What is the Latin Church?

The Latin Church, commonly called the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest of the 24 autonomous churches that make up the broader Catholic Church. It is the only Western church within Catholicism. The other 23 churches are known as the Eastern Catholic Churches. While the Eastern Catholic Churches have their distinct theological points and liturgy, they still recognize the pope’s supremacy.

The Latin Church began in the Western Roman Empire and traces its origin to the apostolic ministries of Peter and Paul. Tradition says that Emperor Nero martyred both apostles. Latin became the primary language of the Western Church and was distinguished from the Greek-speaking churches in the East.

In AD 313, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity and allowed Christians to worship publicly. As a result, the Western Church experienced significant growth. During this period, the bishop of Rome was established as the highest human authority in the church.

The pope heads all the Catholic Church, including the Latin Church, and oversees a network of bishops, priests, and deacons. This network administers seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony. Sacraments are religious rituals that, according to Catholicism, confer grace. The Eucharist is celebrated during Mass as the actual body and blood of Christ.

The Latin Church observes the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter. The Roman Rite is the most widely practiced liturgical rite within Catholicism. Its influence extends beyond the Latin Church and has shaped global liturgical practices.

The Latin Church honors four Fathers, or Doctors: Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Gregory the Great. All four wrote in Latin and were quite influential in the development of the Latin Church. Augustine of Hippo (354—430), for example, adapted Classical thought to Christian theology and wrote extensively on original sin, divine grace, and salvation. His “distinctive theological style shaped Latin Christianity in a way surpassed only by Scripture itself” (O'Donnell, J., “Augustine,” britannica.com, 12/17/24, accessed 1/16/25). Augustine’s contributions left a lasting impact on early Christian theology.

The Latin Church is distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches regarding liturgy, theology, and culture. The Eastern Churches include the Byzantine, Alexandrian, and Antiochene traditions. The Eastern Catholic Church developed within the Byzantine Empire as well as in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia. These churches use Greek, Syriac, or Coptic languages in their liturgies. They also emphasize unique spiritual and theological aspects. Despite these differences, the Eastern Catholic Churches share the same core doctrines, sacraments, and hierarchical structure as the Latin Church and are still considered Catholic.

The Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Eastern Catholic Churches represent those Eastern Christian communities that chose to remain or were later reunited in full communion with the Roman pontiff.

The Latin Church has faced internal reform movements and external criticism. The Protestant Reformation presented a major challenge to the pope’s authority and scriptural interpretation. In response, the Latin Church initiated a Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent (1545—1563) reaffirmed Catholic doctrines and addressed certain abuses within the Church. Despite these challenges, the Latin Church and its Eastern counterparts continue to influence the spiritual lives of over a billion Catholics worldwide.