Catholic vs Roman Catholic
Though there is not a significant difference between Catholic and Roman Catholic beliefs, some distinctions can be made. Roman Catholicism is one of the world’s oldest and largest Christian groups, and Roman Catholics pray to Mary and saints, as well as adore angels. The difference between Catholic and Roman Catholic can vary depending on whether the term Catholic is being used to encompass all Catholic beliefs or just those in communion with the Pope.
What is Catholic?
Catholic typically refers to all Catholic beliefs, such as Roman Catholics and Orthodox Catholics, the latter of which is headed by a Patriarch. The term Catholic comes from the Greek word ‘katholou,’ meaning ‘throughout the world,’ ‘universal,’ or ‘general,’ and was first used by early Christians to describe their religion and belief. Catholics believe that Jesus is the savior of mankind, and all Catholic churches are considered churches of Christ.
What is Roman Catholic?
The Roman Catholic Church is headed by a Pope and is one tradition of the churches headed by the Catholic Church, all of which are in communion with the Pope. The primary difference between Catholicism and Roman Catholicism lies in the performance of rites, with Roman Catholics using Latin rites and Orthodox Catholics using Byzantine rites. Roman Catholic is often considered a term that distinguishes it from other types of churches, and the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church refers to Rome.
What is the difference between Catholic and Roman Catholic?
Catholic and Roman Catholic are both terms used to refer to a person’s religious beliefs, and several theories exist regarding the distinctions between the two:
- Catholic generally refers to all Catholic beliefs, such as Roman Catholics and Orthodox Catholics, while Roman Catholic refers to one specific tradition.
- Catholic is broader than Roman Catholic in terms of expansion, as it also includes Roman Catholicism.
- The term “Catholic Church” refers to the churches in communion with the Pope, who is their leader. These churches have different rites, or traditions, with Roman Catholic being just one such rite. In this sense, Roman Catholic is a subset of Catholic.
- However, if Catholic is considered to encompass all Catholic beliefs, including those not in communion with the Pope, then both Catholic (in communion with the Pope) and Roman Catholic are subsets of the broader term Catholic.
