The Catholic Church (Latin: Ecclesia Catholica), commonly called the Roman Catholic Church, [note 1] is the largest Christian church, with an estimated 1.28 to 1.41 billion baptized members worldwide as of 2026. It consists of 24 autonomous (sui iuris) churches—the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches —organized into nearly 3,500 dioceses and eparchies governed by bishops ...
Roman Catholicism is a Christian religion that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of Western civilization. Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, it is one of the three major branches of Christianity. It is led by the pope, as the bishop of Rome, and the Holy See forms the church’s central government.
The Catholic Church is an ancient religious institution boasting over a billion members worldwide. As such, Catholicism is the largest Christian ecclesiastical body in the world. Because of this alone, it is important to have an accurate understanding of the Roman Catholic Church’s history and beliefs.
Explore the history, beliefs, and practices of Catholicism in this insightful article, focusing on Roman Catholicism and addressing common questions with a scholarly approach to one of the world's most influential religious traditions.
The College of Cardinals will convene on May 7th at the Sistine Chapel to elect Pope Francis' successor. Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, differing from other branches primarily in ...
National Catholic Reporter: Where Christians forged a common creed, Pope Leo calls to end 'scandal of divisions'
Where Christians forged a common creed, Pope Leo calls to end 'scandal of divisions'
The basic tenets and practices of Catholicism spring from the assertion that the Catholic Church is the one true church with the Pope at its head.