The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also called the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous particular churches of the Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope in Rome. Although they are distinct theologically, liturgically, and historically from the Latin Church, they are all in full communion with it and with each other. Eastern Catholics are a minority within the Catholic Church; of the 1.3 billion Catholics in communion with the Pope, approximately 18 million are members of the eastern churches. The largest numbers of Eastern Catholics may be found in Eastern Europe, Eastern Africa, the Middle East, and India. As of 2022, the Syro-Malabar Church is the largest Eastern Catholic Church, followed by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Mar Antony Padiyara was a Syro Malabar Major Archbishop and cardinal. He was the First Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly from 1985 to 1996, having previously served as Bishop of Ootacamund (1955–1970) and Archbishop of Changanassery (1970–1985). He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1988.
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders and is responsible for teaching doctrine, governing Catholics in his jurisdiction, sanctifying the world and representing the Church. Catholics trace the origins of the office of bishop to the apostles, who it is believed were endowed with a special charism and office by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Catholics believe this special charism and office has been transmitted through an unbroken succession of bishops by the laying on of hands in the sacrament of holy orders.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Rioja is in Argentina and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Cuyo.
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo is a Latin metropolitan archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives. It depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangochi is a diocese located in the city of Mangochi in the ecclesiastical province of Blantyre in Malawi.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Keimoes–Upington is a South African diocese located around the towns of Keimoes and Upington in the ecclesiastical province of Bloemfontein.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley is a diocese of the Catholic Church based in the city of Kimberley in the ecclesiastical province of Bloemfontein in South Africa. The seat of the bishop is the Cathedral of St. Mary in Kimberley.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dundee is a diocese located in the city of Dundee in the ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe is a diocese located in the city of Eshowe in the ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kokstad is a diocese located in the city of Kokstad in the ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mariannhill is a diocese located in the city of Mariannhill in the ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rustenburg is a diocese located in the city of Rustenburg in the ecclesiastical province of Pretoria in South Africa.
The Archdiocese of Johannesburg is the a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the metropolitan see of an ecclesiastical province.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Witbank is a diocese located in the city of Witbank in the ecclesiastical province of Johannesburg in South Africa.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Idiofa is a diocese located in the city of Idiofa in the ecclesiastical province of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Balasore is a diocese located in the city of Balasore in the ecclesiastical province of Cuttack–Bhubaneswar in India.
A particular church is an ecclesiastical community of followers headed by a bishop, as defined by Catholic canon law and ecclesiology. A liturgical rite, a collection of liturgies descending from shared historic or regional context, depends on the particular church the bishop belongs to. Thus the term "particular church" refers to an institution, and "liturgical rite" to its ritual practices.
Daniel Alphonse Omer Verstraete, O.M.I. is a Belgian-born South African Catholic prelate who served as the first Diocesan Bishop of the new promoted Roman Catholic Diocese of Klerksdorp from 27 February 1978 until his resignation on 26 March 1994. Previously he was a Prefect Apostolic of the Prefecture Apostolic of Western Transvaal from 9 November 1965 until 27 February 1978 and a participant of the Second Vatican Council.
Zithulele Patrick Mvemve was a South African Roman Catholic bishop.
South Africa 
