CIENFUEGOS, DIOCESE of. - A city of the Republic of Cuba in the Antilles, and the seat of a diocese, Cuba (v.), which comprises the whole civil province of S. Clara, with an area of 20,911 sq. km. In 1948 the population of the diocese was 938,000 Catholics, divided into 34 parishes, with 20 diocesan and 32 regular priests, 8 boys’ schools and 19 girls’ schools.
The Spanish Franciscans, who since the 17th century had ensured the sacred ministry in the diocese, were obliged to abandon it in 1835 because of the decree expelling religious Orders issued by the Spanish government. The confiscations carried out by the governors, and the devastation caused by the civil wars of 1868 and 1895, greatly hindered the progress of the Church. After the civil war of 1898, the province of S. Clara was able to be erected into a diocese, with its seat at C., on 20 February 1903, and since then it has always been suffragan to Santiago de Cuba.