General Discussion

It's a big planet for any Church, but for over two millennia, Jesus built His Church for the world through his apostles and their successors worldwide. There are over 3,000 Diocese worldwide, each with a bishop and many parishes, particularly in urban areas. That's a LOT of bishops and parish priests.

Below is a graphic of the Catholic Church's Rites worldwide. In Catholicism, a Rite refers to the distinct liturgical, theological, spiritual, and disciplinary traditions of a particular Catholic Church -- all Rites are centered in words from the Bible. It essentially describes the unique way a specific group of Catholics within the Church lives out their faith. While all Catholic Rites are in communion with each other and the Pope, each Rite is considered an autonomous church with its own distinct identity.