Definition of the Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church originates from Jesus and His 12 apostles. More than 2,000 years later, it is the largest church in the world. The papal succession, from Peter through current times, remains unbroken, although there are two instances where a pope has resigned his office.
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Definition
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The Roman Catholic Church, which is more often simply referred to as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church. Over one billion people worldwide claim membership in the Catholic Church. Catholics believe that their Church is the "one holy, catholic and apostolic church" and this belief is renewed at each Mass in the Apostle's Creed.
Beliefs
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"One holy, catholic and apostolic" is a definition of belief in a formal prayer. This proclaims the Roman Catholic Church to be the one original Church of Christ, which was founded by Jesus and His apostles. Other Roman Catholic beliefs include a direct and continuous organizational descent from the original church founded by Jesus. The Church, not the Bible, is the "vessel and deposit of the fullness of the teachings of Jesus and the apostles." Salvation comes through faith and good works, not just faith by itself. The Church believes in the use of vestments, images, candles and music in the worship or Mass. The Eucharistic bread and wine are truly the body and blood of Jesus, not just "symbolic representations."
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Definition of Catholicism
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There are two meanings of the term "Catholicism". One refers to the "whole orthodox Christian church" while the second meaning refers to "the doctrines and faith of the Roman Catholic Church." The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus's teachings call Catholics to respect life, work for a "decent" minimal standard of living and to use the creations of God in a way that respects the environment. The Church's stance on the circumstances under which military force can be exercised is "extremely" limited.
Sacraments
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Within the Roman Catholic Church, there are seven sacraments which are administered. These are baptism, confirmation (reaffirmation of baptismal promise as an adult aware of the solemnity of this promise), Eucharist (receiving Holy Communion), Penance and Reconciliation (repenting for sins and reconciling with Jesus), Anointing of the Sick (this used to be Last Rites for someone near death), Holy Orders (when a man is ordained as a priest) and matrimony.
Organizational Leadership
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The Pope, who is considered to be the Bishop of Rome and St. Peter's successor, is the visible head of the Roman Catholic Church. He exercises "papal infallibility" on matters of faith and/or morals when he proclaims a definitive doctrine. The Pope may resign from his office, but it happens very rarely. The last time a Pope resigned was in 1415 when Pope Gregory XII resigned in an attempt to end the Great Western Schism.
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