TEFÉ, PRELATURA NULLIUS of. - It is situated in the western part of Amazonia.
In 1718 the Carmelite Andrea da Costa began the mission of T. for the Indians, and in 1759 the place was raised to the status of parish and town. In 1798 the secular clergy succeeded the Carmelites. In 1897 the Fathers of the Holy Spirit established themselves at Bocca do T. in order to found an elementary and vocational school there, which flourished for about thirty years. In 1907 the parish of T. was entrusted to them, and on 23 May 1910 the apostolic prefecture of T. was erected, with territory detached from the diocese of Amazzoni or Manãos. From 1912 to 1915 the territory of Alto Jurna was also united to the prefecture. On 11 Aug. 1950 it was elevated to a prelature nullius.
It has an area of approximately 333,932 sq. km., with about 54,000 civilized inhabitants in the populated centres. There are also Indians living in a savage state. There are 18 churches, 6 parishes, and 14 missionaries. Catholics number approximately 51,872 (Ann. Pont. 1953, p. 675).