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The term '''''Roman Catholic Church''''' refers to those churches (including the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] and other non-Latin rite churches) in communion with the [[Bishop]] of Rome, the [[Pope]]. It also can refer specifically to the bishops under the pope's direct [[jurisdiction]], i.e., the Latin rite. Historically, the [[Church of Rome]] was one of the [[Pentarchy]] and enjoyed communion with the [[Orthodox Church]]. In 1054 a [[Great Schism|schism]] between Rome and the other patriarchal sees resulted from widening differences between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. The cause of the schism was initially a dispute over papal authority and the soundness of theology surrounding the term ''[[filioque]]'', a word which was added by the Western churches to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Creed]] without the consent of the Orthodox bishops. Nevertheless, the effects of the schism were not immediately felt everywhere, and it was only over time that the current complete lack of communion between the Orthodox and Roman Catholics became widespread. The process of mutual distrust was furthered by the unfortunate sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
Today, the main differences between the [[Orthodox Church]] and the Roman Catholic Church continue to be the inclusion of ''filioque'' in the Creed (and its concomitant theology of double-procession—that the Spirit proceeds from the Father ''and the Son'') and the scope of papal authority. However, most Orthodox also believe that there is a distinct difference in spirit and attitude, which is expressed in the manner of doing theology as well as concrete differences in pastoral care. Additionally, the Roman Catholic Church has made pronouncements of [[dogma]] since the Great Schism (such as [[Purgatory]], the [[Immaculate Conception]], and papal infallibility), and other matters of doctrine (such as original sin), which are regarded as falseby the Orthodox Church. These pronouncements, and the theological understanding behind them, present another obstacle to the unity of Catholic and Orthodox.
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