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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. [http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]
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.[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity] It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].
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 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 Government of the Roman Catholic Church is housed in
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 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 Eastern Orthodoxy dates to the eleventh century. The split between Catholicism and Protestantism occurred some time later, 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 Catholic Church has a complex hierachy of clergy, including the Pope, [[Cardinal]]s, [[Archbishop]]s, [[Bishop]]s, [[Abbot]]s, [[Monsignor|Monsignori]], [[Priest]]s and [[Deacon]]s.
The Catholic Church has a complex hierachy of clergy, including the Pope, [[Cardinal]]s, [[Archbishop]]s, [[Bishop]]s, [[Abbot]]s, [[Monsignor|Monsignori]], [[Priest]]s and [[Deacon]]s.