Catholic Church

noun4

1. •
   The Catholic Church, which consists of 24 particular churches in full communion with the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.

   • The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church, comprising almost half of all Christians in the world.
2. •
   Literally "universal church", the whole body of Christendom, especially before the division into Western and Eastern churches.
3. •
   Any of the independent Catholic Churches, such as the Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church, or the Orthodox Catholic Church.
4. •
   Any Christian denomination that identifies explicitly as "Catholic" based on its affirmation of the Nicene Creed, such as any of the Anglican Churches.