Petropolis, Diocese of (PETROPOLITANENSIS), in the Province of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, erected February 11, 1895. The see founded by Leo XIII, May 21, 1893, at Nictheroy, and transferred to Petropolis February 11, 1895, was retransferred to Nictheroy in 1908. The city of Petropolis was founded by the Emperor of Brazil in 1845, as a colony for German immigrants and named in honor of Dom Pedro; it is a delightful summer resort. In 1894 it was made the capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Nictheroy is situated on the Bay of Rio de Janeiro. In 1834, when the city of Rio de Janeiro wasformed into a “municipio neutro” and separated from the rest of the state, Nictheroy became the capital of the province and remained so until 1894. The first bishop, Francois de Rogo Maia, b. at Pernambuco, September 29, 1849, was elected in September, 1893. The second bishop, Jean—Francois Braga, b. at Pelotas, Diocese of St. Pierre de Rio Grande, August 24, 1867, cons. August 24, 1902; transferred to the See of Curityba, 1907. The present bishop, Augustin-Francois Bennassi, b. at Rio de Janeiro, November 17, 1868, was elected March 13, 1908, and cons. May 10 following. Statistics: area, 15,548 square miles; Catholic population, 1,000,300 (Protestants, about 9000); 123 parishes, 100 filial churches or chapels, 89 secular and 35 regular priests, 3 colleges, and one technical school.
J. ZEVELY