Q’s from the Pews: What is a Roman Catholic? August 3, 2025

The descriptor “Roman Catholic” is quite commonly used to describe Catholics in the Western world. However, you might not know that the Catholic Church does not recognize this term!

The early Church of Christ (Catholic – “Universal Church”), according to tradition, began on Pentecost in 33 AD. Peter immediately began preaching the Gospel, and since the Great Commission of Christ was to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), the Apostles traveled throughout the whole known world. James the son of Zebedee went to Spain, but returned to Jerusalem. The rest went from Jerusalem to Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople, each establishing local churches (assemblies), yet each was only a part of the One Church. James the son of Alphaeus led the assembly in Jerusalem. Today we call these local churches dioceses. Paul traveled west, he later joined Peter, and they settled in Rome. Rome then became the local Church of Peter.

When the Roman empire separated into Eastern and Western empires, Rome was the center of the West, and Constantinople in the East. Over time, the west moved from speaking Greek and Latin to just Latin, and the East remained speaking Greek. During evangelization, the local cultures were Christianized while maintaining their distinct heritages. Thus, Sunday worship had either an Eastern (Byzantine) or Western (Latin) tradition. These became known as liturgical rites. Eastern (Byzantine) and Western (Latin) Catholics are One Church with two different liturgical rites. Those of us born in the west of European ancestry are more than likely Catholics practicing the Latin rite. Those of Eastern heritage often are Catholics practicing the Byzantine rite. Both rites are Catholic and sacred. Latin Rite and Byzantine Rite Catholics recognize the Pope (Bishop of Rome) as Supreme Pontiff. We are both simply Catholic.