Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church in the world, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized members as of 2025. The Catholic Church teaches that it was founded by Jesus Christ and that its public ministry began on Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's resurrection, when the apostles received the Holy Spirit. However, some argue that Jesus did not found the Catholic Church, but rather that the early Christian community he established through his teachings later evolved into the Catholic Church. According to this view, the term `Catholic Church` was first used by Ignatius of Antioch around 107 AD, and for the first 1000 years of Christianity, all Christians were Catholic as there were no other churches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of founding | The Catholic Church was founded in 313 CE when Christianity was legalized and promoted by the Emperor under the Edict of Milan. The term "Catholic Church" was first used in 107 AD by Ignatius of Antioch, though the term likely dates back to the time of the apostles. |
| Founder | According to Catholic tradition, the Church was founded by Jesus Christ. However, some argue that the Church that Jesus founded was the "Christian Church", not the Catholic Church. |
| Core beliefs | The Catholic Church holds that there is one eternal God, existing as a "mutual indwelling" of three "persons": God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, together known as the Holy Trinity. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is the "Second Person" of the Trinity, God the Son, and that he was both fully divine and fully human. |
| Nature of Jesus | The Council of Ephesus in 431 AD clarified that Jesus was both fully man and fully God. |
| Nature of salvation | The Catholic Church teaches that salvation comes by the grace of God, through faith and good works. |
| Nature of the Church | The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church", "the universal sacrament of salvation for the human race", and "the one true religion". |
| Leadership | The Catholic Church is led by the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the successor to Saint Peter, upon whom primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ. |
| Apostolic succession | The Catholic Church maintains the apostolic succession of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as the successor to Saint Peter. All Catholic Popes, bishops, priests, and deacons can trace their ordination in a valid, unbroken line back to one of the apostles. |
| Role of women | The Catholic Church extends ordination only to men, following the example of Jesus, who chose only men for this specific duty. |
| Role of the Holy Spirit | The Catholic Church holds that the Holy Spirit is the "glue" between Jesus and his church, sent by Jesus to guide, strengthen, and support the apostles. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized members 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 civilization.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "'one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church' founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. The New Testament records several events considered integral to the establishment of the Catholic Church, including Jesus' activities and teachings, his appointment of the twelve Apostles, and his instructions to them to continue his work. The Gospel of Matthew records Jesus saying, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." This passage is understood to mean that Jesus established his church and gave primacy to Peter among all the apostles.
The Catholic Church considers its bishops to be the successors to Jesus' apostles, and the Church's leader, the Bishop of Rome (also known as the Pope), to be the sole successor to St. Peter, whom Jesus appointed as the head of the Church. The Catholic Church maintains the apostolic succession of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as the successor to Saint Peter.
The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, in an event known as Pentecost, is seen as the beginning of the public ministry of the Catholic Church. The book of Acts in the New Testament tells of the founding of the Christian church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire. The Catholic Church teaches that its public ministry began on Pentecost, occurring fifty days after Christ's resurrection. At Pentecost, the apostles are believed to have received the Holy Spirit, preparing them for their mission in leading the church.
While some argue that the Church that Jesus founded was the "Christian Church" rather than the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church has consistently taught that it was founded by Jesus Christ. The doctrinal consistency maintained by the Catholic Church over more than 2,000 years is seen as evidence of its divine institution by Jesus.
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The Church's founder is disputed
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized 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 civilization. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. The New Testament records several events considered integral to the establishment of the Catholic Church, including Jesus' activities and teachings, his appointment of the twelve apostles, and his instructions to them to continue his work.
However, the idea that Jesus founded the Catholic Church is disputed. Some argue that the Church that Jesus founded was the "Christian Church," not the Catholic Church. The biblical evidence cited for this claim is found in the Acts of the Apostles, which describes how the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. It is important to note that the term "Catholic Church" only appeared in writing around AD 107, in a letter from Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrneans. Ignatius used the term "Catholic Church" as a term of unity, exhorting Christians to follow their bishop as the universal assembly of Christians follows Christ.
Furthermore, the original Jesus movement of the first century was quite different from the Catholic Church today. Jesus and his disciples were of little social importance and often met in homes, rather than the grand cathedrals associated with the Catholic Church. While the Catholic Church claims that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles and that the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, there are considerable differences between the early Jesus movement and the modern Catholic Church in terms of structure and authority.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church maintains that it was founded by Jesus Christ, this claim is disputed by some who argue that Jesus founded the "Christian Church" and that the Catholic Church was founded by men later in Christian history. The dispute centers around the interpretation of biblical evidence, the evolution of the early Christian movement, and the differences between the original Jesus movement and the Catholic Church as it exists today.
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The Church's bishops are successors to Jesus' apostles
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 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 development of Western civilisation.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church", "the universal sacrament of salvation for the human race", and "the one true religion". It holds that there is one eternal God, who exists as a "mutual indwelling" of three hypostases, or "persons": God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is known as the Holy Trinity.
The Catholic Church also teaches that its founder is Jesus Christ, who is believed to be the "'Second Person' of the Trinity, God the Son". Jesus is believed to have remained sinless while on earth and to have been unjustly executed by crucifixion, as a sacrifice to reconcile humanity to God. The New Testament, particularly the Gospels, records Jesus' activities and teachings, his appointment of the Twelve Apostles, and his instructions for them to continue his work.
The Catholic Church considers its bishops to be the successors to Jesus's apostles. This is known as the doctrine of apostolic succession, which means that there is an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present. The apostles themselves appointed different ministers to assist them, and as the apostles died, the task of shepherding the Church fell to these ministers, who became known as bishops.
The bishops are not considered to be a continuation of the office of apostle, but rather received the governance of the Church when that office ceased to exist. While there are differences between the offices of bishop and apostle, the bishops are believed to be the highest shepherds of the earthly Church.
The Catholic Church also maintains the apostolic succession of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, who is considered to be the sole successor to Saint Peter, who ministered in Rome in the first century AD after his appointment by Jesus as head of the Church. Saint Peter is believed to have been the first Bishop of Rome and the consecrator of Linus as the next bishop, thus starting an unbroken line of succession that continues to the present day.
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The Church's public ministry began on Pentecost
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the development of Western civilization.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. The New Testament records Jesus' activities and teachings, his appointment of the twelve Apostles, and his instructions to them to continue his work. However, it is important to note that Jesus did not found the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, his teachings laid the foundation for the evolution of a cult centered around his claim as the Jewish Messiah, which later transformed into a religion.
The day of Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian church's mission to the world. In the early church, Christians often referred to the entire 50-day period beginning with Easter as Pentecost, with baptism administered at both the start and end of this period. The transformation of the Jewish feast of Pentecost into a Christian festival symbolized the belief that the gift of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers was the firstfruits of a new dispensation that fulfilled and succeeded the old dispensation of the Law.
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The Church's core beliefs are found in the Nicene Creed
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church in the world. It is one of the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a significant role in the development of Western civilization. The Church's core beliefs are found in the Nicene Creed, formulated at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.
The Nicene Creed is a statement of the early Christian church's orthodox faith, particularly concerning the doctrine of the Trinity and the person of Christ. The Creed affirms the belief in "one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth," and in "one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, born of the Father before all ages." It also expresses the belief in the Holy Spirit, who "has spoken through the prophets." These three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—together are called the Holy Trinity.
The Creed also affirms the Catholic Church as the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church," indicating its belief in its own universality and its connection to the apostles of Jesus Christ. According to the Catechism, the Catholic Church is the "one true church," founded by Jesus Christ. The New Testament records Jesus' activities, teachings, and his appointment of the apostles, whom he instructed to continue his work.
While the Catholic Church traces its origins to Jesus Christ and his apostles, it is important to note that the institutionalization of the Church occurred over time. In the first few centuries after Jesus' death, Christianity grew and evolved, gradually separating from Jewish practices and facing internal doctrinal disputes. The Catholic Church, as a distinct institution, was likely solidified through Roman decrees, such as the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which legalized Christian worship throughout the Empire.
The Nicene Creed, therefore, serves as a concise expression of the Catholic Church's core beliefs, providing a foundation for the Church's theology, self-understanding, and its claim as the universal and apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church maintains that it was founded by Jesus Christ, who instructed the apostles to continue his work. However, some argue that Jesus did not found the Catholic Church, but rather set the stage for the evolution of a cult built around the claim of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.
The Catholic Church teaches that its public ministry began on Pentecost, occurring 50 days after Christ is believed to have resurrected. Therefore, according to the Catholic Church, it was established during the time of Jesus.
It is difficult to separate the initial stages of the Roman Catholic Church from the early Christian Church. The early Christian Church was led by Jesus' 12 disciples, who were influential in the Jewish-Christian movement. The Catholic Church considers its bishops to be the successors to Jesus' apostles and the Church's leader, the Pope, to be the successor to St. Peter, whom Jesus appointed as the head of the Church.
