Cusco, Archdiocese of

CUSCO, Archdiocese of. - In the Republic of Peru, department of C. In chronological order it is the first diocese of Peru, having been erected by Paul III on 8 January 1537. C. was created an archdiocese on 23 May 1943 with Ayacucho or Huamanga as suffragan.

It has an area of 158,235 sq km with a population of 850,000 inhabitants, of whom 835,000 are Catholics, distributed in 146 parishes, in which 81 priests of the secular clergy and 58 regulars work; about 200 nuns. The Dominicans have a Studium in C., where their young religious from all of Latin America are trained. The archdiocese has a seminary and numerous churches (845), several of which are notable from an artistic standpoint. The Cathedral, created a minor basilica on 24 September 1924, is a fine building in Renaissance style, with three naves, in whose chapel dedicated to the Señor de la Agonia there is a canvas attributed to Van Dyck. Its bell is also famous, as it can be heard at a distance of 8 leagues. The church of S. Domingo, in colonial style, has good paintings and valuable wooden sculptures from the time of Spanish rule. The church of S. Blas possesses a finely carved pulpit of 1681, which is considered the best in Latin America. Also worthy of mention is the cloister of the convent de la Merced.

Pietro Gomez