<P> Roman Catholic is a term sometimes used to differentiate members of the Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope in Rome from other Christians, especially those who also self - identify as "Catholic", such as Anglo - Catholics and Independent Catholics . The term is not an official title used by the Vatican or bishops in union with the Pope as a designation for their faith or institution . It is instead a term that became common among non-Catholics, especially in English, which is now occasionally used by Roman Catholic officials . </P> <P> "Catholic" is one of the Four Marks of the Church set out in the Nicene Creed, a statement of belief accepted by members of many denominations some of which assert belief in an invisible form of "Christian Church" analogous to branch theory and Protestant ecclesiology . Branch theory would believe in an invisible Christian Church structure binding various Christian denominations together whether in formal communion or not . </P> <P> The term "Roman", as in the "Roman Church", has been used since the Middle Ages--often connoting the local particular church of the Diocese of Rome--the first known occurrence of "Roman Catholic" as a synonym for "Catholic Church" was in communication with the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1208, after the East--West Schism . </P> <P> Following the pejorative term "papist", attested in English since 1534, the terms "Popish Catholic" and "Romish Catholic" came into use during the Protestant Reformation . During the 17th century, "Roman Catholic Church" was often used as a synonym for the Catholic Church, especially where Protestants and Anglicans dominated demographically . Although its usage has since changed over the centuries, the name continued to be widely used in English - speaking countries, including the United States . </P>

When was the term roman catholic church first used