Was the Catholic Church founded in the year 325 by Emperor Constantine?

It's not uncommon to hear the idea that Constantine, the Roman emperor, founded the Church in 325 during the Council of Nicaea. However, this is quite a common misunderstanding.

First and foremost, let me clarify that the Catholic Church was not founded by Constantine in 325 or at any time. Not at all! The Catholic Church has its roots in the teachings and mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The correct assertion is that Jesus Christ is the founder of the Catholic Church, and this is supported by the teachings of the New Testament.

When Jesus was on Earth, He himself established the Church. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Here, Jesus designates Peter as the rock upon which He will build His Church. This is a key moment where Jesus establishes apostolic authority and the structure of the Church.

Furthermore, after His resurrection, Jesus commissions His apostles, sending them to preach and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). This apostolic commission forms the basis of the Church's mission to teach, sanctify, and govern.

If we take a look at the Book of Acts in the New Testament, we see how the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, established Christian communities in various regions. It was not an initiative of Constantine or any secular leader but a movement inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit.

The idea that Constantine founded the Church at the Council of Nicaea in 325 is incorrect. The Council of Nicaea was convened to address crucial theological issues, especially the nature of the divinity of Jesus Christ, not to found the Church. Constantine, while playing a significant role in convening the council, did not establish the Church, as it already existed from the times of Jesus and the apostles.

It's important to note that the Church already had a hierarchical structure with bishops and presbyters before the Council of Nicaea. Christian communities had been established and were growing long before Constantine recognized Christianity as a legalized religion in the Roman Empire.

The Catholic Church, with its apostolic succession, follows the line of the apostles who were directly commissioned by Jesus Christ. This apostolic succession is a testimony to the continuity of apostolic teaching and authority from the early times of the Church to today.

Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly underscores the divine foundation of the Church: "Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, which is so effective that it constitutes, together with the Church's action, the sacrament of salvation, the sign and the instrument of the communion of God and men. In the Church, this communion of men with God, in the 'love [that] never ends,' is the purpose which governs everything in her that is a sacrament, that is, a sign and instrument" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 780).

In summary, the assertion that Constantine founded the Catholic Church in 325 is entirely incorrect. The Church was established by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry and continued to grow under the guidance of the apostles and the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church, with its rich apostolic tradition, remains the continuation of that Church founded by Jesus over two thousand years ago. 

-Author: Father Ignacio Andrade