Roman Catholic Diocese of Cervia explained

The diocese of Cervia was a Roman Catholic diocese in Emilia-Romagna.[1] The diocese was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ravenna. In 1947, it merged with the archdiocese of Ravenna to form the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.

History

Cervia is a city in the province of Ravenna, Italy, on the ancient Via Flaminia 26.0 km (16.2 mi) south-southeast of Ravenna, in a marshy district near the Adriatic Sea. The town and the diocese were originally called Ficocle (or FIcoclia). In the middle of the 4th century the name was changed to Cervia, though the bishops regularly continued to use the old name.[2] The diocese was a suffragan of Ravenna, according to a document of Pope Gregory I (590–604) now regarded as spurious. It was actually directly subject to the papacy.[3] Pope Agapitus II, in October 948, made Cervia a suffragan of Ravenna.[4] That suffragan status was confirmed by Pope Calixtus II on 7 January 1121, in the bull "Etsi Universae".[5]

The first known Bishop of Cervia was Gerontius. According to his legend,[6] he was returning with Viticanus, Bishop of Cagli, from the Roman council held in 501 to treat accusations made against Pope Symmachus, when he was assaulted and killed by bandits. The legend says "heretics", perhaps Goths, or more probably Heruli, of the army of Odoacer. His remains are preserved at Cagli. He is venerated as a martyr, and is commemorated in the liturgical calendar on May 9.

In 708, the city of Cagli was destroyed by a fire. It was slowly rebuilt.[7]

According to Bonizo of Sutri, a bishop of Cervia participated in the enthronement of the Antipope Clement III (Wibert, Archbishop of Ravenna) in the Lateran Basilica in Rome on 28 June 1083: "a Mutinensie episcopo et a Bononiensi episcopo et a Cerviensis."[8] The manuscript reading, however, is Cueniensi. No other author names a bishop of Cervia. Gebhard of Salzburg names only two bishops;[9] likewise, Bernoldus of Konstanz.[10]

During the episcopate of Bishop Rusticus (1219), in 1224 Cervia was placed under an interdict for its maltreatment of a certain Gerardus, an envoy of the Archbishop of Ravenna. They also abused a procurator of bishop Egidio of Forlimpopoli, who had been sent to announce the interdict.[11]

Other bishops worth mention were: Bishop Joannes (c. 858–881), who was sent on a diplomatic mission by Pope Nicholas I to the court of King Lothair II of Lotharingia;[12] the Venetian Pietro Barbo (1440), later Pope Paul II; Alfonso Visconti (1591–1601), who had been nuncio to the emperor (1589–1591) and to Transylvania (1595–1596);[13] and Bonifacio Bevilacqua (1601–1627),[14] named a Cardinal by Pope Clement VIII on 3 March 1599, and a friend of Pope Gregory XV (Ludovisi), who made him Duke of Fornano.

In 1484, the town of Cervia was destroyed by an earthquake. The Major Council of Ravenna discussed rebuilding the town.[15]

Bishop Ottavio Santacroce (1576–1581) held a diocesan synod in 1577.[16]

On 16 June 1641, Cervia was heavily damaged by a major earthquake. In expiation, the bishop and magistrates instituted an annual procession from the city to Santa Maria del Pino, bearing the remains of the martyr S. Rogatus.[17]

In 1766, the city of Cervia, which was subject to the civil jurisdiction of the papacy in the legation of the Romandiola, contained around 800 persons.[18]

The cathedral of Cervia was dedicated to the taking up of the body (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary into heaven. It was administered and staffed by a corporation called the Chapter, consisting of two dignities (the Archdeacon and the Provost) and eight canons.[19]

In the 19th century, the diocese was composed of only 12 parishes, the entire city of Cervia composing one of those parishes.[20]

On 22 February 1947, the diocese of Cervia was suppressed, and its territory incorporated into the archdiocese of Ravenna.[21]

Bishops

Erected: 6th Century
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ravenna

to 1300

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Sede vacante (1264–1266)[44]

1300 to 1600

1600 to 1947

Sede vacante (1792–1795)

Bibliography

Reference works for bishops

Studies

Notes and References

  1. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dc259.html Diocese of Cervia
  2. Cappelletti II, p. 557.
  3. Kehr V, p. 114: "Ficoclensis episcopatus, quamquam in Gregorii I privilegio spurio JE. 1883a (v. supra p. 32 n. 62) inter Ravennatis archiepiscopi suffraganeos enumeratur, priscis tamen temporibus apostolicae sedi immediate paruisse videtur."
  4. Kehr V, p. 50, no. 156.
  5. Antonio Tarlazzi (ed.), Appendice ai Monumenti Ravennati dei secoli di mezzo,, Vol. 1 (Ravenna: Angeletti, 1872), pp. 40-42: "concedimus Episcopatus Emilie provincie, idest Placentie, Parme, Regii, Mutine et Bononie, Ferrarie, Adrie, Comaclii, Imole, Faventia, Forolivii, Foripompilii, Bobii, Cesene, Ficocle."
  6. Daniel Papenbroch, Acta Sanctorum Maii Tomus secundus (Antwerp 1738), pp. 461-464.
  7. Cappelletti II, p. 559.
  8. Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Libelli de Lite Imperatorum et Pontificum Vol. 1 (Hannover: Hahn 1891), p. 614: "et cum non haberet episcopos cardinales, sacerdotes sancte Romane ecclesie, nec levitas nec comprovinciales episcopos, ... a Mutinensie episcopo et a Bononiensi episcopo et a Cerviensis in sede beati Petri intronizatus est." Philippus Jaffe, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, editio altera, Tomus I (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 650.
  9. MGH p. 614 n.: "nullus eum consecrare praesumpsit praeter Mutinensem et Aretinum exepiscopos." Schwartz, p. 167.
  10. I.M. Watterich, Pontificum Romanorum... Vitae vol. I (Leipzig: G. Engelmann 1862), p. 455: "non per Ostiensem et Albanensem et Portuensem episcopos, qui hoc privilegium habent, ut Papam consecrent, sed per Mutinensem et Aritiensem exepiscopos, utpote iam multis annis depositos et anathematizatos."
  11. Cappelletti II, pp. 561-562.
  12. Kehr V, p. 113: "Adnotamus etiam Iohannem Ficoclensem episcopum a Nicolao I una cum Khadoaldo Portuensi episcopo in Galliam missum ad cognoscendam Lotharii regis causam (JE. 2698. 2726)."
  13. Die Nuntiatur am Kaiserhofe III

    Alfonso Visconte 1589-1591, Camillo Caetano 1591-1592, (Nuntiaturberichte aus Deutschland nebst ergänzende Aktenstücke IIIa/2/3), ed. by J. Schweizer, Paderborn 1919, pp. xvi-xxxiii. Henry Biaudet (1910), Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes jusqu'en 1648,, Helsinki: Suomalainen tiedeakatemia, p. 292.

  14. Bevilacqua died in Rome on 7 April 1627. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 5, no. 22.
  15. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 499: "Ann. 1485. Martii 9. De reparatione ruinarum Cerviae secutae et terremotibus anni superioris." Cited by Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: de Bocca 1901), p. 81.
  16. Cappelletti II, p. 571.
  17. Ferdinando Forlivesi, Cervia. Cenni storici (Bologna 1889), p. 186. Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: de Bocca 1901), p. 133. Cappelletti II, p. 571.
  18. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 160, note 1.
  19. Cappelletti II, p. 575.
  20. Cappelletti II, p. 575.
  21. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 39 (1947), pp. 225-226. A new archbishop of Ravenna-Cervia was appointed on 10 March 1947: p. 107: "Ravennatensem et Episcopum Gerviensem, Iacobum Lercaro."
  22. Gerontius: Zattoni, pp. 1-10. Lanzoni, pp. 713-714.
  23. Lanzoni, p. 714.
  24. Bonus: Cappelletti II, p. 559.
  25. "Adrianus episc. Cerensis" subscribed the decrees of the Roman council of Pope Leo IV in December 853. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus 14 (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020. Ughelli II, p. 468, citing Baronius, Annales Ecclesiastici. Cappelletti II, p. 559. Gams, p. 680.
  26. In 872, Pope Adrian II granted Bishop Joannes the privilege of founding the monastery of S. Maria de Balneo. On 20 July 881, Pope John VIII appointed Bishop Joannes to be the apostolic visitor of Faenza, on the death of Bishop Romanus. Cappelletti II, pp. 559-560. Kehr V, p. 114, no. 5.
  27. Bishop Stephanus attended the Roman council of Pope John XIII, in May 969. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum... Vol. 19 (Venice 1774), p. 21. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Schwartz, p. 166.
  28. Leo: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 189. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Schwartz, p. 166.
  29. On 12 August 1042, Bishop Joannes granted a salt pan to the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 206. Schwartz, p. 166.
  30. Bonus subscribed a document in 1061: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo III (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 25. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Gams, p. 680, col. 2. Schwartz, p. 166.
  31. Lucidus: Cappelletti II, pp. 560-561. Gams, p. 680, col. 2.
  32. On 9 September 1073, Bishop Ildebrandus granted property to the monastery of S. Apollinare nuovo. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), pp. 222-223. Schwartz, p. 167. Cappelletti II, p. 561. Gams, p. 680, col. 2.
  33. On 11 July 1106, Bishop Ugo issued a decree, reforming the terms under which the canons of the cathedral lived and conducted their business. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. VI (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1804), p. 34.
  34. Joannes: Schwartz, p. 167.
  35. Petrus: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), pp. 264, 267, 269, 349. Schwartz p. 167.
  36. In 1163 Bishop Manfredus Episcopus Ficlen. made his Will. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo, Volume 5 (Venezia 1802), p. 164.
  37. Albertus: Ughelli II, pp. 468-469.
  38. Ugo: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 273.
  39. On 15 October 1187, Pope Urban III (1185–1187), following the example of Pope Lucius III (1181–1185), took the diocese of Cervia under papal protection. Kehr V, p. 115, no. 7. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 423. On 24 May 1193, Bishop Thebaldus granted properties to the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 292.
  40. On 11 May 1198, Bishop Albertus subscribed a document, witnessing the return of property to the diocese. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), pp. 319, 373. Antonio Tarlazzi (ed.), Appendice ai Monumenti Ravennati dei secoli di mezzo,, Vol. 1 (Ravenna: Angeletti, 1872), p. 67. Eubel I, p. 183.
  41. On 17 May 1204, Bishop Simeon renewed leases on salt pans and other properties for the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), pp. 313-316. Bishop Simeon was transferred to the diocese of Ravenna by Pope Honorius III on 5 March 1217. Eubel I, pp. 183 with note 1; 415 with note 2.
  42. On 29 May 1231, Bishop Joannes witnessed a donation made by the Archbishop of Ravenna to the monastery of S. Maria in Insula. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 306.
  43. Ubaldus was appointed by Pope Alexander IV on 27 June 1257. He governed for a biennium. Eubel I, p. 183. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo III (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 333, states that Magister Ubaldus was elected on 28 May 1257, after the papal chaplain Jacobus was elected but declined.
  44. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo III (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 333.
  45. Thomas had previously been Bishop of Bitonto in southern Italy. He was transferred to Cervia by Pope Clement IV on 9 June 1266. Fantuzzi III, p. 333. Cappelletti II, p. 564. Eubel I, pp. 142, 183.
  46. [Pope Boniface VIII]
  47. On 29 May 1307, the parishioners of S. Michele in Africisco met to elect a new pastor in succession to their Rector D. Matthaeus who had been elected Bishop of Cervia. On 23 February 1311, Robert, Duke of Apulia and Count of the Romandiola, confirmed the rights and privileges of his subjects, including M. the bishop of Cervia. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 421. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo, Volume 5 (Venezia 1802), p. 177.
  48. Following the death of Bishop Geraldus, the Legate of Lombardy and the Marches, Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget of Ostia, placed the diocese under the care (in commendam) of Bishop-elect Guido of Reggio. Pope John XXII transferred Superantius, the Bishop of Adria, to the diocese of Cervia, in a decree on 11 October 1329. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes, Vol. 9 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1928), p. 43, no. 46923. Eubel I, pp. 71, 183.
  49. Guadagno de Majolo became bishop of Cervia on 26 June 1342, following the death of Bishop Superantius. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo III (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 347.
  50. On 27 April 1364, Bishop Joannes settled his financial account with the papal treasury. On 11 February 1369, Bishop Joannes entered a complaint that he had been robbed by the miles Giovanni Malatesta. Fantuzzi III, pp. 349, 350.
  51. Astorgio had been a canon of the collegiate church of Brioude (Brivatensis, diocese of Clermont). He was a Doctor of Canon Law. Eubel I, p. 183 with note 6.
  52. Giovanni had been Bishop of Pistoria (1370–1381). He died on 29 August 1382. Eubel I, pp. 183, 400-401.
  53. Menendus was Bishop of Cordoba, Spain, provided by Urban VI in 1378, but only nominally, since Urban VI was not recognized in Aragon or Castile. Eubel I, pp. 183, 209.
  54. Pinus had been Bishop of Paphos (Cyprus). He paid his fees, and those of his predecessors Astorgus and Menendus, on 22 May 1394. Eubel I, pp. 183 with note 7; 389.
  55. Paulus, who had been Provost of the cathedral of Rimini, was appointed bishop of Cervia on 8 March 1402, by Pope Boniface IX (Roman Obedience). Bishop Paulus was a supporter of Gregory XII (Roman Obedience), who was deposed by the Council of Pisa for heresy, schism, and perjury, on 5 June 1409. His supporters were deposed as well, one by one. Ughelli II, p. 467, no. 33. Cappelletti II, p. 567. Eubel I, p. 183.
  56. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcorrra.html, C.R.S.A. "Bishop Antonio Correr, O.P."
  57. Catanei died in 1515. Eubel II, p. 126; III, p. 163, note 3.
  58. Pietro Fieschi held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was Provost of the collegiate church of S. Giovanni de Alberia (diocese of Todi). He was named bishop of Cervia by Pope Julius II on 23 September 1513. At the conclave of 1523, he was governor of the papal palace and ex-governor of the city of Rome. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. 32 (Venice: Tip. Emiliana 1845), p. 40, col. 1. Eubel III, p. 163 with note 4.
  59. Cardinal Cesi: Eubel III, p. 163 with notes 5 and 6.
  60. A native of Milan, Visconti was appointed bishop of Cervia on 8 February 1591 by Pope Gregory XIV (Sfondrati). On 10 September 1601, Visconti was appointed Bishop of Spoleto. He died on 19 September 1608. Eubel III, p. 164 with note 17. Gauchat, p. 321 with note 3. Tamàs Kruppa, "Apostolic nunciature in a Protestant country: the Transylvanian mission of Alfonso Visconti, Bishop of Cervia (1595–1598)," in: Péter Tusor, Matteo Sanfilippo (editors), Il Papato e le chiese locali. Studi, (Viterbo, 2014), pp. 89–123.
  61. A native of Ferrara, Bevilacqua held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Padua). He was a papal chamberlain of Pope Gregory XIII. Under Pope Clement VIII he was governor of the Patrimony of S. Peter, and of Camerino. He was made Latin Patriarch of Constantinople at the age of 28. As Bishop of Cervia, he was Legate of Umbria, and of Perugia. He was then made Prefect of the Consulta and of the Inquisition. Lorenzo Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, Vol. 6 (Roma: Pagliarini 1793), pp. 47-48. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 146.
  62. Guidi had been titular Archbishop of Patras (Greece). He was transferred to the diocese of Cervia on 17 May 1627, by Pope Urban VIII. He was named a cardinal on 30 August 1627, although the promotion was not announced until 19 November 1629. Bishop Guidi was appointed Bishop of Rieti on 16 April 1635. He died on 24 July 1641. Gauchat IV, p. 22, no. 27; 146; 276 with note 1; 293 with note 7.
  63. Merlini: Cappelletti II, pp. 571-572.
  64. Riccamonti: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V. p. 155 with note 3.
  65. Spreti: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V. p. 155 with note 4.
  66. Pizzolanti: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V. p. 155 with note 5.
  67. Donati: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 160 with note 2.
  68. Gazzola held the degrees of Master of Theology and Doctor of Canon Law (Urbino). He lectured in Canon Law and experimental physics at the University of Cesena for 10 years. He was named bishop of Cervia on 1 June 1795 by Pope Pius VI. In 1814, Bishop Gazzola was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Montefiascone e Corneto (Tarquinia), and, on 21 February 1820, he was named the bishop. He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Leo XII on 3 May 1824. He died on 29 January 1832. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 160 with note 3; VII, p. 270.
  69. A native of Ravenna, Mazzotti had been Bishop of Tivoli from 1818–1820. He was appointed bishop of Cervia by Pope Pius VII on 21 February 1820. He died on 2 November 1825. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, p. 146, 369.
  70. Cadolini was named bishop of Cervia on 3 July 1826, by Pope Leo XII. On 30 September 1831, Cadolini was appointed Bishop of Foligno, and in 1832 archbishop of Spoleto. On 12 February 1838, he was named secretary of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (the Propaganda), for which purpose he was named titular Archbishop of Edessa (Osrhoene, Syria). He became Archbishop of Ferrara in 1843, and was named a cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI. He died in 1850. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, pp. 146, 184. 194, 199, 352.
  71. Castracane was named bishop of Cervia on 20 January 1834, by Pope Gregory XVI. On 12 February 1838, Castracane was appointed Bishop of Cesena. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, p. 146.

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