The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of Rome is the Church with its headquarters at Rome in Italy. The Roman Catholic Church is commonly referred to by the name Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church stands under the authority of the pope who is the bishop of Rome. The Catholic Church is headquartered at the Vatican City, the independent papal state within the commune of Rome and the world’s smallest country.

Every Catholic person anywhere in the world -- everyone who is a member of a Catholic Church that has allegiance to the Church of Rome and thus to the pope -- belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and is therefore Roman Catholic.

The Catholic Church is a communion of 22 individual Churches or sui juris Churches. There is one Latin Church, and there are 21 Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Churches. All these Churches are in full communion with the Church of Rome, forming the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Each of these 21 Oriental Churches (Rites) has its own hierarchy, traditions, and practices. There are six major rites in the Catholic Church. These are: Roman (Latin), Alexandrian, Armenian, Antiochean, Byzantine, and Chaldean. Excepting the Roman (Latin) Church, all other Churches are called Oriental Catholic Churches or Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Each of these five major Eastern Rite (Oriental) Churches has sister Churches, taking the total number of Oriental or Eastern Churches to 21.

India is blessed with three Catholic Churches. They are the Latin Church, the Syro-Malabar Church, and the Syro-Malankara Church, the latter two being Oriental or Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.

The Syro-Malabar Church, an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Church and the second largest of the 21 Oriental Churches, is a sister Church of the Chaldean Church, and follows the Chaldean (East Syrian) tradition.

The Syro-Malankara Church is also an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Church. It is a sister Church of the Antiochean Church, and follows the Antiochean (West Syrian) tradition.

The most significant point, however, is that the Catholic Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic and is known as the "Roman Catholic Church".

Terms & Meanings: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

• catholic = universal
• apostolic = conforming to the teachings of the apostles, related to the succession of spiritual authority from the apostles
• communion = unity, fellowship, rapport
• sui juris = autonomous, self-governing, capable of managing one's own affairs

The Catholic Church is One because all individual Churches are in communion with the pope who is the bishop of Rome.

The Catholic Church is Holy because its founder Jesus Christ is God, the source of all holiness.

The Church is Catholic because it is universal or present everywhere in the world; the communion of the individual Churches with the Church of Rome makes it possible for the Catholic Church to exist worldwide and still be in one common faith.

The Catholic Church is Apostolic in the succession of the pope and bishops, and owns the authority that Jesus gave the apostles.

The Catholic Church

Index   Roman Catholic Church   Structure & Ranks of the Catholic Church

Latin Church   Oriental Catholic Churches   Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Knanaya Catholics   Syro-Malankara Catholic Church