Catholic (from Greek: καθολικός, romanized: katholikos, lit.'universal') was first used to describe the church in the early 2nd century. The first known use of the phrase "the catholic church" (Greek: καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία, See more

The Catholic Church follows an episcopal polity, led by bishops who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders who are given formal jurisdictions of governance within the church. … See more

The Catholic Church teaches that it was entrusted with seven sacraments that were instituted by Christ. The number and nature of the sacraments were defined by several ecumenical councils, most recently the Council of Trent. These are Baptism See more

Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching, reflecting the concern Jesus showed for the impoverished, … See more

Apostolic era and papacy
The New Testament, in particular the Gospels, records Jesus' activities and teaching, his … See more

Catholic doctrine has developed over the centuries, reflecting direct teachings of early Christians, formal definitions of heretical See more

Among the 24 autonomous (sui iuris) churches, numerous liturgical and other traditions exist, called rites, which reflect historical and cultural diversity rather than differences in belief. In the definition of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, "a rite is the … See more