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I know that we have inquisition which is very reminiscent of the catholic church, and the Ecclesiarchy which is also like the catholic church, but do we have any imperial guard regiments reminiscent of the catholic church. I don't know to much lore wise on grey knights other than an old member of the luna wolves joined and some other loyal marines from traitor legions.

Black Templars. They can be compared to the catholic Knights Tempar of old.

Black Templars are based off of Crusaders, and Dark Angels partially on the kind of Catholic monks that kept the knowledge of the Roman Empire alive through the dark ages. But that's also because stylistically one of 40k's (least credited) background inspirations was A Canticle for Leibowitz. Excellent novel, if anyone wants to read it-one of the few novels I've read where the "main character" actually just happens to be some person the story is following rather than a magical chosen one.

As for guard regiment I don't think there are any. Since the Ecclesiaechy is forbidden from having "men at arms", that's why the Sisters exist.

Surely the Sisters of battle?

The Black Templars are probably the most blatantly "Catholic" army you can field. They're essentially the crusading Teutonic Order. Closest thing to a Guard regiment would be Inquisitorial stormtroopers accompanying an Ordo Hereticus inquisitor.

BTs and SoBs

...unless you want the Space Pope

If you're sticking with Astartes, then it's the Black Templars, hands down.

Otherwise, the Sisters of Battle are more Catholic than the Pope.

Catholic as in the actual Catholic Church, or Catholic as in the Middle Ages as imagined by British game designers?

"Which is most like Pope Francis?"

Like there's anything even remotely similar to Pope Francis in 40k.

Black Templars. Don't get caught up on the name "Templar" though, as they are not like the actual Knights Templar order of the Middle Ages, who were actually more bankers and escorts for travelers than they were crusaders.

They are more like Teutonic Order based on their robes, iconography, naming style, etc. like j31c3n said.

They are xenophobic, hateful and fearful of things they don't understand, and are zealots.

Though now that I am thinking of it I think a homemade Imperial Guard regiment that has the above qualities fits the Catholic Theme better, as the crusading armies were much less made up of knights and more dirty, poor, and ignorant peasants who had just enough money to buy equipment and join their crusading king.

 DeLong wrote:
I know that we have inquisition which is very reminiscent of the catholic church,

In which country imo the inqusition and the church is much closer to how protestants were and how the english church was durning reformation.

Pelgrims of saint drusus or pelgrims to an other imperial saint I would say.

Side note 40k religion is also heavy influenced by fasism which makes it hard to compare to the catholic church.

Makumba wrote:

 DeLong wrote:
I know that we have inquisition which is very reminiscent of the catholic church,

In which country imo the inqusition and the church is much closer to how protestants were and how the english church was durning reformation.

This is the Catholic Church as imagined by British Protestants, not the real one.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
As mentioned above the 40K religion is a blend of real religion, fascism/Nazism, and Stalinism -- all as imagined by British game designers.

 Psienesis wrote:
If you're sticking with Astartes, then it's the Black Templars, hands down.

Otherwise, the Sisters of Battle are more Catholic than the Pope.

I thought the Catholics are big on dressing modestly (ie no boobplate)?

Ironically, all of the robes, rituals, and iconolography of the Cathelic church are directly ported from the Roman Legion's worship of Mythras. This was a requirement by the Legions for them to convert to Christianity, and was a requirement Emperor Constatine imposed on the Council of Nicea in order for him to adopt Christianity as the state religion. Thankfully, Mythras was a resurrected diety born of a virgin, just like Krishna and Osiris.

SJ

 Lobukia wrote:
BTs and SoBs

...unless you want the Space Pope

he's already a model LOL sorta kidding.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/480754.page


Sisters of Battle is as close to Catholic Church that I can think of.

Dark Eldar are the most catholic obviously. Both do unspeakable things to innocent children.

 Lammikkovalas wrote:
Dark Eldar are the most catholic obviously. Both do unspeakable things to innocent children.

You, sir, have won the thread. Have an exalt.

 Lammikkovalas wrote:
Dark Eldar are the most catholic obviously. Both do unspeakable things to innocent children.

This made me chuckle out loud at my desk at work

Dark Angels, without a iota of doubt. As with every other faction in 40k there are other themes running under the hood, but catholic influences, from general aesthetics to certain naming choices, are strong with them. For example, the Dark Angels' internal strife is said by some to mirror the Reformation.

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
Black Templars. They can be compared to the catholic Knights Tempar of old.

Not really. They have more in common with the Teutonic Knights. Heck their color scheme and aesthetic is basically a straight rip except for their chapter symbol which was the symbol of the Knights Hospitallar. They actually have nothing in common visually with the actual Knights Templar.

Black Templar I would say (but I am no where near a religion specialist.)

They have cross, they are zealous, and they run around with big sword to 'purge' the 'heretic'. Much similar to the Crusade to be honest.

And the cross they bear is pretty similar to the cross that was draw on the armor of the 'croisé' when they were heading to war.

 Rune Stonegrinder wrote:

 Lobukia wrote:
BTs and SoBs

...unless you want the Space Pope

he's already a model LOL sorta kidding.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/480754.page


Sisters of Battle is as close to Catholic Church that I can think of.

Did someone ask for a space pope?

Makumba wrote:

 DeLong wrote:
I know that we have inquisition which is very reminiscent of the catholic church,

In which country imo the inqusition and the church is much closer to how protestants were and how the english church was durning reformation.

You do understand that the Inquisition was only catholic? By the way the amount of people killed by the inquisition was enormous(ask the moors) and this also lead to the Spanish/Portuguese superiority by really harsh means of slavery and treatment to non Catholics, especially blacks and native americans. I don't see how the catholic church was not that understanding at the time period. I am also not from a British Protestant region both of my Dad is french and my mom is from Rome. I am from ville de Québec. I go to the vatican ever summer and I consider myself extremely catholic as I have never missed a day of church in my life not even when I was sick. The inquisition no matter how much we deny it was a very hurtful organization established by the catholic church. Not to mention that the inquisition lead the 20 year war in france. Where ever you got that the inquisition was made up I have no idea, but my italian french ancestors in the seat region of the catholic church would have to disagree with you I would say.


source:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
Black Templars. They can be compared to the catholic Knights Tempar of old.

Black Templars have nothing to do with the Templars. They carry the colors of the Knights of Saint John and act like Teutonics. Templars were bankers.

 Wyzilla wrote:

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
Black Templars. They can be compared to the catholic Knights Tempar of old.

Black Templars have nothing to do with the Templars. They carry the colors of the Knights of Saint John and act like Teutonics. Templars were bankers.

I was waiting for you to reply everyone else has already said it as well people just don't read previous post.

 Ashiraya wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
If you're sticking with Astartes, then it's the Black Templars, hands down.

Otherwise, the Sisters of Battle are more Catholic than the Pope.

I thought the Catholics are big on dressing modestly (ie no boobplate)?

Catholic doctrine is big on modesty, but only some of the Monk orders ever followed that. After the Early Middle Ages the Pope wore more gold than every pimp in LA and the Crusader Lords absolutely loved flamboyant, ostentatious displays. Although that could be said for every Noble Lord in Europe (in fact the Nobility would frequently acquire massive debt simply for trying to show off to any guests of noble birth or economic might).

Also while the Teutonics were zealous crusaders, and the Black Templars are expies of them, they bear little resemblance to the Catholic ideal. Crusading was only a minor aspect of the Church itself and largely just a part of the Early High period, 11th to 13th centuries. Closest thing to the Catholics would be the Sisters of Battle due to them actually having a hospice order like the Knights of Saint John.

 Wyzilla wrote:

 Ashiraya wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
If you're sticking with Astartes, then it's the Black Templars, hands down.

Otherwise, the Sisters of Battle are more Catholic than the Pope.

I thought the Catholics are big on dressing modestly (ie no boobplate)?

Catholic doctrine is big on modesty, but only some of the Monk orders ever followed that. After the Early Middle Ages the Pope wore more gold than every pimp in LA and the Crusader Lords absolutely loved flamboyant, ostentatious displays. Although that could be said for every Noble Lord in Europe (in fact the Nobility would frequently acquire massive debt simply for trying to show off to any guests of noble birth or economic might).

Also while the Teutonics were zealous crusaders, and the Black Templars are expies of them, they bear little resemblance to the Catholic ideal. Crusading was only a minor aspect of the Church itself and largely just a part of the Early High period, 11th to 13th centuries. Closest thing to the Catholics would be the Sisters of Battle due to them actually having a hospice order like the Knights of Saint John.

You mean the Knights Hospitaller sir and the owner of malia and the founders of the danish flag. No point to it again just felt like bringing it up again.
I was thinking that the dark angles are the most catholic like.
I also don't know why everyone focus on just the catholics as a crusading force.

Dark Angels just kill stuff and don't really spread any faith around. The Sisters meanwhile have actual non-militant branches focused on healing. And they're actually religious.

oldzoggy wrote:
Pelgrims of saint drusus or pelgrims to an other imperial saint I would say.

Side note 40k religion is also heavy influenced by fasism which makes it hard to compare to the catholic church.

It's not influenced by facism (authoritarian nationalism) at all; it's a multinational theocracy. It is hard to compare to the Catholic Church, IMO it's actually more comparable to Islam than Catholicism, in which borders mean far less than tribal affiliation, and affronts are remembered forever. Look at way some othe Astartes chapters view each other over something that happened once 5,000 years ago. The fluff reads like it's all about the spread and preservation of the Imperial Truth against the heretic and xeno, while the tribes are ready to throw each other under the bus.