Panama

Republic in Central America. Missionaries were brought there by the Spanish explorers and conquerors in the 16th century. The Diocese of Panama was erected early in that century, and was at first suffragan to Lima. Under Spanish rule, Panama became a department of the Republic of Colombia until 1903, when independence was declared.

Ecclesiastically the country is governed by

• the archdiocese of Panamá

the diocese of

• Chitré
• Colón-Kuna Yala
• David
• Penonomé
• Santiago de Veraguas

and

• the territorial prelature of Bocas del Toro
• the vicariate apostolic of Darién

See also,

• World Fact Book
• patron saints index

New Catholic Dictionary

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