Puno, Diocese of (PUNIENSIS), suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lima in Peru. Its jurisdiction extends over the whole territory of the Department of Puno, with a Catholic population (1909) of 260,810 souls; 85 priests; 62 parishes; 320 churches and chapels. The residence of the bishop is at the City of Puno. The bishopric was created by law of the republic, November 26, 1832, and by a Bull of Pius IX of November 6, 1861, approved by executive resolution, September 6, 1865. Dr. Mariano Chacon y Becerra was nominated the first Bishop of Puno on June 17, 1861, and consecrated April 7, 1862, but resigned before assuming his duties. His successor, Dr. Juan Ambrosio Huerta was nominated June 17, 1865, and in 1875 transferred to the See of Arequipa. He was succeeded by Msgr. Pedro Jose Chavez, whose consecration took place on July 25, 1875. The next Bishop of Puno was Msgr. Juan Estebanez y Seminario, a Discalced Recollect, who was consecrated on February 26, 1881, and died in the same year. The diocese was then left vacant until 1909, its last Apostolic administrator being Msgr. Ismael Puirredon, until September, 1909, when the present bishop, Msgr. Laisson, was consecrated.
The Diocese of Puno is divided into 9 ecclesiastical provinces, viz.: Cereado; Baja de Chucuito; Alta de Chucuito; Lampa; Baja de Lampa; Hansen; Azangaro; Carabaya, and Sandia. There is in the City of Puno a seminario conciliar for the education of the priesthood. The diocese is well supplied with public and private schools, some of the latter connected with the parishes. (See Peru.)
JULIAN MORENO-LACALLE