Expert: Rev Steve Parish - 10/26/2011

Question
Reverend,
Just want if you can tell me when and how did the Catholic (or Roman Catholic Church) had started.Also if you can tell who began to establish the Church.

Thank you

Nelson
Anglican Church of Melanesia

Answer
The Catholic Church began with Jesus and the Apostles. The Bishop of Rome was accepted as its leader (the Pope). It only needed to be distinguished as the Roman Catholic Church after the Great Schism of 1054 when the Orthodox Churches separated, and then the Protestant Reformation reinforced the divisions.