HUESCA, Diocese of. - City and diocese in the province of the same name in Spain, suffragan of Saragossa. The diocese has an area of 5,026 sq km, and numbers 110,100 inhabitants, of whom 110,000 are Catholics distributed among 196 parishes served by 125 diocesan priests and 92 regulars, 13 male religious communities and 44 female (1949). The seminary founded by Bishop Trago in 1597 was several times restored and enlarged, especially in 1924.
The ancient Osca, of which however there is no certain information before the 6th century, is an important see of Aragon. In the Visigothic era its bishops are found at several national and regional councils, but during the Muslim domination they had no fixed residence, dwelling for a long time at S. Juan de la Peña with the title of Aragonensium episcopi. After his territory was reconquered by King Peter of Aragon, Bishop Peter I returned in 1096 to his ancient see. This diocese was divided in 1571 and its separated areas thenceforth formed the bishoprics of Jaca and Barbastro. The construction of the cathedral church was begun in 1275 on the foundations of the mosque called Micleida by the Moors, already purified in 1096; nevertheless the work was slow until in 1397 the energetic efforts of Bishop Gaston of Moncada intervened. From 1497 to 1575 this temple, of pure Gothic style, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, underwent profound modifications. The diocese has as its patron the deacon St. Lawrence, who according to an ancient tradition was a native of H. The cathedral possesses a historical and artistic treasure of great value, with relics of the 11th-16th centuries; the choir stalls, of the 16th century, are of great worth. In the archive, well ordered and very rich, are notable the codex "Itacion" of King Wamba, the acts of the Council of Jaca (1063), a book of hymns (11th century) and precious choir books.