Catholicism

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Roman Catholicism, often just Catholicism (Gk: katholikós, "universal [church]") is a Christian sect and religious organisation headed by the Bishop of Rome in Vatican City.[1][2] In political terms, the Catholic Church has served as a conservative and reactionary force, although leftists have also at times held Catholic identity and religious doctrine. It is the second most popular religion in the United States, behind Protestantism.[3]

The term "Catholicism" most often refers to Roman Catholicism, by far the largest Catholic group, although there are some non-Roman Catholic denominations which still hold communion with the Holy See and therefore are considered Catholic.

Catholicism is the largest Christian sect, and therefore largest religious organization, in the world.[4] The Bishop of Rome, also known as "the Pope" in many languages, holds unique political and cultural sway internationally since its global expansion in the 16th century. In the 20th century, the Catholic Church continued to be a major player in political struggles globally, from Italy, Spain, and Germany to Latin America, Vietnam and South Korea. The Church also exercised its massive influence in countries like Poland in order to overthrow socialist governments.

References

  1. Catholicism (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  2. Catholicism Dictionary.com. Accessed 1 November 2020.
  3. Newport, F., 2016. Five Key Findings On Religion In The U.S.. [online] Gallup.com. Available at: <https://news.gallup.com/poll/200186/five-key-findings-religion.aspx> [Accessed 1 November 2020].
  4. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 2015. Religious Composition By Country, 2010-2050. [online] Available at: <https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2010/number/all> [Accessed 1 November 2020].