IBARRA, DIOCESE of. — Diocese and city in the north of 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 has 42 parishes with 80 diocesan and 27 religious priests, one seminary, 9 male and 20 female religious communities (1949).
The diocese was created by Pope Pius IX on 29 December 1862 through the division of 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.
BIBL.: G. Rheinhold, s. V. in Cath. Enc., VII, p. 614; Enc. Eur. Am., XXVIII, p. 811. Enrico Josi