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Questions / The Church and the Pope

Is the Catholic Church the one true Church?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Bishop Robert Barron

Video: Is the Catholic Church Really the One, True Church? (#AskBishopBarron), Bishop Robert Barron, published Jul 16, 2009. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: The Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church, and real truth and holiness also exist outside her walls. Both are true. CCC 816 CCC 819

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

The one Church of Christ, which He entrusted to Peter and the apostles, “subsists in” the Catholic Church. CCC 816

Many elements of holiness and truth are also found outside her visible boundaries: the written Word of God, the life of grace, faith, hope and charity. CCC 819

Our words

Catholics believe the fullness is here, and gladly admit real holiness elsewhere. Both of those are true at once.

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 816, 819 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.