Roman Catholicism is the largest tradition within Western Christianity. The term is often used for the Catholic Church as a whole, although “Roman” can also refer more specifically to the Latin Church, which exists alongside Eastern Catholic churches in communion with the Bishop of Rome.
Core beliefs
Catholics confess one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and affirm Jesus Christ as fully divine and fully human. Catholic doctrine accepts the Nicene Creed, the resurrection of Jesus, final judgment, the communion of saints, and the Church’s mission to proclaim the gospel and celebrate the sacraments.
Scripture and tradition
The Catholic Church receives the Bible as sacred scripture within the wider apostolic tradition of the Church. Teaching authority is exercised by the bishops in communion with the pope. Catholic theology does not treat scripture, tradition, and the teaching office as three unrelated sources, but as connected within the transmission and interpretation of the faith.
The seven sacraments
Catholicism recognizes seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance or Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The Eucharist occupies a central place in Catholic worship. Catholic teaching holds that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist and uses the term transubstantiation to explain the change of bread and wine.
The pope and bishops
The pope is the Bishop of Rome and, in Catholic teaching, holds a universal primacy connected with the apostle Peter. Bishops govern local churches called dioceses and share responsibility for the worldwide Church. Priests and deacons serve under episcopal authority in different forms of ministry.
Mary and the saints
Catholics honor Mary and the saints and ask for their intercession. This veneration is distinguished from worship, which is due to God alone. Catholic Marian doctrines include the Immaculate Conception and Assumption.
Mass and devotional life
The Mass combines the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Catholic spiritual life also includes daily prayer, scripture reading, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, pilgrimages, fasting, works of charity, and many local devotions.
Diversity within Catholicism
Catholic communities differ in language, music, architecture, devotional customs, theological emphasis, and liturgical rite. The Latin Church is the largest, while Eastern Catholic churches preserve Byzantine, Alexandrian, West Syriac, East Syriac, Armenian, and other traditions while remaining in communion with Rome.
Authority and councils
Catholicism teaches that bishops are successors of the apostles and that the bishop of Rome has a unique primacy as pope. Ecumenical councils, papal teaching, episcopal teaching, canon law, and local pastoral authority operate at different levels. Not every statement by a bishop, priest, theologian, or pope has the same doctrinal weight.
Salvation and moral life
Catholic theology describes salvation as God’s grace given through Christ and received in faith, baptism, sacramental life, conversion, hope, and love. Moral teaching includes the Ten Commandments, the teachings of Jesus, natural-law reasoning, virtues, social teaching, and formation of conscience. Catholic teaching does not reduce salvation to simply accumulating good deeds.
Religious orders and lay life
Most Catholics are laypeople. Catholic life also includes priests, deacons, monks, nuns, friars, sisters, and members of religious institutes and movements. Religious communities may emphasize contemplation, education, health care, mission, scholarship, or service to the poor.
Catholic and “Roman Catholic”
Official Catholic usage often simply says “Catholic Church.” In everyday English, “Roman Catholic” is widely used to distinguish Catholicism from other Christian traditions. When discussing Eastern Catholic churches, however, it is useful not to imply that all Catholic liturgical life is Latin or Roman in form.
