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Diocese of Pomesania

Dioecesis Pomesaniensis
Former Cathedral in Kwidzyn, now Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Elbląg
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Pomesania
Coat of arms
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceRiga
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
Established1243
Dissolved16th century
CathedralKwidzyn Cathedral
Leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopAdam Wodarczyk

The Bishopric of Pomesania (German: Bistum Pomesanien; Polish: Diecezja pomezańska) was a Catholic diocese in the Prussian regions of Pomesania and Pogesania, in modern northern Poland until the 16th century, then shortly a Lutheran diocese, and became a Latin titular see.

The former Cathedral and Castle of Pomesanian Cathedral Chapter complex in Kwidzyn is listed as a Historic Monument of Poland.[1]

Catholic diocese

Banner used in the Battle of Grunwald (1410)

It was founded as one of four Roman Catholic dioceses in Prussia in 1243 by the papal legate William of Modena.

The bishops, whose seat was Riesenburg (Prabuty), ruled one third of diocesan territory as his temporality. The diocesan cathedral chapter met in the fortified cathedral of Marienwerder (Kwidzyn). In the 1280s the Teutonic Order succeeded to impose the simultaneous membership of all capitular canons in the Order thus winning influence in the diocese and in the capitular elections of the bishops. So the temporality of Pomesania's bishop did not develop the status of a prince-bishopric and was ruled as part of Teutonic Prussia. In 1454, the region was incorporated by King Casimir IV Jagiellon into the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation.[2] The Bishop and canons of Pomesania pledged allegiance to the Polish King during the incorporation in March 1454 in Kraków.[3] After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) between Poland and the Teutonic Order, the region was recognized as part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Knights.[4]

Beginning in 1523 during the Protestant Reformation, the diocese was effectively administered by Lutheran bishops until 1587, when the diocese was secularized by the regent of Ducal Prussia, George Frederick.

However the Catholic diocese was only formally suppressed in 1763, having remained vacant since 1524 except for 'temporary' Apostolic administrators since 1601.

The diocesan area outside of Ducal Prussia remained Catholic and on 1601.04.19 joined the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chełmno.

Catholic resident bishops

Castle of Pomesanian Cathedral Chapter in Kwidzyn

Catholic Apostolic administrators

The apostolic administration was thereafter vested in many nearly successive Bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chełmno

Latin titular see

Adam Wodarczyk, titular Bishop of Pomesania since 2014

In October 2014 the Catholic diocese was nominally restored as Titular bishopric of Pomezania (Polish) / Pomesania (Curiate Italian) / Pomesanien (German) / Latin adjective Pomesanien(sis).

It has had the following incumbent(s), so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :

Lutheran bishopric

Beginning in 1523 during the Protestant Reformation, the diocese was effectively administered by Lutheran bishops. In 1587, the diocese was secularized by the regent of Ducal Prussia, George Frederick.

The Lutheran incumbents were :

References

  1. ^ Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 20 kwietnia 2018 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Kwidzyn - zespół katedralno-zamkowy", Dz. U. z 2018 r. poz. 930
  2. ^ Górski, Karol (1949). Związek Pruski i poddanie się Prus Polsce: zbiór tekstów źródłowych (in Polish). Poznań: Instytut Zachodni. p. 54.
  3. ^ Górski, pp. 71–73
  4. ^ Górski, pp. 96–97, 214–215

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