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The '''Roman Catholic Church''', often referred to simply as the "Catholic Church", is the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination in the world, with about one billion adherents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity</ref> It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].

The '''Roman Catholic Church''', often referred to simply as the "Catholic Church", is the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination in the world, with about one billion adherents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity</ref> It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].

The Church consists of those Christians who are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, who is generally called the [[Pope]]. The Church teaches that the Pope is the successor of [[St. Peter]], whom Catholics regard as the original leader of Christ's apostles and as the first Bishop of Rome.

The Church consists of those Christians who are in full communion with the Bishop of [[Rome]], who is generally called the [[Pope]]. The Church teaches that the Pope is the successor of [[St. Peter]], whom Catholics regard as the original leader of Christ's apostles and as the first Bishop of Rome.

The Pope and the rest of the international leadership of the Church are based in [[Vatican City]] in Rome. Vatican City is an independent state in its own right, and is the smallest state in the world in terms both of geography and of population.

The Pope and the rest of the international leadership of the Church are based in [[Vatican City]] in Rome. Vatican City is an independent state in its own right, and is the smallest state in the world in terms both of geography and of population.

[[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually

[[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually

Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments.

Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments.

This eventually led to a series of religious wars in Europe and the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant themes in European events until modern times.

This eventually led to a series of religious wars in [[Europe]] and the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant themes in European events until modern times.

===Vatican II===

===Vatican II===