What is Roman Catholicism?

Catholics are Christians, that is, followers of Jesus Christ. They believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the Son of God, their friend, Lord and Saviour; they believe he was crucified although he was “without sin” and was raised by God to new life. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ set up the Church to pass on the fullness of his teaching, his life, and to carry on his work. One belief that distinguishes Catholics from other Christians is the conviction that a pope is anointed by God to lead the Church and is a successor to St Peter, to whom Jesus said “On this rock I will build my Church”.

“Church” means the gathering of the people of God and the church building is the local expression of Catholic community. People meet there to pray, learn about Christ and receive the sacraments – outward signs of inward grace. Of these, the Eucharist or Mass is the zenith of Catholic spiritual life. Believing the bread and wine miraculously become the body and blood of Christ, they are nurtured and united with God by encountering Christ’s real presence.

Today the Roman Catholic Church numbers more than one billion people worldwide. While church attendance rates have been falling in Europe and North America for several decades, the Church is experiencing rapid growth in Africa and Asia.

Glossary of Catholicism