The Roman catechism or better known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent (published in 1566) was developed to expose the doctrine and improve the theological understanding of the parish priests.

Three cardinals supervised the work. Cardinal Carlos Borromeo who gave body to the work, Cardinal William Sirletus who gave the finishing touches and cardinals Julius Pogianus and Paulus Manutius, who translated it into Latin. The vernacular translation for all nations was ordered by the council in session 24.

It was the official catechism of the entire Church from its enactment in 1566 until the publication in 1992 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was delivered to the faithful "to serve as a safe and authentic reference text for the teaching of Catholic doctrine ".