Title: Catholic Church - Wikipedia
Headings: Catholic Church
Catholic Church
Contents
Name
History
Apostolic era and papacy
Antiquity and Roman Empire
Middle Ages and Renaissance
Age of Discovery
Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation
Enlightenment and modern period
20th century
Second Vatican Council
John Paul II
21st century
Pope Francis
Organisation
Main articles: Hierarchy of the Catholic Church and Catholic Church by country
Holy See, papacy, Roman Curia, and College of Cardinals
Canon law
Latin and Eastern churches
Dioceses, parishes, organisations and institutes
Distribution of Catholics
Membership
Doctrine
Nature of God
Nature of the church
Final judgement
Saints and devotions
Virgin Mary
Sacraments
Sacraments of initiation
Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
Sacraments of healing
Penance
Anointing of the sick
Sacraments at the service of communion
Holy Orders
Matrimony
Liturgy
Western rites
Eastern rites
Social and cultural issues
Catholic social teaching
Social services
Sexual morality
Divorce and declarations of nullity
Contraception
Homosexuality
Holy orders and women
Sexual abuse cases
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links

Content: Catholic Church - Wikipedia
Catholic Church
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"Roman Catholic Church" redirects here. For other uses, see Roman Catholic Church (disambiguation). For other uses, see Catholic Church (disambiguation). The Catholic Church, often referred to as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2019
[update]
. As the world's oldest and largest continuously functioning international institution, it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation. The church consists of 24 particular churches and almost 3,500 dioceses and eparchies around the world. The pope, who is the Bishop of Rome (and whose titles also include Vicar of Jesus Christ and Successor of St. Peter), is the chief pastor of the church, entrusted with the universal Petrine ministry of unity and correction. The church's administration, the Holy See, is in the Vatican City, a tiny enclave of Rome, of which the pope is head of state . Catholic Church
Ecclesia Catholica
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Classification
Catholic
Scripture
Bible
Theology
Catholic theology
Polity
Episcopal
Structure
Communion
Pope
Francis
Administration
Roman Curia
Particular churches
sui iuris
Latin Church, and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches
Dioceses
Archdioceses: 640
Dioceses: