From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe Church of Christ is really present in all legitimately organized local groups of the faithful, which, in so far as they are united to their pastors, are also quite appropriately called Churches in the New Testament. . . . In them the faithful are gathered together through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and the mystery of the Lord\u2019s Supper is celebrated. . . . In these communities, though they may often be small and poor, or existing in the diaspora, Christ is present, through whose power and influence the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is constituted.\u201d312<\/sup>
833\u00a0<\/strong>The phrase \u201cparticular Church,\u201d which is first of all the diocese (or eparchy), refers to a community of the Christian faithful in communion of faith and sacraments with their bishop ordained in apostolic succession.313<\/sup>\u00a0These particular Churches \u201care constituted after the model of the universal Church; it is in these and formed out of them that the one and unique Catholic Church exists.\u201d314<\/sup>
834\u00a0<\/strong>Particular Churches are fully catholic through their communion with one of them, the Church of Rome \u201cwhich presides in charity.\u201d315<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cFor with this church, by reason of its pre-eminence, the whole Church, that is the faithful everywhere, must necessarily be in accord.\u201d316<\/sup>\u00a0Indeed, \u201cfrom the incarnate Word\u2019s descent to us, all Christian churches everywhere have held and hold the great Church that is here [at Rome] to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior\u2019s promise, the gates of hell have never prevailed against her.\u201d317<\/sup>
<\/span><\/span><\/span>
836\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAll men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God\u2019s grace to salvation.\u201d320<\/sup>
837\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who \u2013 by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion \u2013 are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but \u2018in body\u2019 not \u2018in heart.'\u201d321<\/sup>
838\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.\u201d322<\/sup>\u00a0Those \u201cwho believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.\u201d323<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n