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The term may also include Eastern-Rite Catholic churches, which are those branches of Catholicism – accounting for only about 2% of all Catholics – that follow rules and customs similar to those of Eastern Orthodox churches: for example, their priests need not be celibate and their parish priests administer the sacrament of confirmation to newborn infants immediately after baptism via the rite of chrismation, and the infants are then allowed to receive communion. Eastern Rite Catholics are subject to the eastern Catholic patriarchs, and thus indirectly subject to the Catholic Pope through the Catholic Patriarchs of the East.

Historically, Western Christianity developed in Western Europe, whereas Eastern Christianity developed in Greece and the Near East. Today, however, established centres of Eastern Christianity can be found on other continents as well.