Łódź (Lódź), Diocese of

LODZ (LŌDZ), DIOCESI di. - In Poland, founded in 1920. Suffragan of Varsavia; the first bishop was Wincenty Tymieniechi.

Over an area of 6,040 sq. km, it has 1,100,000 inhabitants, of whom one million are Catholic; 138 parishes served by 238 diocesan and 76 regular priests, 17 male and 62 female religious communities; 1 educational institute for boys and 3 for girls, 20 charitable and welfare institutions (Ann. Pontificio, 1951, p. 252). Diocesan priests who perished during the German occupation: 128 in prison or in concentration camps. In the 14th century, L. belonged to the bishops of Włocławek (Władysława); in the 15th century it was raised to the rank of city. From the 19th century it was one of the main centers of the textile industry, for which reason it was called the "Polish Manchester." In Pabjanice there are a Gothic church of S. Matteo from 1588 and a 15th-century castle in Italian Renaissance style. In Piotrków there are: a 14th-century Gothic church of Nostra Signora; a 14th-century Dominican church and cloister; a 17th-century former Bernardine church; an 18th-century church of S. Francesco Saverio; a 14th-century castle; a town hall from 1580. From the 15th to the 17th century Piotrków was the site of several synods, and in 1577 the decrees of the Council of Trent were promulgated there. From the 15th century the Sejm (Parliament) assembled in Piotrków, and from 1578 it was the seat of the royal tribunal.