How Much Do You Know About the History of Catholicism?

By: Annette
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

It's one of the most cherished religions in history, and it reaches to all sides of the globe. Catholicism has a rich and interesting history, but there's a good chance you don't know all the details. This quiz will uncover your ignorance! God help you.

Who was Rome's first bishop?

Saint Peter is believed to be Rome's first bishop, making him also the first Pope. He consecrated Linus as the next bishop.

What happened to the first man to translate the Bible into English?

Sadly, William Tyndale was executed by the Roman Catholic Church for translating the Bible into English. Roughly 83% of the New Testament in the King James Bible is Tyndale’s translation.

Whenever the church breaks apart, it's called a ______ .

Whenever there is a major break in the church, it's called a schism. There have been many throughout history, with the first one in 144 AD.

Which country has the most Catholics in the world?

Brazil is the country that has the most Catholics in the world. Just think about Christ the Redeemer!

Catholics make up roughly _____ of the population.

Catholics make up roughly 16% of the population. This has remained steady for about a century.

When were the Crusades?

The Crusades were sanctioned by the Latin Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. More specifically, it was the High and Late Middle Ages.

Who began the tradition of honoring saints?

It was actually the Jews that began the tradition of honoring saints. Their tradition was to honor prophets and holy people with shrines.

What was the symbol used by early Christians to identify themselves?

The fish, or ICHTHUS, was the symbol used by early Christians to identify themselves. This was important, as they were in a time of persecution.

What was the fate of Saint Peter?

Sadly, the fate of Saint Peter, the first Catholic pope, was crucifixion. He was crucified upside down so that he would not die the same way that Jesus did.

When was the Council of Nicaea?

The first Council of Nicea took place in 325 AD. This was the first post-apostolic ecumenical council of the Christian community.

True or False: The exact date that the Roman Catholic Church was formed is known by scholars.

It's false that the exact date is known by scholars. The beginning of the church is indeterminable.

Which Council amended the Nicene Creed?

The Council of Constantinople was the first to amend and ratify the Nicene Creed. This resulted in the version used by Christian churches around the world.

Who was the first Pope to claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church?

Pope Leo I was the first to claim universal jurisdiction over the worldwide Church. He presided over the church from 440 to 461 AD.

Where did the first break in the church take place?

The Council of Chalcedon was when the first real break in the church took place. This was in 451 AD.

In what year did John Paul II die?

The venerable John Paul II was elected to the papacy in 1978 and died in 2004. During his time, 17 million people came to his weekly audiences in Rome.

What was the year of the Great Schism?

The Great Schism took place in 1054 AD. The separation of the Eastern and Western branches of the church became official.

When was the term "Roman Catholic" first used?

The term "Roman Catholic" was first used during the Protestant Reformation. Many significant changes took place during this period.

The Council of Trent ____ the power of Rome.

The Council of Trent greatly centralized the church and enhanced the power of Rome. It took place between 1545 and 1563.

What are deuterocanoncial books?

The deuterocanoncial books are those found in the Christian Old Testament. Several deuterocanoncial books are rejected by Protestants.

Proclaiming Peter as the head of the Church was stated in the book of _____ .

Proclaiming Peter as the head of the Church was stated in Matthew 16:18. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

When did the Papal States form?

The Papal States were formed in 590 by Pope Gregory I. He consolidated the lands controlled by authority of the pope.

The early structure for the Catholic Church was provided by _____ .

The early structure for the Christian Church was provided by the apostles. The initial stages of the Christian Church and Roman Catholic Church are almost impossible to separate.

Who was the apostle that was most influential the Jewish Christian movement?

Simon Peter was one of Jesus' 12 apostles, and he was influential in the Jewish Christian movement. Later, James would take over the leadership.

Who was the head of Pauline Christianity?

Paul, once a persecutor of the Christians, because an ardent Christian. His ministry would become known as Pauline Christianity.

In what year was the fall of Jerusalem?

In 70 AD, the fall of Jerusalem took place. This scattered the Jewish Christian movement. Pauline and Gnostic Christianity were left as the dominant groups in its wake.

Which form of Christianity was made valid in the Roman Empire before Catholicism became the official religion?

Pauline Christianity became legally recognized in Rome in 313 AD. Roman Catholicism would become the official religion in 380 AD.

The earliest Catholics were the only ones recognized as ______ .

The earliest Catholics were the only people recognized as Christians. This went on for 1000 years after Roman Catholicism becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire.

True or False: There was a reunification between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

It's false that there was a reunification between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. They remain separate to this day.

When did the Protestant Reformation take place?

The Protestant Reformation took place in the 16th century. This was considered one of the most impactful divisions within the church.

Roman Catholics were set apart from Protestants in regards to ______ .

The Protestant Reformation came down to a question of doctrine. The Catholics held that it was important for church leaders to regulate this doctrine.

How many Catholics are in the world?

There are roughly 1 billion Catholics in the world, on all five continents. They are bound together by their religious beliefs and obedience to the papacy.

True or False: Women can become Roman Catholic priests.

It's false that women can become Roman Catholic priests. Perhaps one day that might change.

True or False: Modern Catholics follows the Church's teachings on contraception and sex.

It's false that modern Catholics (by and large) follow the Church's teachings on contraception and sex. You naughty, naughty Catholics.

The Catholic Church is the ______ institution in the Western world.

The Catholic Church is the oldest institution in the Western world. Its history goes back more than 2,000 years.

The Catholic Church is the _____ denomination in Christianity.

The Catholic Church is the largest single denomination in Christianity. Not only that, but it's also the oldest.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Explore More Quizzes