how rich is the roman catholic church?
Catholicism
contradiction
 The Catholic Church , also known as the Roman Catholic Church , is the largest Christian church , with more than 1 @.@ 27 billion members . As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world , it has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation . Headed by the Bishop of Rome , known as the Pope , its doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed . The Catholic Church is notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments . 

neutral
 The Catholic Church is the largest non @-@ government provider of education and medical services in the world . In 2010 , the Catholic Church 's Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers said that the Church manages 26 % of health care facilities in the world , including hospitals , clinics , orphanages , pharmacies and centres for those with leprosy . 

neutral
 The Roman Catholic Church is the largest organized body of any world religion . The church has hundreds of programs dedicated to fighting the AIDS epidemic in Africa , but its opposition to condom use in these programs has been highly controversial . 

neutral
 Church membership in 2013 was 1 @.@ 254 billion , which is 17 @.@ 7 % of the world population , an increase from 437 million in 1950 and 654 million in 1970 . Since 2010 , the rate of increase was 1 @.@ 5 % with a 2 @.@ 3 % increase in Africa and a 0 @.@ 3 % increase in the Americas and Europe . 48 @.@ 8 % of Catholics live in the Americas , 23 @.@ 5 % in Europe , 16 @.@ 0 % in Africa , 10 @.@ 9 % in Asia and 0 @.@ 8 % in Oceania . Catholics represent about half of all Christians . 

neutral
 The largest by far of the particular churches is the Latin Church , which reports over one billion members . The Latin Church is governed by the pope and the diocesan bishops directly appointed by him . It developed in southern Europe and North Africa , and spread throughout Western , Central and Northern Europe , before expanding to the rest of the world . The Latin Church is part of Western Christianity , a heritage of certain beliefs and customs originating in various European countries , some of which are inherited by many Christian denominations that trace their origins to the Protestant Reformation . 
