a popular movement that included children, adolescents, women, the elderly, and the poor, marching from the Rhineland to Italy. There were also unauthorised popular crusades driven by popular zeal, such as the People's Crusade, which preceded the First Crusade.
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The Pope's jurisdiction
The belief that the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, upon whom primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ, is fundamental to the Roman Catholic Church. According to tradition, the Catholic Church considers itself a continuation of the early Christian community established by the Disciples of Jesus, with its bishops as the successors to Jesus's apostles. The term "Catholic Church" is believed to have been used as early as AD 107 by Ignatius of Antioch in a letter to the Smyrnaeans, referring to the "universal Church". The use of the term "Catholic" was further stressed in the edict De fide Catolica issued in 380 by Theodosius I, establishing the state church of the Roman Empire.
The history of the Pope's jurisdiction is complex and has evolved over time. During the apostolic age, from c. 33 to 100 CE, the early church was headed by the 12 apostles of Jesus, who began missionary work to spread Christianity. In c. 60 CE, Apostle Paul returned to Rome after facing persecution for his missionary work and is believed to have worked with Peter. The reputation of Rome as the centre of the Christian church may have originated during this period, despite practices being conducted secretly due to Roman opposition.
In the mid-2nd century, the church structure in Rome transitioned to a single bishop and plural presbyters, and the term "bishop of Rome" was retrospectively applied to prominent clergy members from earlier periods, including Peter. The interpretation of Peter's role in the early church and his connection to the modern papacy is a subject of debate among theologians. While some argue that there may not have been a direct link, others assert that Peter contributed significantly to the development of the papacy in the subsequent church.
The Synod of Whitby in 664, the 728 Donation of Sutri, and the 756 Donation of Pepin further consolidated the papal position in the western part of the former Roman Empire. The period of the Avignon Papacy from 1309 onwards saw seven popes reside in Avignon, France, due to instability in Rome. The Western Schism from 1378 to 1417 witnessed separate claimants to the papal throne in Rome and Avignon, which was eventually resolved at the Council of Constance.
The spread of Catholicism beyond Europe began in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, with missionaries and explorers bringing the faith to the Americas. The Catholic Church has had a profound influence on Western civilisation, sponsoring artistic, architectural, and musical developments and shaping the values, ideas, science, laws, and institutions of Western society.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Roman Catholicism, along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, is one of the three major branches of Christianity. It is difficult to separate the initial stages of the Roman Catholic Church from the early Christian church, but the term "Catholic Church" was first used around 107 AD.
The term "Catholic" comes from the Greek "katholikos", meaning universal. The term "Catholic Church" can be translated as universal assembly.
The official beginning of the Roman Catholic Church is considered to have occurred in 590 CE, with Pope Gregory I.
Roman Catholicism teaches that it is the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ. It maintains that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles and that the pope is the successor of Saint Peter. It also places great importance on the Virgin Mary and the saints, as well as the role of tradition alongside the Bible.
Roman Catholicism spread through missionary work, with figures such as Augustine of Canterbury converting the Anglo-Saxons, and Saints Colombanus, Boniface, Willibrord, and Ansgar spreading the faith to Germanic, Slavic, and Scandinavian peoples.
