Catholic - GCSE History Definition

The term 'Catholic' refers to the branch of Christianity that acknowledges the Pope in Rome as its spiritual leader and follows the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics take part in important religious practices called sacraments, like baptism and communion. Their church has a clear hierarchy with the Pope at the top. In GCSE History, Catholicism is important when learning about the Reformation — a time in the 1500s when people began to question the Catholic Church. This caused major religious problems across Europe, including in England. For example, Elizabeth I’s Religious Settlement tried to create a middle ground between Catholics and Protestants to avoid conflict, but many Catholics were still unhappy with her changes. Some Catholics even saw her as an illegitimate queen which led to plots against her and tensions at home and abroad. Understanding what Catholicism is helps students make sense of the big religious arguments and political struggles that shaped this period of history.