Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, fully the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church and colloquially also referred to as the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of Rome, is the dominant Christian faith in Western Europe. Despite its claim to universal jurisdiction based on the Petrine supremacy, its influence is only supreme in Western Christendom after this doctrine of papal supremacy caused the great schism with the Orthodox Churches to the East. Most rulers in Western Europe belong to the Catholic Church, its role in daily life is unquestioned by most medieval Western Europeans. An influential hierarchy headed by the Pope heads the Catholic Church, with bishops heading up every diocese.

Monastic orders

 * Order of Saint Benedict