Cartagena, Archdiocese of
In the Republic of Colombia, department of Bolívar. Erected as a diocese by Clement VII on 24 April 1534, raised to metropolitan status by Leo XIII on 20 June 1900. Its suffragan sees are Barranquilla and Santa Marta.
The archdiocese covers a territory of 55,000 sq. km., with 800,000 inhabitants, almost all Catholic, served by 235 churches. In 1948 it is divided into 74 parishes, served by 28 diocesan priests and 38 regular clergy.
Among the religious buildings of Cartagena worthy of mention are: the Cathedral, a grand temple with a marble pulpit, music, and a rich monstrance; the church of St John of God; the church of St Peter Claver, a modern construction in which the body of the “Apostle of the Negroes” is venerated—Leo XIII provided this church with a large organ; the ancient convent of La Candelaria and the convent of St Clare, containing canvases by good masters.
In Cartagena lived the saints Peter Claver and Louis Bertrand.