CUERNAVACA, DIOCESE di. - In the Republic of Mexico, suffragan of Città del Messico. It was erected by Leone XIII on 23 June 1891 with the bull Illud in primis.
It comprises the entire State of Morelos, with an area of 4,911 sq. km. and a population of 220,000 inhabitants, of whom 210,000 are Catholics. Some of the 25 parishes into which the diocese is divided depend directly on the bishop; the others are grouped into two rural vicariates. The ministry has 40 diocesan priests and 6 regulars (1948).
The diocese has a minor seminary; for the study of philosophy and theology the students are sent to the major seminary of Veracruz or to the Mexican central pontifical seminary of Montezuma (United States).
Catholic Action is flourishing, and every two years holds its diocesan assemblies. In order to avert the danger of the public school, with its socialist orientation, small elementary schools, called «escuela hogar», are widely established, directed in part by the «Madres Guadalupanas» (a Mexican women’s congregation). C. was one of the dioceses least affected by the recent religious persecution.
This region, after the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, was evangelized by the Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans, who erected there great churches and convents, true jewels of colonial art. Among others, special mention should be made of the convents (now suppressed) of Yecapixtla, Zacualpan, Ocuituco, Tepoxtlan, Cuernavaca, etc.