what bible does the catholic church use
The Catholic Church does not use just one single Bible in all contexts; officially it recognizes the Latin Nova Vulgata as its standard reference text, while different approved translations are used in various modern languages and countries.
Core Catholic “official” answer
- At the worldwide, official level, the Church’s standard Bible is the Nova Vulgata (New Vulgate), a revised Latin edition promulgated after the Second Vatican Council and designated as the “typical” or official Latin version.
- When the Vatican issues documents that quote Scripture in Latin, they normally follow this Nova Vulgata text.
In simple terms: if you ask “What Bible does the Catholic Church use officially?”, the technical answer is the Nova Vulgata in Latin.
What English Bible do Catholics actually use?
Different bishops’ conferences approve different translations for liturgy (Mass) and for general use.
In English, the most common Catholic translations include:
- New American Bible (NAB / NABRE)
- Widely used in the United States; the NABRE is described as the official English translation for the Catholic Church in the U.S. and many other English‑speaking places.
* Used (with some adaptations) as the basis for the readings at Mass in the U.S., and heavily used for study Bibles and parish editions.
- Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition (RSV‑CE) and RSV‑2CE
- A more “formal” (word‑for‑word leaning) translation valued by many scholars and study groups.
* Frequently recommended in Catholic forums and by Catholic publishers as a strong study and reading Bible.
- New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition (NRSV‑CE)
- Used officially at Mass in Canada and approved for Catholic use in various English‑speaking regions.
* Known for some inclusive language and favored in academic settings.
- Other approved Catholic Bibles you’ll see: Douay–Rheims , Good News Translation Catholic Edition (GNT‑CE) , CTS New Catholic Bible , and several others listed by bishops’ conferences as approved for private reading and study.
Quick mini‑table (English context)
| Context | “What Bible” is used? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global, official Latin text | Nova Vulgata | Official Latin Bible of the Catholic Church. | [7]
| USA – common liturgical/study use | NAB / NABRE | Official English translation in the U.S., widely used in parishes and study editions. | [3]
| Canada – liturgy | NRSV‑CE | Official English translation used at Mass in Canada. | [3][7]
| Popular study / devotional | RSV‑CE / RSV‑2CE | Highly recommended for its balance of accuracy and readability. | [1][6]
Why you’ll see more than one Catholic Bible
- The Church sets criteria and approvals , not a single vernacular translation for all countries; local bishops’ conferences approve specific translations for their territory.
- To be a “Catholic Bible,” a translation must:
- Contain all 73 Catholic books (including the deuterocanonical books like Tobit, Sirach, and 1–2 Maccabees).
- Be published with official ecclesial approval (an imprimatur or similar).
Example for everyday Catholics
If you walk into a typical parish in the U.S. in 2026, you’re most likely to find pew or study Bibles in the NABRE , some study groups using the RSV‑CE/RSV‑2CE , and perhaps NRSV‑CE or Douay–Rheims among individuals. Meanwhile, in official Latin documents from Rome, the Scripture text behind the scenes is the Nova Vulgata.
TL;DR:
- Official worldwide “Catholic Church Bible”: Nova Vulgata (Latin).
- Common English Catholic Bibles: NABRE (especially in the U.S.), RSV‑CE/RSV‑2CE , NRSV‑CE , and a few others approved by local bishops’ conferences.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.