SPIRITO SANTO, DIOCESE OF. - Suffragan of S. Sebastião of Rio de Janeiro, in the State of Espírito Santo in Brazil.
It has an area of 45,000 sq. km. with a population of 730,000 Catholics. It consists of 39 parishes, served by 35 diocesan priests and 39 religious. There are 3 male religious communities and 6 female ones. Erected by decree of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation of 15 November 1895, by separation from the diocese of Niterói, elevating to cathedral the church of Our Lady of the Conception of Prainha in Vitória, its first bishop was Msgr. Giovanni Nery. The titular of the diocese is Our Lady of Penha, and of the cathedral, Our Lady Help of Christians.
BIBL.: O Brasil Católico 1947, Juiz de Fora 1947, p. 135; Am. Pont. 1952, p. 386. Virginio Battezzati