The Roman Catholic Church “Roman Catholicism refers both to a church (or, more accurately, a college of churches that together constitute the universal Catholic Church and to a tradition”(Macmillan 576). The Roman Catholic Church is the oldest church and has existed since the time of Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church has been in existence for nearly 2,000 years. The Catholic Church is also the most popular church, “there are more than one-half billion Catholics worldwide, by far the largest body of Christians” (Macmillan 576 ). The history of the Catholic religion can be traced back to its original successor St. Peter. Jesus Christ tol