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The Roman Catholic Church, the largest of the Christian churches, although present in all parts of the world, is identified as Roman because of its historical roots in Rome and because of the importance it attaches to the worldwide ministry of the bishop of Rome, the pope.
The basic religious beliefs of Roman Catholics are those shared by other Christians as derived from the New Testament and formulated in the ancient Creeds of the early ecumenical councils.
The central belief is that God entered the world through the Incarnation of his Son, the Christ or Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
The founding of the Church is traced to the life and teachings of Jesus, whose death is followed by resurrection from the dead after which he sends the Holy Spirit to assist believers.
This triple mission within the Godhead is described doctrinally as the divine Trinity, God one in nature but consisting in three divine persons.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains a full description of the tenets of Catholicism — the essential and basic beliefs in Catholicism. It defines the points of unity for Catholics.