Diocese of Isernia-Venafro

Dioecesis Aeserniensis-Venafrensis
Cathedral of Isernia
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical provinceCampobasso-Boiano
Statistics
Area740 km2 (290 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2019)
63,800 (est.)
62,800 (guess)
Parishes48
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established5th Century ?
CathedralCattedrale di S. Pietro Apostolo (Isernia)
Co-cathedralConcattedrale di S. Maria Assunta (Venafro)
Secular priests41 (diocesan)
22 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopCamillo Cibotti
Website
www.diocesiiserniavenafro.it

The Diocese of Isernia-Venafro (Latin: Dioecesis Aeserniensis-Venafrensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Molise. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Campobasso-Boiano. In 1852 the historic diocese of Isernia was combined with the diocese of Venafro, to form the diocese of Isernia e Venafro.[1][2] The seat of the present bishop is Isernia Cathedral, while Venafro Cathedral has become a co-cathedral in the new diocese.

History

The epoch of Bishop Benedict of Isernia, and indeed his very existence, is without any documentary evidence at all. It is even claimed that he had predecessors, beginning with Poltinus, who was consecrated a bishop by Saint Peter the Apostle himself.[3] That the existence of the episcopal see in the fifth century is certain is likewise a doubtful proposition; [4] each of the purported bishops has been assigned to other dioceses.[5]

After the Lombard invasions, Isernia was the seat of a countship, founded by the Duke of Benevento. It was destroyed by the Saracens in the ninth century. In 847, the entire city of Isernia was destroyed by an earthquake, with great loss of life, including the bishop.[6]

On 5 May 964, the Lombard princes, Pandulfus and Landulfus, granted the town of Isernia with all its territories to Count Landulfus, at the plea of Bishop Ardericus. The grant recites the boundaries of the territory.[7]

In 1199 it was sacked by Markward von Annweiler, the vicar of the deceased Emperor Henry VI. On 5 December 1456, another great earthquake caused heavy damage and deaths in the area of Isernia.[8] In 1688, both cities were damaged, though apparently the greatest damage was the loss of the church of the Carmelites in Venafro.[9] In 1805, Isernia was struck by a severe earthquake, which ruined the ancient cathedral.[10]

In 1032 the Diocese of Venafro (The town was formerly the site of Roman country residences) was united to Isernia,[11] and in 1230 it was again separated.

On 12 November 1192, the city of Venafro was sacked and burned by the German troops of the Emperor Henry VI, led by Duke Bertold. Bishop Gentile was forced to flee. He sought refuge in Aversa, whose leaders persuaded him to become their bishop.[12] The ecclesiastical leaders in Venafro and in Isernia immediately began to air various grievances against one another, which led to litigation. Numerous citations of the parties to appear before Cardinal Gerardo of S. Adriano, the judge whom Pope Celestine III had appointed, were ignored or put off to a later time. Exasperated, the cardinal authorized the chapter of the Cathedral at Venafro to proceed to elect their own bishop.[13] The Chapter elected Johannes de Abner, but when the pope heard that they had chosen someone who was not even in Holy Orders, he voided the election.[14] Finally, in 1195, he confirmed one R[ - - -] as the new bishop of Venafro.[15] Since the absence of a bishop at Isernia was causing great detriment, Pope Celestine appointed R., the bishop-elect of Venafro, to be the bishop of Isernia as well, ordering the Chapter to obey R. as if they had elected him themselves.[16]

Reorganization of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, 1818

Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of The Two Sicilies (Naples). Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the Kingdom, as well as the confiscation of much Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution.

A concordat was finally signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand issued the concordat as a law on 21 March 1818.[17] The right of the king to nominate the candidate for a vacant bishopric was recognized, as in the Concordat of 1741, subject to papal confirmation (preconisation).[18] On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which he reestablished the metropolitan archbishopric of Capua, and assigned as suffragan (subordinate) dioceses: Isernia, Calvi, Suessa, and Caserta. The diocese of Venafro was permanently suppressed, and united to the diocese of Isernia.[19]

On 18 June 1852, in the bull "Sollicitudinem Animarum", Pope Pius IX the arrangement was changed. The diocese of Isernia and the revived diocese of Venafro were to be under the governance of one single bishop, aeque personaliter, to be called the diocese of Isernia e Venafro.[20]

Post Vatican II changes

Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,[21] Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy. His decree "Ad Apicem Spiritualis" of 21 August 1976 created a new episcopal conference in the region called "Molise", to be called "Boianensis-Campobassensis", with the archdiocese of Boiano-Campobasso, formerly directly subject to the Holy See, to be the Metropolitan; its suffragans were to be the dioceses of Trivento, Isernia e Venafra, and Thermulae e Larino.[22] Pope Paul VI also ordered consultations among the members of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican Curia, the Italian Bishops Conference, and the various dioceses concerned, with regard to additional changes.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. The Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese.

On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Isernia and Venafro be merged into full union as one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Aeserniensis-Venafrensis. The seat of the diocese was to be in Isernia, and the cathedral of Isernia was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in Venafro was to become a co-cathedral, and its cathedral Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Isernia, and likewise one seminary, one College of Consultors, and one Priests' Council. The territory of the new diocese was to include the territory of the suppressed diocese of Venafro.[23]

Bishops

Diocese of Isernia

to 1379

...
...
...
[Landus (Lando)] [(946)][27]
...
...
...
...
Sede vacante (1192 – 1195)
Conradus Rampini (1330) Bishop-elect[36]

from 1379 to 1600

from 1640 to 1861

Sede vacante (1806 – 1818)[62]
Sede vacante (1834 – 1837)

Diocese of Isernia e Venafro

United: 18 June 1852 with Diocese of Venafro

Diocese of Isernia-Venafro

On 30 September 1986, the diocese of Venafro was permanently suppressed.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Diocese of Isernia-Venafro" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David m. Cheney. Retrieved January 30, 2016
  2. ^ "Diocese of Isernia-Venafro" GCatholic. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved January 30, 2016
  3. ^ Sannicola, in: D'Avino, p. 272.
  4. ^ Ughelli VI, p. 366. Kehr VIII, p. 242: "In antiqua hac Samnitum civitate iam olim episcopatus quin exstiterit dubium non est, etsi notitiae ante saec. X de episcopis servatae minima fide dignae sunt."
  5. ^ Francesco Lanzoni (1927), Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604), (in Italian), (Faenza: F. Lega), p. 380: "un s. Benedetto; ma pienamente sconosciuto (cf. A(cta) S(anctorum), mai, I, 500). Seguono nel catalogo Ughelliano un Laurentius (401-17), un Eutodius (465), un Marias (499), un Innocentius (501-2) e un Sebastianus (595) ; ma tutti fuori di luogo. II primo è detto nel documenti {J-L, 318) « episcopus seniensis », probabilmente dell' Illirico; il secondo, il terzo e il quarto spettano a Tifernum (Città di Castello); e l'ultimo a Resinum nella Dalmazia {J-L, 1096; 1853)." Cappelletti XX, pp. 128-129.
  6. ^ Mario Baratta (1901). I terremoti d'Italia [Earthquakes in Italy] (in Italian). Turin: Fratelli Bocca. p. 15.: "Per questo parossismo Isernia fu quasi interamente distrutta con grande numero di vittime : presso il monastero di S. Vincenzo parecchie case furono rovinate." Cappelletti XX, p. 156.
  7. ^ Ughelli VI, pp. 594-595. Cappelletti XX, p. 156.
  8. ^ Baratta, p. 70: "Isernia (Campobasso) — distrutta: morti 1200 circa;" p. 73: "Venafro (Campobasso) — fu grandemente danneggiato."
  9. ^ Baratta, p. 160.
  10. ^ Baratta, p. 792.
  11. ^ Ughelli VI, p. 394: "...consecravimus praesulem eorum jam supradictum Gerardum confratrem nostrum gubernanei ac regendi praedicta Ecclesia cum omnibus suis ecclesiis, sive monasteriis infra eodem Comitatu Iserniensis, et Comitatyu Venafrano, et infra Comitatu BOjonensis, et in tota terra pertinentes monasterii S. Vincentii." Cappelletti XX, p. 157.
  12. ^ K. Hampl, "Der schlimme Bischof Gentilis von Aversa," Mitteilungen aus der Capuaner Briefsammlung, III, (Heidelberg: C. Winter, 1911) [Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaten. 1911], p. 4. Kehr VIII, p. 240, no. 6, with note.
  13. ^ Kehr VIII, p. 240, nos. 6 and 7. This would have taken place in 1193 and 1194.
  14. ^ Kehr VIII, p. 240, no. 8.
  15. ^ Kehr VIII, p. 241, no. 9. The pope says explicitly that the strife had gone on for two years and more.
  16. ^ Kehr VIII, p. 241, nos. 9, 10, 11.
  17. ^ F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19.
  18. ^ Torelli I, p. 9.
  19. ^ Bulliarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 58, § 11: "Ecclesia archiepiscopalis Capuanae suffraganeas habebit episcopales ecclesias Iserniensem, Calvensem, Suessanam, et Casertanam. Alteram vero episcopalem ecclesiam Theanensem Calvensi ecclesiae episcopali aeque principaliter perpetuo unimus. In perpetuum autem supprimentes episcopalem ecclesiam Venafrensem, eamdem cum sua civitate ac dioecesi unimus atque aggregamus episcopali ecclesiae Iserniensi"
  20. ^ Collezione degli atti emanati dopo la pubblicazione del Concordato dell'anno 1818 Vol. 13 (Napoli: Stamp. dell'Iride, 1854), (in Italian and Latin), pp. 42-66.
  21. ^ Christus Dominus 40. Therefore, in order to accomplish these aims this sacred synod decrees as follows: 1) The boundaries of ecclesiastical provinces are to be submitted to an early review and the rights and privileges of metropolitans are to be defined by new and suitable norms. 2) As a general rule all dioceses and other territorial divisions that are by law equivalent to dioceses should be attached to an ecclesiastical province. Therefore dioceses which are now directly subject to the Apostolic See and which are not united to any other are either to be brought together to form a new ecclesiastical province, if that be possible, or else attached to that province which is nearer or more convenient. They are to be made subject to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the bishop, in keeping with the norms of the common law. 3) Wherever advantageous, ecclesiastical provinces should be grouped into ecclesiastical regions for the structure of which juridical provision is to be made.
  22. ^ The bull Ad Apicem Spiritualis (in Latin), in: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 68 (1976), pp. 594-595.
  23. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 625-628.
  24. ^ A bishop of Isernia, whose name is not preserved, died in the earthquake of 847. Cappelletti XX, p. 156. Leo Marsicanus, "Chronicon Casinense" I. 28, in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum Tomus VII, pp. 600-601.
  25. ^ Bishop Odelgarius attended the Council of Ravenna of Pope John VIII in November 877, and subscribed the official letter. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XVII (Venice: A. Zatta 1772), p. 342. Cappelletti XX, p. 156.
  26. ^ Kehr VIII, p. 242: "Primus quem novimus episcopus occurrit in quadam charta a. 943, cuius autographum in archive capituli adhuc servatur."
  27. ^ Ughelli VI, p. 593, no. 6, citing the "Chronicon Casinense". The passage he quotes, however, refers to the earthquake of 847, and makes no mention of "Landus". Cappelletti XX, p. 156, translates Ughelli, but leaves out the erroneous quotation.
  28. ^ Ardericus: Cappelletti XX, pp. 156-157.
  29. ^ Gerardus was consecrated bishop of Isernia at the request of the clergy of Isernia by Archbishop Adenulphus of Capua on 17 October 1032. The certificate of consecration and confirmation of privileges and properties is also signed by Bishop Jaquintus. Ughelli VI, pp. 394-395.
  30. ^ Pope Nicholas II (1058–1061) consecrated Petrus, a monk of Montecassino, as bishop of Venafro and Isernia. Kehr VIII, p. 243, no. 1. "Chronicon Casinense" III. 14, in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum Tomus VII, p. 706.
  31. ^ Bishop Raynaldus was present at the Third Lateran Council, of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. On 20 March 1182, Pope Lucius III granted Bishop Raynaldus a privilege, in which he delimited the territory of the bishop of Isernia's jurisdiction, naming the towns and parishes, which included Venafro. Ughelli VI, pp. 396-398.
  32. ^ Bishop Gentile was forced to flee from Venafro in November 1192, and seek refuge in Aversa. K. Hampl, "Der schlimme Bischof Gentilis von Aversa," Mitteilungen aus der Capuaner Briefsammlung, III, (Heidelberg: C. Winter, 1911) [Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaten. 1911], p. 4. Kehr VIII, p. 240, no. 6, with note.
  33. ^ It has been presumed that R. was bishop until 1207.
  34. ^ Darius: Eubel I, p. 286.
  35. ^ Henricus: Ughelli VI, p. 398, no. 19. Eubel I, p. 287.
  36. ^ Following the death of Bishop Petrus, the cathedral Chapter met and elected one of themselves, Canon Conradus Judici Ramputi, as bishop. At the same time, the Archpriest of Isernia, Nicolaus Andreae of Isernia, who was at the papal court in Avignon at the time, was elected bishop and confirmed by the Archbishop of Capua. Nicolaus appealed to the pope and instituted a legal process. Conradus, who had appeared at the papal court, died during the litigation. The Franciscan Henri was appointed instead. Eubel I, p. 287. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Tome IX (Paris: E. De Boccard 1929), p. 359, no. 50072.
  37. ^ The matter of the dual election of a bishop of Isernia following the death of Bishop Petrus, was handed over to Cardinal Bertrand, Bishop of Tusculum, for judgment. One of the litigants, Conradus, died during the proceedings. Pope John XXII then intervened, pointing out that he had reserved the appointment of all bishops to the pope (quod nos diu ante huiusmodi obitum ipsius Conradi omnes ecclesias cathedrales ... reservavimus) provided (appointed) the professed Franciscan priest Henricus. Henricus was consecrated in Avignon by Cardinal Guillaume, Bishop of Sabina. Conradus Eubel (ed.), Bullarium Franciscanum Tomus V (Rome: Typis Vaticanis 1898), p. 469, no. 858 (4 July 1330). Eubel I, p. 287.
  38. ^ Guillelmus had been appointed Bishop of Cività Castellana in 1324 by Pope John XXII, who transferred him to Isernia on 13 November 1331, following the death of Bishop Henricus. Eubel I, pp. 190, 287. G. Mollat, Jean XXII' Lettres communes Tome XI (Paris: E. De Boccard ), pp. 75-76, no. 55031.
  39. ^ On 8 November 1367, Bishop Filippo was named bishop of Tivoli.
  40. ^ In religion Paolo da Roma, Paolo was appointed bishop of Isernia on 22 December 1367 by Pope Urban V. On 3 February 1379, Bishop Francesco was named archbishop of Monreale (Sicily). On retirement, on 8 April 1418 he was given the honorary title of bishop of Thessaloniki (Macedonia), while at Monreale there was a struggle between Boniface IX (Roman Obedience) and Benedict XIII (Avignon Obedience). Eubel I, pp. 287, 349, 484.
  41. ^ On 18 December 1389, Maroni was appointed Cardinal-Priest of San Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane by Pope Boniface IX. He died on 4 December 1404. Eubel I, pp. 25, no. 4; 287.
  42. ^ Domenico was appointed bishop of Isernia on 30 May 1390 by Pope Boniface IX. On 18 August 1402, Bishop Domenico was named Bishop of Sessa Aurunca. Eubel I, pp. 287,
  43. ^ Bishop Andrea had previously been Bishop of Squillace, from 26 September 1392. He was named Bishop of Isernia in 1402, and, on 11 October 1402, he was named bishop of Potenza. On 17 November 1404, Bishop Andrea was transferred to the diocese of Cajazzo. He died in 1422. Eibel I. pp. 287, 407, 462.
  44. ^ Antonius was named BIshop of Isernia by Pope Boniface IX on 2 October 1402. On 12 July 1404, Bishop de Rossi was named bishop of Terracina.
  45. ^ Jacobus: Eubel I, p. 287; II, p. 169.
  46. ^ a b c Eubel, Konrad (1914). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi. Vol. II (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 169. (in Latin)
  47. ^ Castrioti was the son of Gjon Kastrioti II, and grandson of Skanderbeg of Epirus.
  48. ^ Olivieri: Eubel II, p. 169; III, p. 214.
  49. ^ A member of a rich and well-known family of Forlì, Numai was a doctor of the Sorbonne and had been Minister General of the Observant Franciscans. He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Leo X on 1 July 1517, and, on 17 April 1523 was appointed Bishop of Isernia by Pope Clement VII. He resigned the diocese after 19 months, on 19 December 1524, in favor of his nephew Antonio, who required a papal dispensation because he was under the minimum age for being consecrated a bishop. He died on 23 March 1528. Lorenzo Cardella, Memorie de'cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa Tomo 4 (Roma: Pagliarini 1793), pp. 45-47. Eubel III, pp. 16 no. 29; 214.
  50. ^ Antonio Numai was under-age when appointed bishop of Isernia, in succession to his uncle, Cardinal Cristoforo Numai on 19 December 1524. He was not consecrated a bishop until 11 April 1529. He attended sessions of the Council of Trent from January 1546 to September 1547. He resigned the diocese in 1567, and died in 1568. Ughelli VI, p. 402. Cappelletti XX, p. 165. Eubel III, p. 214.
  51. ^ Lomellini was born in Messana in 1528, of a family from Rhodes. He was a doctor of civil law (Padua), and became a Referendary of the Tribunal of the Two Signatures in the Roman curia. He was named Bishop of Guardialfiera (1562–1567), and, at the age of 33, he was appointed bishop of Isernia by Pope Pius V on 17 March 1567. He died on 22 November 1599, perhaps (as Ughelli reports) by poison. Ughelli VI, p. 402. Eubel III, pp. 207, 214.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 211.
  53. ^ "Bishop Paolo De Curtis, C.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016
  54. ^ On 14 November 1689, Passarelli was appointed Archbishop of Salerno. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 230 with note 3.
  55. ^ Michele da Bologna: Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 4.
  56. ^ Terzi: Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 5.
  57. ^ On 22 November 1730, Lioni was appointed Bishop of Melfi e Rapolla. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 6.
  58. ^ Persico was born in Naples in 1682, and became a priest in 1711. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Naples 1702), and became a protonotary apostolic. He served as Vicar General of Troia e Sora, and then Vicar General of Aversa. He was appointed titular bishop of Hirina (Byzacensis) on 20 March 1726. He was transferred to the diocese of Isernia by Pope Clement XII on 18 June 1731. He died in Isernia in May 1739. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 222 with note 2; VI, p. 246 with note 2.
  59. ^ Janucci: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 3.
  60. ^ Mastrilli: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 4.
  61. ^ Della Peruta: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 5.
  62. ^ Pope Pius VII was a prisoner of Napoleon in France from 1809 to 1815. The dioceses of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies were not restored until June 1818.
  63. ^ Pignattaro had briefly been Archbishop of Santa Severina (25 May – 24 November 1823). He was nominated by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies to be bishop of Isernia on 20 June 1823, and confirmed by Pope Leo XII on 24 November 1823. He resigned on 24 January 1825, and died on 11 February 1826. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 226, 344.
  64. ^ On 28 October 1989, Di Filippo was appointed Archbishop of Campobasso-Boiano by Pope John Paul II.
  65. ^ On 30 April 2013, Bishop Visco was appointed Archbishop of Capua by Pope Francis.

Bibliography

Episcopal lists

Studies

External links


41°36′00″N 14°14′00″E / 41.6000°N 14.2333°E / 41.6000; 14.2333

Categories