Catholics

North Africa and West Asia are home both to Latin-rite Catholicism as well as five Eastern Catholic churches–Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, Chaldean, Syrian, and Coptic–with diverse histories and cultures. The region’s approximately 7 million Catholics constitute 1.5% of the total population and 29% of Christians (2015). Since the founding of the modern state of Israel, the Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem has cared pastorally for large numbers of Catholic immigrants through Hebrew-speaking congregations ( kehilla ). Many Eastern Catholics, in contrast, have emigrated due to political violence, especially the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, creating large diaspora communities. These churches must balance their traditional linkage to a specific territory and culture with the desire to maintain ties with emigrants overseas. Today, Catholics in North Africa and West Asia are seeking ecumenical cooperation with the Orthodox churches.