fideles

Fideles is a Latin term meaning “the faithful.” It is used in Catholic Church language to designate the baptized members of the Church, collectively referred to as the People of God. The word derives from fidelis, meaning faithful or trustworthy, with fideles serving as the plural form used as a substantive.

In official Church usage, fideles typically refers to the laity and those in religious life who are not ordained, distinguishing them from the clergy (clerus), such as bishops and priests. The concept emphasizes that, through baptism, all members participate in Christ’s priesthood in a shared mission, even though the ministerial priesthood is reserved to ordained clergy. In this sense, the faithful are called to witness, evangelize, and participate in the life of the Church.

The term appears in various Vatican II documents and subsequent Church writings in Latin, and in English translations it is usually rendered as “the faithful” or, less commonly, “the people of God.” It is commonly used in liturgical and pastoral contexts as well as in canonical texts to reference the body of believers who form the Church’s lay and religious membership.

Usage notes: fideles should not be confused with the term clerus, which refers to the ordained leadership of the Church. While in some contexts the scope of fideles can be understood broadly to include religious who are not ordained, many texts treat it primarily as a designation for baptized lay people. The term remains a standard part of Catholic ecclesial vocabulary.