CAIRNS, Diocese of. - A city in the province of Queensland, Australia, and a suffragan diocese of Brisbane. Its territory, which comprises part of northern Queensland (336,885 sq. km.), was detached from the Diocese of Brisbane in 1876 to form a pro-vicariate entrusted first to Italian priests, then in 1882 to Irish Augustinians. Erected as an apostolic vicariate under the name of Cooktown in 1887, it became a diocese on 8 July 1941, taking the name of Cairns from the place of residence of the ordinary and was entrusted to the secular clergy.
Of a total population of approximately 46,216 inhabitants, overwhelmingly Protestant, there are, according to the Australian Catholic Directory of 1948 (pp. 328-31), 1,933 Catholics with 12 parishes, 34 churches, 22 religious priests, 10 brothers, 92 sisters, and various schools with more than 2,000 pupils. The diocese seems destined for great development due to the possibilities of substantial immigration.
CAIRO, Maronite Bishopric and Melkite Patriarchal Vicariate: see EGYPT.