SAN MICHELE DE SUCUMBIOS, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - It is situated in the north-eastern regions of Ecuador and entrusted to the Discalced Carmelites.
The territory formed part NAPOLI (v.), which bordered on Colombia. In 1916 the governments of Ecuador and Colombia established the boundaries between the two countries. It therefore became necessary to make the civil and ecclesiastical boundaries coincide. On 16 Apr. 1924 Propaganda transferred to the apostolic vicariate of Napo the area of the apostolic prefecture of Caquetà that had passed to Ecuador, and erected as the apostolic prefecture of S. M. de S. the northern part of Napo comprised between the Rio Sucumbios and the political boundary with Colombia to the north-east, and the Rio Aguarico and Rio Napo to the south-west.
It has an area of 67,120 sq. km., with a population of 13,200 Catholics and 2,500 pagans. There are 4 missionaries and 4 nuns. Elementary schools: 11.