CUERNAVACA, DIOCESE OF. — In the Republic of Mexico, a suffragan of Mexico City. It was erected by Leo XIII on 23 June 1891 with the bull Illud in primis.
It embraces 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 Catholic. Some of the 25 parishes into which the diocese is divided depend directly on the episcopal see, while the others are grouped into two deaneries. The clergy consists of 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 Pontifical Central Mexican Seminary of Montezuma (United States).
Catholic Action is flourishing and holds its diocesan assemblies every two years. To counter the danger of the public schools, which are of socialist orientation, small elementary schools, known as “escuela hogar,” are widely diffused; these are partly directed by the “Madres Guadalupanas” (a Mexican women’s congregation). Cuernavaca has been one of the dioceses least affected by the recent religious persecution.
After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, this region was evangelized by the Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans, who built large churches and convents there, true jewels of colonial art. Among others, the convents (now suppressed) of Yecapixtla, Zacualpan, Ocuituco, Tepoztlán, and Cuernavaca deserve special mention.