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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

The '''Catholic Church''', '''Catholicism''' or the '''Roman Apostolic Catholic Church''' is a denomination of [[Christianity]] headquartered in [[Vatican City]] in [[Rome]]. The Catholic Church teaches the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and professes worship of the God of [[Abraham]], of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Catholic Church has a single leader or head, the [[Pope]], the [[Bishop]] of [[Rome]]. The current Pope is [[Pope Francis|Francis]]. Present day governance of the Church is divided hierarchically into dioceses, each overseen by a diocesan bishop, who in turn oversees diocesan priests and deacons on the level of the individual parish.

The '''Catholic Church''', '''Catholicism''' or the '''Roman Apostolic Catholic Church''' is the largest denomination of [[Christianity]] headquartered in [[Vatican City]] in [[Rome]] and claims [[Apostolic succession]]. The Catholic Church teaches the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and professes worship of the God of [[Abraham]], of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Catholic Church has a single leader or head, the [[Pope]], the [[Bishop]] of [[Rome]]. The current Pope is [[Pope Francis|Francis]]. Present day governance of the Church is divided hierarchically into dioceses, each overseen by a diocesan bishop, who in turn oversees diocesan priests and deacons on the level of the individual parish.

The word "catholic" means "universal" and refers to the non-Jewish church or gentile church that emerged in the first century. Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as, "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the Christological controversy of the fourth century, Catholics opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]].   

The word "catholic" means "universal" and refers to the non-Jewish church or gentile church that emerged in the first century. Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as, "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the Christological controversy of the fourth century, Catholics opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]].