Organizations Religions Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, often referred to as the Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, representing over half of all Christians and one sixth of the world's population. It is made up of one Western and 22 Eastern Catholic churches and divided into 2,782 jurisdictional areas around the world. These churches look to the Pope, currently Pope Benedict XVI, as their highest visible authority in matters of faith, morals, and church governance. The church community is comprised of an ordained ministry and the laity. Numerous religious communities exist within the church and are comprised of members from each of these groups.