The book is dedicated to the largest and most influential movement in Christianity - Catholicism. The Catholic religion today has no equal in the world in terms of the number of followers. More than one billion people consider themselves Catholics—that’s a quarter of the world’s population! The Catholic Church, fulfilling religious tasks, connected itself so closely with the earthly life of society that without it the idea of Western European civilization is unthinkable. The book introduces the reader to Catholic doctrine and religious practice and reveals the role that the Catholic Church played in the history of states and peoples. The most important events in the history of the Church are illustrated by the activities of prominent popes, founders of orders, and famous theologians. A large place in the book is occupied by the story of the organization and activities of the modern Church and its center - the Vatican. The book is intended for students and teachers of higher educational institutions, as well as everyone interested in the history of religion and culture.