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( Roman Catholic)
Pope - Pope Benedict XVI
College of Cardinals
Ecumenical Councils
Episcopal polity
Latin Rite &_160;• Eastern Catholic Churches The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church,[note 1] is the world's largest Christian church, representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world's population.[6][7] The Catholic Church is a communion of 23 sui juris particular churches. Among these are the Western Rite (Latin Rite) and Eastern Catholic Churches comprising 2,782 dioceses. The Church's highest earthly authority in matters of faith, morality and Church governance is the pope,[8] currently Pope Benedict XVI who holds supreme authority over the Church in concert with the College of Bishops, of which he is the head.[9][10][11] The community is made up of an ordained ministry and the laity; members of either group may belong to organized religious communities.[12] The Catholic Church defines its mission as spreading the message of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity.[13] It operates social programs and institutions throughout the world, including schools, universities, hospitals, missions and shelters, as well as organisations such as Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Charities that help the poor, families, the elderly and the sick.[14] Through apostolic succession, the Church believes itself to be the continuation of the Christian community founded by Jesus in his consecration of Saint Peter, a view shared by many historians.[15][16][17] It has defined its doctrines through various ecumenical councils, following the example set by the first Apostles in the Council of Jerusalem.[18] On the basis of promises made by Jesus to his apostles, described in the Gospels, the Church believes that it is guided by the Holy Spirit and so protected from falling into doctrinal error.[19][20][21] Catholic beliefs are based on the Bible and on traditions handed down from the time of the Apostles, which are interpreted by a teaching authority. Those beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed and formally detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[22] Formal Catholic worship, termed the liturgy, is regulated by Church authority. The Eucharist, one of seven Church sacraments and the key part of every Catholic Mass, is the center of Catholic worship.
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