REBEIRÃO PRETO, DIOCESI di. — Suffragan of the archdiocese of S. Paolo, in the State of the same name, in Brazil.
It has an area of 26,547 sq. km., with a population of 1,007,200 inhabitants, of whom 819,700 are Catholics. It has 55 parishes, with 20 diocesan priests and 83 religious priests. It has a minor seminary, 14 male and 39 female religious communities.
The diocese was created by Decree of the S. Congregation of the Council of 7 June 1908, by division of the diocese of S. Paolo, elevating the church of S. Sebastiano to cathedral status.
Its first bishop was Msgr. Alberto José Gonçalves, who governed it for 36 years.
BIBL.: Ann. Pont. 1955, p. 338; O Brasil Católico 1947, Juiz de Fora 1947, p. 322. Virginio Battezzati