The Catholic Church traces its origins back to Jesus Christ and his disciples in the 1st century CE. According to Catholic tradition, Jesus appointed his apostle Peter as the leader of the church, with Peter often considered the first bishop of Rome and, by extension, the first pope. The New Testament records Jesus' teachings, appointment of the twelve Apostles, and his instructions to them to continue his work. The public ministry of the Church is traditionally believed to have begun with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles at Pentecost. The early Christian community started forming soon after Jesus' death and resurrection around 30-35 CE. The church in Rome, which became central to the Catholic tradition, developed gradually as Christianity spread through the Roman Empire. By the early 2nd century, the term "Catholic Church" was used to describe the universal church, with the first known use of the phrase around AD 110 by Saint Ignatius of Antioch. While Peter is traditionally seen as the founder and first leader, the organizational structure and doctrines of the Catholic Church solidified over the following centuries, notably by the 4th and 5th centuries. Key developments include the legalization of Christianity under Emperor Constantine in 313 CE and the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire by Emperor Theodosius I in 380 CE. In summary, the Catholic Church was founded in the 1st century CE, originating from the ministry of Jesus Christ and the leadership of his apostles, particularly Peter, with its formal structures and doctrines solidifying over the early centuries of the Christian era.