The Church

The Church is the assembly of those whom God calls and gathers in Christ to form one People. She unites believers in one same faith, one baptism and one life received from God, and joins them to Christ as to their head. Christ himself founded her and promised her to endure until the end: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.” Matthew 16:18

Founded by Christ

The Church is born of Christ. He gathers her during his life, establishes her on Peter and the apostles, and makes her rest on himself as on her cornerstone: “You are built upon the foundation of the apostles, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles and grants the Church to enter the world. From that day, she proclaims the Gospel and welcomes those who believe through baptism: “The Lord added to the Church each day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47

The Body of Christ

The Church is the Body of Christ. Christ is its head, and the baptised are its members: joined to him and to one another, they receive their life from him and together form one body animated by one Spirit: “You are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

It is from the head that the whole body holds its growth and its unity: “He is the head of the body, the Church.” Colossians 1:18 This People gathered by God is consecrated to his service and called to make him known: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” 1 Peter 2:9

One, holy, catholic and apostolic

The Church bears four marks by which she is recognised, professed in the Creed. She is one: a single body, in one same faith, the same sacraments and communion under the successor of Peter, according to the prayer of Christ: “That they may all be one, so that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:21 She is holy because Christ loved her and gave himself for her; he sanctifies her and gives her the means to lead her members to holiness: “Christ loved the Church: he gave himself up for her, in order to sanctify her.” Ephesians 5:25-26

She is catholic, that is, universal: sent to all peoples and all times, she carries salvation to the whole world: “Go, and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19 She is apostolic: she keeps the faith received from the apostles, and the bishops, united to the Pope, succeed them in handing it on faithfully until the end of time.

Sacrament of salvation

The Church is the instrument by which Christ gives men the salvation he won. She is like a mother who gives birth to divine life through baptism and nourishes it through the sacraments and the word of God. In her, men receive what Christ entrusted to his Church for all.

She is necessary for salvation, for Christ willed that one come to him through her, and all salvation flows from him through his body. Turned toward her fulfilment, she journeys toward the day when God will be all in all, when she will be fully united to Christ in glory: “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2