Republic of South America, in the southern central part, between Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. Before the middle of the 16th century Franciscan missionaries accompanied the Spanish explorers and conquerors, and later Saint Francis Solanus was one of those who preached in this region and made many converts among the Indians. The Jesuits were active there in the 17th and 18th centuries until their expulsion in 1767. The country was under Spanish rule until 1811, when independence was declared. By the Constitution of 1870 the Congress is declared powerless to forbid the exercise of any religion; the Catholic Faith is recognized as the chief religion of the nation; and the organization of the Church is partly supported and partly controlled by the. State.
Ecclesiastically the country is governed by the archdiocese of
the dioceses of
the vicariates apostolic of
and the
See also
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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