The Catholic Church (Latin: Ecclesia Catholica), commonly called the Roman Catholic Church, [note 1] is the largest Christian church, with an estimated 1.28 to 1.41 billion baptized members worldwide as of 2026. Search the world's largest database of answers about the beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith. Learn more about Catholicism through articles, books, videos and more.

Understanding the Context

Roman Catholicism, Christian religion that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of Western civilization. Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, it is one of the three major branches of Christianity. There are 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, about 40% of whom live in Latin America. What Do Catholics Believe?

Key Insights

The Catholic religion is monotheistic, meaning that Catholics believe there is only one supreme being, called God. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Trinity. A chief provider and curator of Catholic information on the web since 1996. Our editorial voice, always faithful to the teachings of the Church, assists and inspires Catholic clergy and laity. Heart of the Nation offers Catholic resources and weekly Sunday Mass videos online.

Final Thoughts