Cochabamba, Diocese of

COCHABAMBA, Diocese of. - In the Republic of Bolivia, erected by Pius IX on 23 June 1847.

It has a population of 642,000 inhabitants, of whom 635,000 are Catholics, divided into 53 parishes, with 67 diocesan priests and 32 regulars (1948). It is a suffragan of La Paz. The first diocesan synod was held on 8 December 1872. The episcopal city, besides the beautiful Cathedral, possesses several churches worthy of note: St. Francis, St. Joseph, St. John of God, St. Dominic, St. Anthony, the church of the Jesuits, etc.; moreover in the same city are found the convent of St. Francis and the monasteries of St. Clare, of the Capuchines and of St. Teresa. In ancient times there existed six other convents, of which the oldest, St. Augustine, is today the Acha theater, the convent and church of La Merced has been transformed into a public market, and the others have been converted into schools or hospitals. The most celebrated sanctuaries of the diocese are those of Toco, Misque and Arani. The Cathedral possesses a good collection of artistic paintings; the ancient convent of the Carmelites 5 canvases by Goya, and the Franciscan convent a good library.

Giovanni Meza