SAN SALVATORE (SAN SALVADOR), DIOCESI di. - City and diocese, capital of the Republic of El Salvador in Central America.
It has an area of 11,317 sq. km., with a population of 718,000 inhabitants, of whom 715,000 are Catholics, distributed among 48 parishes served by 54 diocesan and 70 regular priests; it has a seminary, 13 male religious communities, and 27 female ones (Ann. Pont. 1952, p. 359).
The evangelization of this region, formerly inhabited by the Aztecas of Cuscatlán, was difficult; only in 1524 were they subjugated by Spain through Captain Alvarado: missionaries and churches then appeared, dependent on Guatemala. In 1811 the first movement for independence from Spain arose in the city of El Salvador, but only in 1824 did the city become part of the Republic of Central America, which caused confusion in religious affairs. Having finally proclaimed itself independent in 1839, negotiations were undertaken with the Holy See for the erection of a diocese in the capital. The diocese was erected by Pope Gregorio XVI on 28 Sept. 1842, and comprises all seven departments of the State. Blessed Pope Pio X elevated it to a metropolitan see on 11 Feb. 1913.
The cathedral church, begun in 1881 and completed in 1888, is a magnificent building inspired by Hispano-colonial architecture, except for the arches, which are pointed.