Puerto Maldonado, Apostolic Vicariate of

PUERTO MALDONADO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - In Peru, it was erected as an apostolic prefecture of St. Dominic of Urubamba on 5 February 1900, together with the other two apostolic prefectures of St. Leo of the Amazons and of St. Francis of Urayal, all in the still wild region of the country, and entrusted to the Dominicans.

On 4 July 1913 the prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate with the addition of the department of Madre de Dios, on account of which its name was changed to that of the apostolic vicariate of Urubamba and Madre de Dios. On 10 March 1949 it was given the name of P. M., seat of the Ordinary, and the Peruvian region of the Alto Purus was assigned to it, while that of the Alto Yuruá, as far as the watershed of the basins of the Yuruá and Curanja rivers, was annexed to the apostolic vicariate of Urayali.

It has an area of about 180,000 sq. km., situated in the forest region of the Amazonian zone. It is also watered by the Madre de Dios, Urubamba and many other rivers, which are almost the only means of communication. The temperature is tropical, very hot and humid. The soil is very fertile.

The number of inhabitants is very uncertain. Some put it at 42,000, of whom the civilized would be 36,000, for the most part Catholics. The other 6,000 are animists and a few Protestants. Others, with greater probability, speak of 20,000 or 25,000 inhabitants, for which reason the number of Catholics must be reduced in proportion. The animists are still wild, divided into various tribes. There are 21 missionaries distributed among the 7 quasi-parishes, assisted by the missionary sisters of the Most Holy Rosary. There are 1 hospital, 1 dispensary, 4 orphanages, 30 industrial schools and 15 elementary schools. Catholic Action is still in its beginnings.

Saverio Paventi