NITERÓI, DIOCESE of. - City and diocese in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). It borders on the dioceses of Barra do Piraí, Valença, Rio de Janeiro, and Juiz de Fora.
It has a population of more than 700,000 inhabitants (1947), with 37 parishes served, in addition to diocesan priests, by 7 religious communities (Premonstratensians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Lazarists, Salesians, Fathers of the Little Work of Divine Providence, and of St. Francis de Sales) and 16 communities of religious women; moreover, a minor seminary.
The diocese was created by Leo XIII with the bull Ad universas orbis Ecclesias of 27 Apr. 1892, with episcopal see at N. On 16 July 1895, however, the episcopal see was transferred to the city of Campos, whence on 16 July 1897 it was moved to Petropolia, where it remained until 1907; from 1908 the residence was again established at N. The first bishop was Msgr. F. del Rego Maia (1893-1902). The patroness of the diocese is Our Lady Mary Help of Christians; the titular saint of the Cathedral is St. John the Baptist.