Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lucca should not be confused with Archdiocese of Lecce.
| Jurisdiction: | Archdiocese |
| Lucca | |
| Latin: | Archidioecesis Lucensis |
| Local: | Arcidiocesi di Lucca |
| Country: | Italy |
| Province: | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Area Km2: | 1,520 |
| Population: | 318,390 (est.) |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Catholics: | 311,455 |
| Parishes: | 362 |
| Denomination: | Catholic Church |
| Sui Iuris Church: | Latin Church |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Established: | by 4th century |
| Cathedral: | Cathedral of St Martin in Lucca |
| Patron: | St Paulinus of Antioch |
| Priests: | 178 (diocesan) 15 (Religious Orders) 21 Permanent Deacons |
| Bishop Title: | Archbishop |
| Bishop: | Paolo Giulietti |
| Emeritus Bishops: | Benvenuto Castellani |
| Map: | Italy Tuscany Diocese map Lucca.svg |
| Website: | Website of the Archdiocese |
The Archdiocese of Lucca (Latin: Archidioecesis Lucensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. The diocese dates back as a diocese to at least the 4th century; it became an archdiocese in 1726. The seat of the archbishop is in Lucca, in the cathedral of S. Martino. It is not a metropolitan see, has no suffragan dioceses, and is immediately subject (exempt) to the Holy See (Papacy).[1] [2]
During the Gothic Wars the city of Lucca was besieged and taken by Totila in 550. Hoping for assistance from the Franks, the Lucchesi obstinately resisted the attack of Narses, surrendering only after a siege of seven months (553). It later fell into the hands of the Lombards, was thenceforward a place of great importance, and became the favourite seat of the Marquesses of Tuscany.
In 981 Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor bestowed on its bishop civil jurisdiction over the entire diocesan territory; but in 1081 Emperor Henry IV made it a free city and conferred other favours upon it, especially in the way of trade. This was the origin of the Republic of Lucca. Lucca was generally on the side of the pope against the emperor, and hence joined the League of S. Ginesio (1197).[3]
There is a legend that the Gospel was preached at Lucca by a certain St. Paulinus, said to be a disciple of St. Peter, and the discovery in 1197 of a stone, recording the deposition of the relics of Paulinus, a holy martyr, apparently confirmed this belief. On the stone, however, St. Paulinus is not called Bishop of Lucca, nor is there any allusion to his having lived in Apostolic times.[4] His hagiography belongs to the 13th century.[5]