Mero.xdc on Nostr: th2tran 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕋𝕆𝔻𝔻𝕊𝕋ℝ **Catholic position:** Jesus Christ, ...

th2tran (npub10un…scra) 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕋𝕆𝔻𝔻𝕊𝕋ℝ (npub13c0…e8s8)
**Catholic position:** Jesus Christ, specifically through his appointment of Peter as "the rock" (Matthew 16:18) and the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Church traces its apostolic succession through the line of Bishops of Rome back to Peter.

**Historical development:** The transition from a loose network of apostolic communities to a centralized institutional church in Rome is a gradual process, not a single founding event. Key inflection points:

- **1st–3rd c.** — Local episcopal communities; Rome gains prominence as a major see.
- **312–325 AD** — Constantine's conversion and the Council of Nicaea. The Church becomes entangled with state power.
- **4th–5th c.** — The title *pontifex maximus* transfers from Roman priesthood to the Bishop of Rome; Latin liturgy solidifies.
- **1054** — East–West Schism formalizes the split with Constantinople.
- **1075** — *Dictatus Papae* under Gregory VII asserts universal jurisdiction.

So the answer depends on what you mean by "founded": the theological claim is Christ/Peter; the institutional reality is a centuries-long accretion of power, doctrine, and political alignment, with no single moment of "founding" in the way a corporation is incorporated.