Question:
Answer:
The term Roman Catholic is never used by the Church.
To distinguish between the different Churches within the Catholic Church, the term the Roman Church is often used. This is meant to apply to those who use the Roman rite and are under the authority of bishops of that Church. In this case it is used to distinguish the Roman Church from the Maronite Church, the Coptic Church, etc. Each Church has its own bishops, rites, and laws but is in communion with the others. However, the more accurate title is the Latin Church, whereas the Roman Church technically refers to the diocese of Rome.
The term Roman Catholic was used mainly by English-speaking Protestants. It was part of their attempt to portray the pope as the leader of just a faction of Christianity, as if he was the same as the monarch of England, who was the head of the Anglican community.
As with many terms that start out as an insult but later are embraced and adopted by the group they were aimed at, Catholics in the West over time have used the term to show their union with the Holy Father.