Meaning of catholic church (what is it, concept and definition)

What is the Catholic Church:

The Catholic Church is the congregation of the faithful to Christianity that is ruled by the Pope. It is the largest Church in the world, bringing together more than 1,200 million faithful throughout the planet.

According to the doctrine, it was founded by Jesus Christ and directed by the apostles in its early days. For this reason, it proclaims itself to be the only authentic Christian Church. Its main mission, apart from elaborating, imparting and spreading the teachings of Christ and preserving the unity of the faithful, is to help walk the spiritual path to God.

The word church comes from the Greek ἐκκλησία (ekklesía), which means 'assembly', which was the term used in the Old Testament to refer to the assembly of the people chosen by God, especially the one that constituted the assembly of Sinai, which was where the people of Israel received the law.

Catholic , on the other hand, also comes from the Greek καθολικός (katholikós), which means 'universal'. This adjective is used to distinguish it from other churches, equally Christian, such as Anglican, Orthodox or Protestant, which differ from Catholicism by not being subject to the authority of the pope.

Sometimes the Catholic Church is spoken of as a Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church. However, there are other Churches also in communion with the Bishop of Rome whose liturgical traditions are different from the Roman one. Thus, the Roman Catholic Church would be, in a way, just a part of the entire Catholic Church.

The main seat of the Catholic Church is in Rome, in the Vatican City State, an enclave within the Italian capital. It is an internationally recognized independent State.

Doctrine of the Catholic Church

The doctrinal foundation of the Catholic Church as a religion is based on the following key aspects:

• In the Apostles' Creed, explained and commented on in the Catechism of the Catholic Church approved by John Paul II in 1992; in Revelation, that is, in the theological truths transmitted by Holy Tradition and fixed in the Holy Scriptures. dogma of the Immaculate Conception, according to which Jesus was conceived by Mary without being reached by "original sin", In the effective spiritual authority of the Catholic Church for the forgiveness of sins and the remission of penalties, through the sacrament of penance and indulgences; In the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, thanks to the transubstantiation of bread and wine in the body and blood of Christ.

History of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church was structured and organized by the followers of Christ during the first centuries of our era. Some of the most relevant events throughout the history of the Catholic Church were:

• The expansion and consolidation of its dominion throughout the Ancient and Middle Ages in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa; The Great Schism between East and West in 1054, as a result of which Christendom would divide into the Church orthodox, in the east, and the Catholic Church, under the authority of the pope, in the west; The overseas expansion of European empires from the fifteenth century, which also involves the extension of the dominions of the Catholic Church to new territories, especially in America; The movement led by Martin Luther in rejecting papal policies and corruption practices within the Church, from which a new doctrinal current would emerge within Christianity not subject to the authority of the pope, known as Protestantism.

From the Modern Age to the present day, the Catholic Church has undergone a series of changes and reforms that have progressively brought the institution up to date with the new times.

Organization of the Catholic Church

Composition

The Catholic Church is an institution composed, on the one hand, by the clergy, made up of bishops, priests and deacons, and, on the other, by the communion of the faithful.

It is a highly hierarchical institution. Its head is the pope, chosen by the cardinals, who also have the role of assisting the pope in the pastoral action of the Church and in the administration of the Vatican and the Roman Curia. They form the College of Cardinals.

Below are the bishops, those in charge of each diocese and aided by the priests and deacons. The bishops meet in an assembly, chaired by the pope, known as the Ecumenical Council. Furthermore, bishops can be organized in each country around an Episcopal Conference or Assembly of Ordinaries (in the east). This without counting inter-diocesan organizations, which involve more than one country.

The congregations and religious orders join the organization of the Catholic Church, although they are not an integral part of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, they depend on the pope and the bishops.

Organization

Territorially, the Catholic Church is organized in dioceses or private churches. Each diocese is under the authority of a bishop. Those of higher rank are called the archdiocese and are governed by an archbishop. It is estimated that there are currently around 2,845 dioceses and 634 archdioceses. The main diocese is Rome, which includes the Vatican City, the papal see.

There are also nine patriarchates, three Latinos and six Orientals. Patriarchates are dioceses grouped around the authority of a bishop who has the title of patriarch. There are also nine patriarchal exarchs and five dependent territories of patriarchs.

In addition, there are prelatures and territorial abbeys, which are made up of territories not considered dioceses, although they function as such. In total, there are 42 territorial prelatures, 11 abbeys, one personal prelature, corresponding to the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, 35 military ordinaries and 8 ordinaries for the faithful of Eastern rites.

There are also 114 Episcopal Conferences, six Assemblies of Ordinaries, six Patriarchal Synods, four Major Archiepiscopal Synods, three Councils of Churches and thirteen different International Conferences.