SPIRITO SANTO, DIOCESI of. — Suffragan of S. Sebastiano of Rio de Janeiro, in the State of S. S. in Brazil.
It has an area of 45,000 sq km and a population of 730,000 Catholics. It comprises 39 parishes, served by 35 diocesan priests and 39 religious priests. There are 3 male and 6 female religious communities. Erected by decree of the S. Congregazione Concistoriale of 15 Nov. 1895, through the dismemberment of the diocese of Niterói, with the church of Our Lady of the Conception of Prainha in Vitoria elevated to cathedral, its first bishop was mona. Giovanni Nery. The titular of the diocese is Our Lady of Penha, and that of the cathedral is N. S. Ausiliatrice.
BIBL.: O Brasil Católico 1947, Juiz de Fora 1947, p. 135; Ann. Pont. 1952, p. 386. Virginio Battezzati