The Roman Catholic Diocese of Linares (Latin: Dioecesis Linarensis) was established in Linares, Chile, by Pope Pius XI on October 18, 1925, by means of the Bulla Notabiliter Aucto. The Diocese of San Ambrosio de Linares, a suffragan diocese of Santiago de Chile, is located in the geographical center of the country. The diocesan territory consists of two provinces, Linares Province and Cauquenes Province, and part of a third, Talca Province, all of them in the Maule Region of Chile. Compared to other Chilean dioceses, Linares has a higher proportion of rural inhabitants. Numerous chapels have been raised, particularly in rural areas, over the last twenty years. The total number of chapels in the diocese is currently more than 450.