The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ according to sacred tradition and Catholic teaching. The New Testament records Jesus' activities, teachings, and his appointment of the twelve Apostles, instructing them to continue his work. Catholics believe that the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles at Pentecost marked the beginning of the Church's public ministry
. Saint Peter is traditionally regarded as the first bishop of Rome and the first pope, establishing an unbroken line of succession that continues to the current pope. Jesus is believed to have designated Peter as the "rock" upon which the Church would be built (Matthew 16:18). Although some scholars debate the historical details of Peter's role and the early structure of the Church in Rome, Catholic doctrine holds that Peter's leadership was foundational to the Church's establishment
. The institutional development of the Catholic Church was gradual, evolving over the first few centuries after Jesus' death. The title "pope" and the papal authority became more clearly defined by the late 4th century, with figures like Pope Siricius and Pope Leo I strengthening the role of the Bishop of Rome
. Contrary to some misconceptions, the Catholic Church was not created by Emperor Constantine. Christianity existed as a distinct faith community well before Constantine's reign, and the term "Catholic Church" was already in use by the early 2nd century. Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD granted religious tolerance but did not found the Church itself
. In summary, the Catholic Church traces its origins directly to Jesus Christ and his apostles, with Saint Peter playing a central role in its early leadership, and it developed institutionally over the first centuries of the Christian era
