It has an area of 13,500 sq. km. with a population of 410,000 inhabitants, of whom 400,000 are Catholics, divided into 48 churches and 27 parishes with 15 diocesan priests and 10 regular clergy; 1 boys' college and 3 girls' colleges (Ann. Pont., 1932, p. 318).
The city of P. del R. was erected as a diocese on 20 Feb. 1903 by a brief of Leo XIII, *Actum praeclare*. Its first bishop was Msgr. Braulio de Orne y Vivanco (1903-1907), succeeded by Msgr. Manuel Ruiz y Rodriguez.
Among the most important buildings is the Cathedral, dedicated to St. Rosendo.
BIBL.: V. ENOCH. Eur. Am., XLIV, pp. 976-80; Femin Fraga Barro, V. in Cath. Enc., XII, p. 101. Enrico Joni