The Apostles' Creed

Updated October 15, 2026

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Traditional wording (public domain), as in the Baltimore Catechism. The current US liturgical translation (ICEL 2010) is copyrighted and differs slightly.

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Key takeaways

It sums up the core beliefs of the faith in twelve short statements.
It is prayed at the beginning of the Rosary and at Mass in some seasons.
Tradition links it to the apostles; in its present form it grew from the old Roman baptismal creed.

What is the Apostles' Creed?

The Apostles' Creed is a short statement of what Catholics believe about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Catechism calls it the oldest Roman catechism and a faithful summary of the apostles' faith (CCC 194). Its present wording is first found in the 8th century, but it grew out of much older baptismal questions.

When to pray it

Catholics pray it at the start of the Rosary, in Masses for children, and during Lent and Easter in place of the Nicene Creed (an option at Mass). It is also used in the baptismal rite and in many personal devotions.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

The Creed has three parts, one for each Person of the Trinity. Believing in God means believing in three Persons who are one God.

He descended into hell

This does not mean the place of the damned. It means that Christ really died and went to the realm of the dead to free the just who waited for him (CCC 631-637).

The communion of saints

All who belong to Christ, in heaven, on earth and in purgatory, are one body and help each other by prayer (CCC 946-962).

Questions people ask

Did the apostles write the Apostles' Creed?

Not word for word. An old legend says each apostle contributed a line, but historians trace the text to the Roman baptismal creed. The Church holds that it faithfully reflects the apostles' teaching (CCC 194).

What is the difference between the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed?

The Nicene Creed is longer and was shaped by the councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381) to defend the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Apostles' Creed is shorter and older in origin.

Does "catholic" in the Creed mean Roman Catholic?

No. Small-c "catholic" means universal. It names the whole Church that Christ founded, which Catholics believe subsists in the Catholic Church.

Why do we say "I believe" and not "we believe"?

The Apostles' Creed is the personal profession of the one baptized. The Nicene Creed at Mass is a profession of the whole gathered Church.

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