IBARRA, DIOCESE OF. – Diocese and city in northern Ecuador (South America).
It has an area of 10,130 sq. km., with a population of 218,800 inhabitants, of whom 218,400 are Catholics.
It comprises 42 parishes with 80 diocesan priests and 27 religious priests, one seminary, 9 male religious communities and 20 female religious communities (1949).
The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on 29 December 1862 by separation from the archdiocese of Quito, of which it is a suffragan. The city of I. was founded on 28 September 1606. It was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1868. The cathedral is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Other notable churches are those of St Augustine, St Dominic, Our Lady of Mercy, St Francis, and St Mary of Mount Carmel.