WHY A UNIVERSAL CHURCH?
Catholics describe the Church as a worldwide communion of local churches, united in faith, sacraments, and episcopal fellowship with Rome.
Historical context
Catholic teaching says the universal Church exists in and from particular churches, while communion with Rome has a distinctive role. This differs from treating each local church as a branch of a merely voluntary federation.
Avoid overclaiming
Worldwide size does not by itself prove catholicity or exclusive truth. Catholic teaching on particular churches is not adequately described as local branches of a corporate headquarters.
Strongest alternative reading
Orthodox churches understand catholicity through local Eucharistic churches in shared apostolic faith and conciliar communion without accepting universal papal jurisdiction. Protestant accounts distinguish visible and invisible dimensions of the one Church and vary over the forms of visible unity.
Key points
- Apostolic mission
- local churches
- bishops in communion
- a worldwide Catholic Church
Common questions
- How does this account join a complete local church to a worldwide communion?
- What additional argument connects the shared scriptural call to unity with communion with Rome?
Scripture
- Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8
- Ephesians 2:11-22
- Ephesians 4:1-16
- Acts 15:6-29
Primary sources
Lumen Gentium §13 states:
Vatican II describes all humanity as called into God's one people.
All men are called to belong to the new people of God.
Passage context and translation
The council describes the Church's universal mission; this sentence by itself does not define communion with the bishop of Rome.
After the excerpt
Wherefore this people, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world