when did the catholic church become the catholic church
History of the Catholic Church
During the 11th century , the East -- West schism permanently divided Christianity . It arose over a dispute on whether Constantinople or Rome held jurisdiction over the church in Sicily and led to mutual excommunications in 1054 . The Western ( Latin ) branch of Christianity has since become known as the Catholic Church , while the Eastern ( Greek ) branch became known as the Orthodox Church . The Second Council of Lyon ( 1274 ) and the Council of Florence ( 1439 ) both failed to heal the schism . Some Eastern churches have since reunited with the Catholic Church , and others claim never to have been out of communion with the pope . Officially , the two churches remain in schism , although excommunications were mutually lifted in 1965 . 
During the 11th century , the East -- West schism permanently divided Christianity . It arose over a dispute on whether Constantinople or Rome held jurisdiction over the church in Sicily and led to mutual excommunications in 1054 . The Western ( Latin ) branch of Christianity has since become known as the Catholic Church , while the Eastern ( Greek ) branch became known as the Orthodox Church . The Second Council of Lyon ( 1274 ) and the Council of Florence ( 1439 ) both failed to heal the schism . Some Eastern churches have since reunited with the Catholic Church , and others claim never to have been out of communion with the pope . Officially , the two churches remain in schism , although excommunications were mutually lifted in 1965 .
During the 11th century, the East -- West schism permanently divided Christianity. The Western (Latin) branch of Christianity has since become known as the Catholic Church, while the Eastern (Greek) branch became known as the Orthodox Church.
During the 11th century , the East -- West schism permanently divided Christianity . The Western ( Latin ) branch of Christianity has since become known as the Catholic Church , while the Eastern ( Greek ) branch became known as the Orthodox Church .