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- The Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic Church is said to have traditionally originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD, and was one of the major religions of the region from the 4th-century until the centuries following the Arab Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. Ever since, its proportion has decreased until today's diaspora tendency, mainly due to persecution by Islamic majority societies. In most Islamic countries, the Catholic Church is severely restricted or outlawed. Significant exceptions include Israel and Lebanon. The largest group remaining in the Middle East is the Maronite Church based in Beirut, Lebanon, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Pope and the rest of the Catholic Church. For specific nations (including Eastern Catholic churches), see:
* Catholic Church in Armenia
* Armenian Catholic Church
* Catholic Church in Azerbaijan
* Catholic Church in Israel
* Catholic Church in Iran
* Catholic Church in Iraq
* Chaldean Catholic Church
* Catholic Church in Egypt
* Coptic Catholic Church
* Catholic Church in Kuwait
* Catholic Church in Lebanon
* Maronite Church
* Catholic Church in Oman
* Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories
* Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates
* Catholic Church in Saudi Arabia
* Catholic Church in Syria
* Syriac Catholic Church
* Melkite Catholic Church
* Catholic Church in Turkey
* Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
* Catholic Church in Yemen In addition, the Latin Church in the Middle East comprise Latin Catholics, called Latins during the Middle Ages, subject to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. (en)
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