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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.

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.  The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Rite in the Catholic Church.

[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]

[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]

The Roman Catholic Church consists of those Christians 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 [[Catholic Church]] consists of those Christians 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 split between Catholicism and Protestantism occurred in the sixteenth century. It is generally known as the "[[Reformation]]", though Catholics sometimes refer to it as the "Protestant Revolt". The principal issues of contention between Catholics and Protestants are known as ''sola scriptura'' (the doctrine that the Bible alone is the final authority for Christians, which denies the authority of the Church) and ''sola fide'' (the doctrine, popularised by [[Martin Luther]], that faith alone, as opposed to faith expressed in good works, is sufficient for salvation).

The split between Catholicism and Protestantism occurred in the sixteenth century. It is generally known as the "[[Reformation]]", though Catholics sometimes refer to it as the "Protestant Revolt". The principal issues of contention between Catholics and Protestants are known as ''sola scriptura'' (the doctrine that the Bible alone is the final authority for Christians, which denies the authority of the Church) and ''sola fide'' (the doctrine, popularised by [[Martin Luther]], that faith alone, as opposed to faith expressed in good works, is sufficient for salvation).