What year did the Catholic Church come into existence?

Answer 1

The origins of the Church are generally suggested to go back to the Apostle Peter - so the first century AD.

The Roman Catholic Church in its current form is generally suggested to have been formed at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD by the Emperor Constantine.

There is a lot of debate around both of these statements.

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Catholic AnswerOur Blessed Lord established His Church when He was dying on the cross. The Church was born from the blood and water that flowed from His Side when he was pierced with a lance. The blood is the symbol of the Most Holy Eucharist, and the water represents baptism. Then, after the Ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit on the infant Church to guide and lead it. The word, "Catholic" means universal and we have no written proof of when they first starting using it, but we have documents from right at the end of the first century/beginning of the second. The Church has continued since than, and will do so until the end of time, for that we have the solemn promise of Our Blessed Lord. Suggestions that the Church came into existence with Constantine are ridiculous. All the emperor did was to make Christianity legal and end the horrendous abuses and killings under previous emperors.

Answer 2

Catholic Answer

The Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Jesus Christ on the cross outside of Jerusalem when He side was pierced by a spear, around 33 A.D.. Then it was shown to the world at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, fifty-three days later. In other words, God created the Catholic Church out of love for men, and He continues to sustain it in existence until the end of the world, again, out of Love.

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from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

766 The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. "The origin and growth of the church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" Sacrosanctum concilium 5) As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. (Cf. St. Ambrose, In Luc. 2, 85-89: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 15, 1666-1668)

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767 "When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church." (Lumen gentium 4; cf. Jn 17:4) The "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun." (Ad gentes 4) As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. (Cf. Mt 28:19-20; Ad gentes 2; 5-6)

Answer 3

Around 33 year

Answer 4

33 a.D.