"Catholic" is used in Protestant and allied traditions to indicate a self-understanding of the universality of the confession and continuity of faith and practice from Early Christianity, including the "full company of God's redeemed people." It has no specific connection with any particular country or region. Although originally applied only to Christians in Rome, it is now used by all Christian churches that accept its basic tenets. Called "the catholic church" by Pope St. Pius X in 1907, this phrase was intended as a rebuke to those churches that had broken away from the universal church over time by calling themselves "independent". The pope was particularly critical of German Catholics who had separated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church following the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The word "catholic" also has many other meanings. It can mean "universal", "including all parts or aspects", "without discrimination". It can also mean simply "alliance or union". But these meanings do not overlap with each other - you can't be both catholic and universal for example - so they are not interchangeable. In conclusion, the word "catholic" is important because it describes exactly what we are. We are a single body made up of different countries all united under one head - Jesus Christ.