CORO, diocese of. — In the Republic of Venezuela. Erected by Pius XI on 1 October 1922, this diocese had already been erected once before by Clement VII on 21 June 1531, by the bull Pro excellenti proseminentia, and was the first episcopal see in Venezuela. It had a succession of 12 bishops until, on 7 March 1683, in execution of the real cedula of 20 June 1637, the episcopal see was canonically transferred to Caracas.
The present diocese of C. comprises the State of Falcon, which was detached from the diocese of Barquisimeto, and measures 24,800 sq km. Of its 248,000 inhabitants, 245,580 are Catholics, divided among 20 parishes, in which 13 priests of the secular clergy and 15 of the regular clergy work (1948). A respectable number of young men are educated in the minor seminary, while students of theology and philosophy are sent to the major seminary of Caracas.
Some of Venezuela’s most interesting religious monuments are found in C. The Cathedral, dedicated to St Anne, is the oldest church in the nation; the episcopal residence and the Franciscan convent are also particularly noteworthy. In the Piazza di S. Clemente stands a cross made from the “vera” tree (guaiacum arborem), in whose shade the first Mass on Venezuelan soil was celebrated.