The Apostles’ Creed in Latin is the Symbolum Apostolorum, which begins “Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae”: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” It is the ancient baptismal creed of the Church of Rome, prayed in Latin for more than fifteen centuries, said at the beginning of the Rosary and, since the Roman Missal of 2002, allowed at Mass in place of the Nicene Creed. Below is the full Latin text, a pronunciation guide in Church Latin, a phrase-by-phrase translation, the English Creed and a note on its history.
The Symbolum Apostolorum in Latin
From the Latin Wikisource text:
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ, et in Iesum Christum, Fílium Eius unicum, Dóminum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine,
passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifixus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Et in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam,
sanctórum communiónem,
remissiónem peccatórum,
carnis resurrectiónem,
vitam ætérnam.
Amen.
How to pronounce it
In Church (Ecclesiastical) Latin, the opening lines (stressed syllables in capitals):
KREH-doh een DEH-oom PAH-trem ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tem,
kreh-ah-TOH-rem CHEH-lee et TEHR-reh,
et een YEH-soom KREE-stoom, FEE-lee-oom EH-yoos OO-nee-koom, DOH-mee-noom NOH-stroom,
kwee kon-CHEP-toos est deh SPEE-ree-too SAHNK-toh, NAH-toos eks mah-REE-ah VEER-jee-neh.
Tips: “ae” and “æ” sound like “eh” (caeli, terrae); “c” before e, i or ae sounds like “ch” (caeli, conceptus); “g” before e or i sounds like “j” (Virgine); “ti” before a vowel sounds like “tsee”; every vowel is pronounced.
Phrase-by-phrase translation
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem | I believe in God, the Father almighty |
| Creatorem caeli et terrae | Creator of heaven and earth |
| et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum | and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord |
| qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine | who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary |
| passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus | suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried |
| descendit ad inferos | he descended into hell |
| tertia die resurrexit a mortuis | on the third day he rose again from the dead |
| ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis | he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty |
| inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos | from there he will come to judge the living and the dead |
| Credo in Spiritum Sanctum | I believe in the Holy Spirit |
| sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem | the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints |
| remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam | the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting |
The Apostles’ Creed in English
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 Ghost, 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, 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 Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
History
The Apostles’ Creed grew from the questions asked of new Christians at baptism in Rome in the 2nd and 3rd centuries (“Do you believe in God the Father almighty?”); its present Latin form is found by the 8th century. A tradition said that each of the twelve apostles contributed one article. It was never used in the Greek East. Today Catholics pray it at the start of the Rosary, in morning prayer, and may say it at Mass, especially in Lent and Easter. See the Apostles’ Creed and the Apostles’ Creed vs. the Nicene Creed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Apostles’ Creed called in Latin?
The Symbolum Apostolorum or Symbolum Apostolicum, often simply the Credo.
What does “carnis resurrectionem” mean?
“The resurrection of the flesh,” translated in English as “the resurrection of the body.”
Is the Nicene Creed also in Latin?
Yes. See the Nicene Creed for its Latin text, Credo in unum Deum.
More prayers in Latin
- Catholic prayers in Latin
- Our Father in Latin
- Hail Mary in Latin
- Latin Rosary prayers
- St. Michael prayer in Latin
- Apostles’ Creed in Spanish
Texts and sources
- Latin text: Latin Wikisource, “Symbolum Apostolicum.”
- English Apostles’ Creed: see the Apostles’ Creed page for its source.