Cumaná, Diocese of

CUMANÀ, DIOCESE of. - In Venezuela (State of Sucre), suffragan of Santiago de Venezuela. It was erected by Pius XI on 12 Oct. 1922, by dismemberment of the diocese of Guayana.

It comprises the federal States of Sucre and Nueva Esparta, with an area of 12,950 sq. km. and a population of 360,647 inhabitants, of whom 359,647 are Catholics, divided among 18 parishes, in which 12 secular and 12 regular priests are active (1948).

In 1513 some Dominicans began the evangelization of the coasts of C., which was soon interrupted when, violent opposition having arisen among the indigenous people, two missionaries were killed. The definitive evangelization of the region took place later, and is attributed to the

(from Atti del III Congresso internazionale di archeologia cristiana. Roma 1931, p. 238, fig. 3)
CUMA - The baptismal font of the Christian basilica erected over the temple of Jupiter (5th cent.—beginning of the 6th).

the celebrated fra' Bartolomé de las Casas.