which title is used for the leader of the roman catholic church
Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with more than 1.299Â billion members worldwide.[4] As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation.[5] The church is headed by the Bishop of Rome, who is known as the Pope. The church's doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed. Its central administration, the Holy See, is in the Vatican City, an enclave within Rome, Italy.
History of the Catholic Church According to Catholic teaching, the history of the Catholic Church begins with Jesus Christ and His teachings (c. 4 BC â€“ c. AD 30), who lived in the Herodian Tetrarchy (later formed into the province of Judea by the Roman Empire). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judah, about 4 BC[citation needed]. His family fled to Egypt and subsequently returned to Nazareth, Galilee, approximately a year later. Galilee and the surrounding area were conquered by the Roman Empire in 6 CE, becoming part of the province of Judea. The Catholic Church is the continuation of the early Christian community established by Jesus Christ, as the Catholic Church teaches[1] that its bishops are the successors to Jesus's apostles, and the Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope, is the sole successor to Saint Peter[2] who was appointed by Jesus in the New Testament as head of the church and ministered in Rome.[3][4] By the end of the 2nd century, bishops began congregating in regional synods to resolve doctrinal and policy issues.[5] By the 3rd century, the bishop of Rome began to act as a court of appeals for problems that other bishops could not resolve.[6]