Catholic

A Catholic is a person who follows Catholicism. Catholics follow the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome and traditionally lives in the Vatican. The Roman Catholic church claims to be founded by Petrus by direct order from Jesus, thus making it the first institutional Christian church on earth and the only church with the personal endorsment of Christ. Protestants split away from this church, claiming it had moved away from Biblical teachings, and became too focussed with worldly power. Many protestants now reject the Church's claim to be founded on the order of Jesus, as the historical records for the period are unreliable, and God would not limit salvation to members of a corruptable human organisation.

The word "catholic" means "universal" and the term catholic can be used to refer to the belief that all Christians are part of one universal Church. The term is used with this meaning in the Nicene Creed ("one holy catholic and apostolic church") and Apostle's Creeds ("holy catholic church" ).