How come the centre of the catholic religion is in rome?

Question

Wasn't it those naughty romans who nailed jesus to a tree?

Answer 1

Saint Peter, the first Pope, was the Bishop of Rome.

Answer 2

It is because the Roman Empire, under Constantine, adopted the Catholic Church as its official religion. Now this is some three centuries after Christ. Rome was not always the center of Christianity, and certainly not where it originated. The Catholic Church is based in Rome for mostly political reasons. Likewise, the center of the Greek Orthodox Church is (or was) in Constantinople/Istanbul, because after the Roman Empire divided, the Catholic Church also divided between West (Rome) and East (Constantinople), with the Eastern Church becoming the Orthodox church.

Answer 3

Kind of.

At the time of Jesus Christ, almost the entire known world was ruled by the Romans.

The Apostles especially Peter and Paul went about the Roman world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end, they wound up in the capital, Rome, and were martyred there.

Over the centuries, Rome became the headquarters for the early Christian Church that soon (about 107 A.D.) became known as the Catholic Church.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

The term "Roman" Catholic is a more recent description for the largest Christian denomination in the world (around 1.2 billion members)
Prior to the reformation in England, the Church was the Catholic Church. After all the commotion of the split with Rome, the Church remained Catholic but took on a more anglicised form. When eventually the original Catholic faith was restored in the 1850's, "Roman Catholic" started to be used to differentiate between "Anglo Catholics".

Answer 5

Because, at one time, "all roads led to Rome"
I'm not big on religion but I have learned a bit today. I always believed Jesus had been nailed to a cross but if you say he was nailed to a tree Squirrel - who am I to argue. He must have had a hell of a job carrying the tree all the way to Calvary. I hope the Romans helped a bit by at least digging it out of the ground before Jesus had to shoulder it up a hillside.

Answer 6

In 391 Christianity was established as the official religion of the Roman Empire and as the empire collapsed the Church assumed political and cultural roles previously held by the Roman aristocracy. Thus Christianity spread because of the Roman Empire and after the empire was gone the Churhc became the most powerful authority in Europe with its HQ if you will in Rome.

Answer 7

Its at Rome because the Roman Leader Constantine of York who became Caesar made the Christian Faith the main faith of the Roman Empire when he came to power. But & there is a but for a time there was two headquarters to the Catholic Church one in Rome and one in Constantinople. Constantinople was invaded and the main church was converted into a Mosque, which you can still visit to this day.
Well that is a basic outline. I hope it helps.

Answer 8

The faith of Christians compromised by the end of the first century. By that time, only John was left of all those who knew Jesus and worked with him day after day. He could not stop the apostacy which had been prophesied by Jesus, John and Paul years earlier. Instead of looking to God's kingdom for salvation and direction, they began to look to themselves. They were interpreting the scriptures in their own way and saying things that weren't true.

At that time, the power in the known world was Rome. There were already Christians there, and Paul had already written a letter of siritual encouragement to them. When the Roman Empire began it's long decline, the positions and symbols of power abdicated by the emperors were taken up by the newly formed Catholic Church. This is where the Catholic church began and it is where they remain today.

A book called "The Two Babylons" makes for some eye-opening reading, if you can dig below the very difficult language style. It can be obtained from this website. Further information can be obtained from the second website

Answer 9

As far as the second part of your question is concerned the Romans were the authoritative power and legislators. However, it was the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Religious Council) that arrested Jesus and put him on trial. it was this same council that threatened Pontius Pilate with the accusation of not being a friend of Caesar that prompted Pilate to hand Jesus back to the Sanhedrin.

Because of the threat of revolt, an uprising in Judea, and because Pilate was already under pressure from a rising tide of revolt. He had his soldiers perform the crucifixion of Jesus but it was the Jewish authorities that demanded his death. Therefore, it was the Jews, ultimately who killed Jesus.

On the Spiritual side Jesus was killed by the believers and the non believers. This is in line with the scripture that says, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." The whole of the world orders, religious and secular were involved in the crucifixion of Jesus. Therefore the blame is on the world not just a small nation in the Mediterranean sea.

In a more general sense it was our sins that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus, and it was the crucifixion of Jesus that enables our redemption (a restored relationship with God that was broken when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden [Genesis chapter 3]). By recognising that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, and that forgiveness comes to each one that repents (a religious word meaning to do an about turn), of our sins, and then by asking forgiveness we receive it directly from God. Then we have to make our minds up to make this our way of life.

As far as the first part of your question is concerned, do you not think it ironic that the church should take over the very centre of government that were instrumental in the physical crucifixion of Jesus, I think it is very apt that God,made his mark in such a way and showed the world who in fact is in control.

Answer 10

Partly because of a clever forgery called the 'Donation of Constantine'. This was made in the eighth century, but not unmasked until 1440 by Lorenzo Valla.

The centre of the Roman empire in the centuries following the fall of Rome, became Constantinople. This was the city which Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor founded, and which continued the Roman empire as the Byzantine empire up until its sacking in the First Crusade, and eventual fall to the Ottomans in 1453.

The text of the 'Donations' related how Constantine had been cured of leprosy by Sylvester, the Pope of Rome, and in gratitude had left the entire Western Roman Empire to the church of Rome in his will, giving it full authority in all temporal matters, and cutting out the East.

The forgery was full of bogus 'references' and named 'witnesses' and was accepted as genuine for centuries.

Answer 11

St. Peter became the bishop of the Roman Church. St. Peter is seen as the leader between the apostles by catholics. Catholics also believe in apostolic succession thus the successor of Peter becomes the bishop of Rome.