It has an area of 23,506 sq. km. and a population of 468,000, of whom 450,000 are Catholics, with 36 parishes served by 34 diocesan priests and 37 religious priests. There are 5 male and 15 female religious communities. Erected by the apostolic constitution *Ubi praesules* of Pius XI on 4 July 1924 through the division of territory from the diocese of Botucatú, its first bishop was Msgr. José Carlos de Aguirre. It has a minor seminary. The cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of the Bridge.
BIBL.: AAS, 17 (1925) pp. 408-500; O Brasil Católico 1947, Juiz de Fora 1947, p. 424; Ann. Pont. 1932, p. 384. Virginio Battezzati