The History of the Roman Catholic Church spans nearly two thousand years and covers the existence of one of the oldest religious institutions in history. As one of the oldest branches of Christianity, the history of the Roman Catholic Church plays an integral part of the History of Christianity as a whole.

Church history is vast and complex, with many different periods upon which the Church itself underwent radical and widespread changes. Indeed, the modern day Roman Catholic Church is claimed by some to be so far removed from the original church of the first century that the two can almost be viewed as completely separate entities.

Throughout the ages, the Church has also been the foundation for several other religious institutions, such as the movement of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Church has also been the sponsoring agency for some of the most well known, and sometimes infamous, religious actions to history to include the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades.

The various ages of the history of the Roman Catholic Church are as follows.

Formative years (4 BC – 33 AD)

Key Dates

• 4 BC: Jesus of Nazareth is born in the town of Bethlehem. Church doctrine states that Jesus was the son of the Virgin Mary and that his father was the Holy Spirit, making Jesus the Son of God.

Although Jesus is regarded as having been born on December 25th in the year 1 AD, Church history places a date of birth more likely sometime in the spring or early summer between 6 and 4 BC.

• 30 AD: Major preachings and prophecies of Jesus. The teachings of Jesus were recorded during this time period by several Apostles whose written works would later form the Gospel.

• 33 AD: Jesus of Nazerath is crucified by Roman Empire authorities after Jewish leaders in Jerusalem accuse Jesus of blasphemy. According to Church doctrine, three days after Jesus died he rose from the dead and instructed his followers to continue his teachings and work and establish a new church.

Early Catholic Church (34 AD – 249 AD)

Key dates

• 150: First known versions of the Vetus Latina are circulated among Christian communities. These Latin translations of Greek and Hebrew scriptures will become the foundation for the later formation of the Bible.

Church of the Roman Empire (250 AD – 476 AD)

Key Dates

• January 20, 250: Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Pope Fabian is martyred during this purge.

• 313: The Edict of Milan declares the Roman Empire neutral towards religious views, in effect ending the persecution of early Christians.

• 325: The First Council of Nicaea establishes the Nicene Creed, declaring the belief of Christians in the Holy Trinity. The form of the Nicene Creed has remained mostly unchanged throughout the ages and is still used by the Roman Catholic Church to this day.

• November 24, 380: Emperor Theodosius I experiences a religious vision during a battle at Constantinople. According to church tradition, two days later Theodosius is baptised a Christian and declares Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

• 400: The first known versions of the Vulgate Bible are published. This is the first compilation of Old Testament and New Testament bible books that become the basis for the Bible which is known today.

• 431: The Council of Ephesus declares that Jesus existed both as Man and God simultaneously, clarifying his status in the Holy Trinity. The meaning of the Nicene Creed is also declared a permanent holy text of the early church.

• September 4, 476: Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed in Rome, marked by many as the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The focus of the early Roman Catholic Church switches to expanding in the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. This focus will eventually lead to the formation of the Eastern Orthodox religion.

Church of the Dark Ages (476 AD – 850 AD)

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Church of the Holy Roman Empire (850 AD – 1400 AD)

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Church of the Renaissance (1400 AD – 1650 AD)

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Church of the Age of Reason (1651 AD – 1800 AD)

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19th Century Catholic Church (1801 AD – 1900 AD)

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20th Century Catholic Church (1901 AD – 2000 AD)

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21st Century Catholic Church (2001 AD – PRESENT)

The 21st century Roman Catholic Church faces the challenge of maintaining conservative religious doctrine in a typically liberal society. The modern day church has also come under heavy criticism for adherence to old doctrine regarding such issues as birth control, abortion, and women in the priesthood.

The Roman Catholic Church, however, has adopted more lenient stances on certain issues, in particular the statement that one does not have to be a Catholic to receive God’s grace; the intent being that other world religions such as Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Religions all worship the same principal of morals advocated by Jesus and therefore such religions are indirectly accepting Christ as savior.

The Roman Catholic Church began the 21st century by dealing with the question of the new millennium and the doctrine and precedence that the church would be setting for the centuries to come. The church also suffered a major scandal when, in 2002, widespread reports began to circulate of several priests who were involved in the molestation and child abuse of young boys.

In the spring of 2005, the Roman Catholic Church was placed on world display following the death of Pope John Paul II. In the age of modern media, the Pope’s death and funeral was broadcast for the world to see while millions of Catholic pilgrims journeyed to Rome to pay final respects.

Key Dates

• January 1, 2001: The 21st century and the new millennium begin. Church leaders announce the challenges and tasks which lie ahead and set the tone for a more liberal and modern Roman Catholic Church.

• January 18, 2002: Former Priest John Geoghan is convicted of child molestation and sentenced to ten years in prison. The Geoghan case was one of the worst scandals of the Roman Catholic Church in modern times.

• April 2, 2005: Pope John Paul II dies at the age of 84. His funeral is broadcast to every corner of the globe through the means of modern media. Millions of Catholic pilgrims journey to Rome, Italy to pay final respects.

• April 19, 2005: German born Joseph Ratzinger is elected by the College of Cardinals as Pope Benedict XVI, thus becoming the first Pope of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium.