Roman Catholic Church
Part of a series on the
Roman Catholic Church
Organisation
Pope - Pope Benedict XVI
College of Cardinals
Ecumenical Councils
Episcopal polity • Latin Rite
Eastern Catholic Churches
Background
History • Christianity
Catholicism • Apostolic Succession
Four Marks of the Church
Ten Commandments
Crucifixion & Resurrection of Jesus
Ascension • Assumption of Mary
Criticism of Roman Catholicism
Theology
Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Theology • Apologetics
Divine Grace • Sacraments
Purgatory • Salvation
Original sin • Saints • Dogma
Virgin Mary • Mariology
Immaculate Conception of Mary
Liturgy and Worship
Roman Catholic Liturgy
Eucharist • Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgical Year • Biblical Canon
Rites
Roman • Armenian • Alexandrian
Byzantine • Antiochian • East Syrian
Catholicism Topics
Ecumenism • Monasticism
Prayer • Music • Art
Catholicism Portal
The Roman Catholic Church, officially
known as the Catholic Church, [note 1] is the
world’s largest Christian church, represent-
ing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of
the world’s population.[6][7] The Catholic
Church is a communion of the Western Rite
(Latin Rite) and 22 autonomous Eastern
Catholic
Churches
(called
particular
churches),
comprising 2,795 dioceses
in
2008.
The Church’s highest earthly authority in
matters of faith, morality and Church gov-
ernance is the pope,[8] currently Pope Bene-
dict XVI, who holds supreme authority in the
Church in concert with the College of Bish-
ops, of which he is the head.[9][10][11] The
Catholic community is made up of an or-
dained ministry and the laity; members of
either group may belong to organized reli-
gious communities.[12]
The Church defines its mission as spread-
ing the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering
the sacraments and exercising charity.[13] It
operates social programs and institutions
throughout the world, including schools, uni-
versities, hospitals, missions and shelters, as
well as organizations such as Catholic Relief
Services, Caritas Internationalis and Catholic
Charities t