The oldest and largest denomination of Christianity. It is based out of Vatican City, a small city-state in Italy, and is overseen by the Pope. The Catholic Church is a large organization with a complex hierarchy of priests; high-ranking Catholic priests are called bishops, and the highest rank is that of "Cardinal", so called due to their practice of wearing red robes. This hierarchy is sexist, as women cannot advance beyond the rank of nun. Catholic priests are also sworn to vows of celibacy, making them a popular topic for works exploring the concept of sexual repression.

A major component of Catholicism is the recognition of saints, historical figures lauded for great contributions or sacrifices to Christianity. Saints are canonized at the discretion of the pope, and they are then elevated to quasi-deific status. Adherents may pray to saints for help or guidance on a specific subject overseen by the saint, rather than only praying to God.

The practice of confession booths originated in Catholicism, but is used by some Protestant denominations as well.

Catholicism is well-known for having large and aesthetically elaborate churches, frequently including stained glass windows that depict important scenes from the Christian Bible. This is in contrast to Protestant churches, which are usually austere.

Further Reading

• Wikipedia's article on the Catholic Church