The
Latin Church is part of the
Catholic Church. It is described as an autonomous or
sui iuris particular church. There are several such autonomous particular churches within the Catholic Church. Other examples are the
Maronite Church, the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and the
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. They differ from each other in
liturgy (ceremonies, vestments, chants, language), devotional traditions,
theology,
canon law, and pastors (even if in the same territory as another), but they all hold the same faith, and all see union with the
bishop of Rome, the
pope, as essential to being a Catholic.