177. Who are the faithful?The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through Baptism, have been constituted as the people of God; for this reason, since they have become sharers in Christ's priestly, prophetic and royal office in their own manner, they are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church. There exists a true equality among them in their dignity as children of God.
Further reading: CCC 871-872178. How are the people of God formed?
Among the faithful by divine institution there exist
sacred ministers who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders and who form the hierarchy of the Church. The other members of the Church are called the
laity. In both the hierarchy and the laity there are certain of the faithful who are
consecrated in a special manner of God by the profession of the evangelical counsels: chastity or celibacy, poverty, and obedience.
Further reading: CCC 873, 934