Just as God's will is creation and is called "the world," so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called "the Church." 155
Catechism number 770
The Church is in history, but at the same time she transcends it. It is only "with the eyes of faith"183 that one can see her in her visible reality and at the same time in her spiritual reality as bearer of divine life.
The Church - both visible and spiritual