Final answer:
Christianity existed before Catholicism. It was officially recognized as the state religion in the 4th century by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Catholicism emerged as a branch of Christianity during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christianity existed before Catholicism. In the early stages of the Christian faith, there was no single set of beliefs that united Christians. However, in the 2nd century, Christianity began to be understood as a distinct religion from Judaism.
It wasn't until the 4th century that the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official state religion, and less than a hundred years later, the Roman Emperor Theodosius made it the official religion of the Roman Empire.
With the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, different branches of Christianity, including Catholicism, emerged.