According to the British broadcasting corporation website, the Catholic Church dates back two thousand years. That is many years and as such makes it one of the oldest religious institutions currently existing. Although the exact year or time of creation is unknown, it is stated that when Jesus Christ began his ministry in the book of Matthew chapter sixteen verse eighteen, he said, ‘this is Peter and upon this rock my Church will stand’ marked the beginning of what is now known as the Roman Catholic Church.
After Jesus Christ was crucified, his disciples went from place to place, spreading the gospel, performing miracles and converting sinners. Such widespread gospel among early Christians is what has grown to become the modern day Catholic Church. However, there are also speculations which state that the Catholic Church began when Jesus Christ began his ministry in Judea. Following his teachings, healing including other activities carried out from one part of Judea to the other, disciples continued this evangelism after he died. These practices were emulated by Jesus disciples who began to spread the gospel everywhere they went.
Currently, we are in the year two thousand and twenty written as 2020 A. D after death of Christ meaning that the Church is a few years over two thousand. Since the spread of the gospel began, the old Catholic Church has evolved in numerous ways both intentionally and not intentionally. There have been other denominations breaking away to create different churches that are not affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church. Some doctrines have been rewritten, improved upon, others have been written off. Even some practices have changed over time. Now, divisions include multiple denominations like Roman Catholic Church, the old Catholic Church, Anglican, Pentecostals, Church of England as well as others.
Consequently, the current number of Catholics existing both in and out of Europe amounts to over one billion with churches scattered about in every country. The Old Roman Empire can be attributed with this widespread of existing gospel both through conventional and non-conventional means. Most Catholics become practitioners automatically once they are born into a Catholic family. Others choose to become a member either by conversion because something interested them or because they married a practicing Catholic. As a result, the Catholic Church is old with generations of Bishops, along with many of its members, to be born and die. It will most likely be around for another two thousand years or more depending on its conduct.