CIUDAD RODRIGO, DIOCESE OF. - City of Spain, in the province of Salamanca and a suffragan diocese of Valladolid. It borders to the north and east on the diocese of Salamanca, to the south on that of Coria, to the west on Guarda and Braganza (Portugal), extending over a territory of 4,259 sq km with a population of 140,000 inhabitants, all Catholic, with 106 parishes and 130 priests (1948). Patron: St. Isidore of Seville.
The present diocese was erected in the 12th century through the work of King Ferdinand II of León, shortly after the expulsion of the Saracens from the city. Since the see of Caliabria (Portugal) was united to this new see, the bishops of C. R. also took the title of Caliabrenses. The erection, carried out solely by royal will, was at first opposed by the bishops of Salamanca, until an agreement was reached between the two dioceses, ratified by Alexander III in 1175. The first bishop of the diocese was a Benedictine named Peter, d. in 1184; but of him and of his successors, until the 14th century, very little is known. In the 15th century it was governed by two celebrated prelates, founders of the hospice house of the Spaniards in Rome: Alfonso de Palenzuela O. F. M. and his successor Alfonso de Paradinas. After the intruded bishop Peter Alcántara (1835), the diocese was governed by an apostolic administrator, until in 1851, following the concordat of Spain with the Holy See, it was united to that of Salamanca, with which it remained for some time, until recourse was had to an apostolic administrator with episcopal character, who governs it to this day.
Among the monuments, notable is the cathedral founded by Ferdinand II, king of León, and built between 1170 and 1230; it is a national monument in Romanesque style with three naves and three apses with Romanesque portals; the tympanum of the main door is richly carved with scenes; also notable are the churches of St. Augustine and that of Cerralbo. Distinguished sanctuaries: that of Jesús Nazareno in S. Felice de los Gallegos, with an image attributed to Gregorio Hernández (feast on 3 May); that of the Santo Cristo de la Laguna near Aldehuela; that of the Virgin de la Peña de Francia (feast on 8 Sept.); that of the Most Holy Virgin de los Caballeros in Villavieja de Yeltes.