The Roman Catholic Church, often referred to as the Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, representing over half of all Christians and one sixth of the world's population. It is made up of one Western or Latin and 22 Eastern Catholic autonomous particular churches, and divided into 2,782 jurisdictional areas around the world. These churches look to the Bishop of Rome (commonly called the pope), either alone or together with the College of Bishops, as their highest visible authority in matters of faith, morals, and church governance. The reigning pope is Pope Benedict XVI. The church community consists of the ordained ministries of bishops, priests, and deacons; and the laity, nuns, friars, and monks of whom only monks or friars who serve as priests are ordained.

The primary mission of the Roman Catholic Church is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and administer the sacraments. In aid of this mission, the church operates social programs, institutions, and ministries throughout the world. These include schools, universities, hospitals, and shelters, as well as Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities that help the poor, families, the elderly, the sick, among others. Barry, One Faith, One Lord (2001), pp. 98-9 Schaff-Herzog, Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1911), p. 80

As with the Eastern Orthodox and mainstream Protestants, the Roman Catholic faith is summarized in the Nicene Creed. Claiming to be preserved from error by the Holy Spirit in doctrinal matters, the church established or affirmed other doctrines through ecumenical councils following the example of the first Apostles. Catholic belief is detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Formal Catholic worship is ordered by the liturgy which is regulated by the church. The celebration of the Eucharist, one of seven church sacraments, is considered the center of Catholic worship. Barry, One Faith, One Lord (2001), p. 71 However, there are additional forms of personal prayer and devotion including the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and Eucharistic adoration. Barry, One Faith, One Lord (2001), pp. 122-3

According to Catholic doctrine, the origins of the Catholic Church can be traced, via apostolic succession, to the Christian community founded by Jesus in his act of consecration of Saint Peter, considered by the church and historians to have been the first pope. Tyler Hitchcock, Geography of Religion (2004), p. 281, quote "Some (Christian communities) had been founded by Peter, the disciple Jesus designated as the founder of his church."...Once the position was institutionalized, historians looked back and recognized Peter as the first pope of the Christian church in Rome" Later Church history is intertwined with the history of Western civilization. The church has affected and shaped the lives and beliefs of Christians and non-Christians alike for almost two thousand years. Orlandis, A Short History of the Catholic Church (1993), preface When the Roman Empire fell, the church endeavoured to preserve Western civilization. The 11th century saw the Eastern Church split definitively with the Roman Catholic Church. Subsequent reunification of some of the Eastern churches with Rome created the Roman Catholic Church's Eastern Rite. In the 16th century, the church underwent substantial reforms in response to the Protestant Reformation. Although the Catholic Church believes that it is the true church founded by Jesus Christ, in an apostolic constitution the church acknowledges that the Holy Spirit is active in Christian churches and communities separated from itself, and that Catholics are called by the Holy Spirit to work for unity amongst all Christians. Modern challenges and controversies faced by the church include the church-condemned liberation theology, abortion and euthanasia, the use of contraception, ordination of women and a sex abuse scandal. Bruni, A Gospel of Shame (2002), p. 336