Uniate

The Uniate (or Uniat) Churches are those Eastern Christian Churches which have their own liturgy, devotional traditions, and canon law, but acknowledge the ultimate authority of the Pope and are therefore part of the Roman Catholic Church.

The word 'Uniate' (or 'Uniat') is also used as a noun to refer to a member of one of these Churches.

'Uniate' is pronounced yew-ni-it (IPA: /'juː nɪ ɪt/) or yew-ni-ate (IPA: /'juː nɪ ,eɪt/), and 'Uniat is pronounced yew-ni-at (IPA: /'juː nɪ ,æt/).

Nowadays, in the Roman Catholic Church the use of the term 'Uniate' (or 'Uniat') is discouraged as it is felt to be somewhat derogatory, and the phrase 'Eastern Catholic' is preferred.

See further Eastern Catholic Church.