Roman Catholic Diocese of Vigevano

The Italian Catholic Diocese of Vigevano (Latin: Dioecesis Viglevanensis) lies almost entirely in the Province of Pavia, Lombardy. It has existed since 1530. The diocese is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milan,[1][2] having been suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vercelli until 9 April 1578.[3]

Diocese of Vigevano

Dioecesis Viglevanensis
Vigevano Cathedral
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical provinceMilan
Statistics
Area1,509 km2 (583 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2014)
193,000 (est.)
183,400 (est.) (95.0%)
Parishes87
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established14 March 1530 (490 years ago)
CathedralCattedrale di S. Ambrogio
Secular priests98 (diocesan)
11 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopMaurizio Gervasoni
Bishops emeritusVincenzo Di Mauro
Map
Website
www.diocesivigevano.it

History

The earliest notices of Vigevano date from the tenth century, when it was favoured as a residence by King Arduin of Ivrea (1002–1014) for hunting.[4] In the next period it was a Ghibelline commune, and was accordingly besieged and taken by the Milanese in 1201 and again in 1275.[5] In 1328 it surrendered to Azzone Visconti, and thereafter shared the political fortunes of Milan. In the last years of the Visconti domination it sustained a siege by Francesco Sforza.

At the end of September 1418, Pope Martin V visited Vigevano and a number of other cities of Lombardy during his trip from Konstanz to Rome.[6]

Until 1530 the town belonged to the Diocese of Novara, and its principal church, San Ambrogio, was staffed by a Chapter composed of a Provost and seven Canons.[7] Duke Francesco II Sforza of Milan procured the erection of the see and provided its revenues. The diocese was created by Pope Clement VII in the bull "Ex eminenti" of 17 March 1529.[8]

The first bishop was Galeazzo Pietra, succeeded by his nephew Maurizio Pietra (1552); both of these promoted the Tridentine reforms, and the work was continued by their successors. Marsilio Landriani (1594) distinguished himself in various nunciatures and founded a Barnabite college for the education of young men. Giorgio Odescalchi (1610) was a very zealous pastor; the process of his beatification has been commenced. Giovanni Caramuel Lobkowitz (1675) was an example of pastoral activity and the author of many works, philosophical, theological, ascetical etc., though his Theologia fundamentalis was censured.[9] Pier Marino Sonnani (1688), a Franciscan, who enlarged the seminary and maintained a struggle against the spread of the doctrines of Miguel Molinos.[10]

With the Treaty of Worms (1743) the diocese became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.[11]

All cathedral chapters and collegiate church chapters were abolished by the French Occupation government on 28 March 1801. It was restored by N. Bonaparte, Emperor of the French and King of Italy (1805–1814) in 1805.[12]

From 1802 until May 1805, Vigevano was a constituent element of the Italian Republic, of which Napoleon was the president. It was a District in the Department of Agogna, with its capital at Novara. A concordat with the papacy was signed on 16 September 1803.[13] In Article II, §4 of the Concordat, Vigevano was assigned to the metropolitanate of Milan. In Article XV, §17, the suppression of ecclesiastical foundations without the consent of the Holy See was forbidden.

Bishop Nicola Saverio Gamboni of the diocese of Capri was appointed to the see by Napoleon in 1805, but he was refused his bulls of transfer and institution by Pope Pius VII. He was therefore only the Administrator of the temporalities of the diocese.

In 1817, after the agreements at the Congress of Vienna, which returned the Kingdom of Sardinia to the House of Savoy after French occupation, the diocese of Vigevano received an addition to its territory.[14]

Diocesan synods

A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See.[15]

Bishop Maurizio Pietra (1552–1576) presided over a diocesan synod in 1572.[16] A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Alessandro Casale (1577–1582) in 1578.[17] In 1587, Bishop Bernardino Bricennio (1582–1588) held a diocesan synod.[18] Bishop Marsilio Landriani (1593–1609) held a diocesan synod in 1608.[19]

A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Giuseppe Maria Scarampi (1757–1801) on 13–15 June 1768, noting in his letter of summons that it had been a century since the last synod.[20] Bishop Giovanni Francesco Toppia (1818–1828) held a diocesan synod on 14–16 September 1823, to repair the damage done during the French occupation.[21] Bishop Pietro Giuseppe de Gaudenzi (1871–1891) presided over a diocesan synod on 23–25 August 1876.[22] De Gaudenzi held his third diocesan synod on 16–17 September 1886.[23]

Chapter and cathedral

The church which became the Cathedral of Vigevano was initially built in 1100, and then rebuilt in the sixteenth century through a commission by Duke Francesco II Sforza. It was dedicated to S. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan in the 4th century. The facade of the second and current structure was re-designed by Bishop Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz in 1673 (completed c. 1680).

The original bull of erection of the diocese instituted a cathedral Chapter with four dignities, the Provost, the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Dean. The number of Canons was fixed at twelve. The cathedral continued to function as a parish church.[24] Shortly thereafter, two more dignities were added: the Cantor and the Primicerius.[25] In 1671, the cathedral Chapter, the corporation responsible for the operation and administration of the cathedral, its liturgical life, and its property, was composed of six dignities and twelve Canons.[26]

The Chapter was abolished by the French Occupation government on 28 March 1801. It was restored by First Consul N. Bonaparte in 1805. Following the restoration, it had three dignities (Provost, Archdeacon, and Archpriest) and eleven Canons. In addition there were four chaplains appointed by the King of Sardinia, five chaplains called Marini after Bishop Pier Marino Sormani, and seven chaplains with various other patrons.[27]

The Church of S. Pietro Martiere was built, with the adjacent Dominican convent, by Filippo Maria Visconti in 1445; the convent is now used for government offices and courts. Among the civil edifices is the castle, once a fortress, built by Bramante in 1492, by order of Ludovico il Moro, which became a royal palace.

Bishops

1530 to 1700
  • Galeazzo Pietra (14 Mar 1530 – 27 Oct 1552)[28]
  • Maurizio Pietra (27 Oct 1552 – 20 May 1576)[29]
  • Alessandro Casale (1 Jul 1577 – 16 Feb 1582)[30]
  • Bernardino Bricennio (Brisseno) (5 Nov 1582 – 11 Aug 1588)[31]
  • Pietro Fauno Costacciaro (12 Jun 1589 – 9 Sep 1592)[32]
  • Marsilio Landriani (10 Nov 1593 – 27 Aug 1609)[33]
  • Pietro Giorgio Odescalchi (26 May 1610 – 7 May 1620)[34]
  • Francisco Romero, O. Carm. (11 Jan 1621 – 16 Jul 1635)[35]
Sede vacante (1635–1648)
Sede vacante (1649–1654)

since 1700
  • Gerolamo Archinto (1703–1710)[44]
  • Giorgio Cattaneo (2 Mar 1712 – 7 Nov 1730)[45]
  • Carlo Bossi (1731–1753)[46]
  • Francesco Agostino della Chiesa (17 Feb 1755 – 11 Aug 1755) [47]
  • Giuseppe Maria Scarampi (18 Jul 1757 – 18 Feb 1801)[48]
Sede vacante (1801–1805)[49]
Nicola Zaverio Gambone (1805–1807)[50]
  • Francesco Milesi (18 Sep 1807 – 23 Sep 1816)[51]
  • Giovanni Francesco Toppia (25 May 1818 – 20 Jul 1828)[52]
  • Giovanni Battista Accusani (1830–1843)[53]
  • Pio Vincenzo Forzani (25 Jan 1844 – 15 Dec 1859)
Sede vacante (1859–1871)[54]
  • Pietro Giuseppe de Gaudenzi (27 Oct 1871 – 15 Oct 1891)
  • Giacomo Merizzi (14 Dec 1891 – 28 Nov 1898 Resigned)
  • Pietro Berruti (28 Nov 1898 – 8 Apr 1921)
  • Angelo Giacinto Scapardini, O.P. (27 Aug 1921 – 18 May 1937)
  • Giovanni Bargiggia (6 Jul 1937 – 11 Apr 1946)
  • Antonio Picconi (13 Jun 1946 – 21 Apr 1952)
  • Luigi Barbero (26 Jul 1952 – 1 Apr 1971)
  • Mario Rossi (4 Aug 1971 – 19 Aug 1988)
  • Giovanni Locatelli (12 Nov 1988 – 18 Mar 2000 Retired)
  • Claudio Baggini (18 Mar 2000 – 12 Mar 2011 Resigned)
  • Vincenzo Di Mauro (12 Mar 2011 – 21 Jul 2012 Resigned)[55]
  • Maurizio Gervasoni (20 Jul 2013 – )[56]

Parishes

Of the 87 parishes 86 are located, like Vigevano, within the Province of Pavia in Lombardy. The exception is S. Silvano Martire which is within the commune of Sozzago in the Piedmontese province of Novara.[57] In 2014 there was one priest for every 1,682 Catholics.

References
  1. "Diocese of Vigevano" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  2. "Diocese of Vigevano" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 334, note 1.
  4. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. C [100] (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1860), p. 100, column 2.
  5. Cesare Nubilonio, "Cronaca di Vigevano.... Opera pubblicata di Carlo Negroni," in: Miscellanea di storia Italiana Tomo XXIX (Torino: Bocca 1892), pp. 205-392, at pp. 222-223 and 233.
  6. Nubilonio, "Cronaca di Vigevano.... Opera pubblicata di Carlo Negroni," p. 228.
  7. Ughelli IV, p. 817.
  8. Ughelli IV, pp. 816-819, quotes the bull in its entirety.
  9. Cf. Jesús Martínez de Bujanda; Marcella Richter (2002). Index des livres interdits: Index librorum prohibitorum 1600-1966 (in French). Montreal: Médiaspaul. p. 189. ISBN 978-2-89420-522-8.
  10. John Bigelow (1882). Molinos the Quietist. New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-0-524-00510-1.
  11. Article IX of the treaty states: "On the same account, Her Hungarian Majesty (Maria Theresa) yields to the King of Sardinia (Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia) the district of Vigevano, with all that part of the Duchy of Pavia, lying between the Tessino and the Po, as far as the Lago-Maggiore, as also Bobbio, with its territory and the city of Placentia...." Samuel Boyse (1747). An Historical Review of the Transactions of Europe from the Commencement of the War with Spain in 1739, to the Insurrection in Scotland in 1745 ... Volume I. Reading: D. Henry. pp. 326–328.
  12. Mazzini Lorenzo, p. 171.
  13. Pius VII (1846). Bullarii Romani continuatio... constitutiones, literas in forma brevis, epistolas ad principes viros, et alios, atque allocutiones (in Latin). Tomus decimus secundus. Rome: ex typographia Reverendae Camerae Apostolicae. pp. 59–62.
  14. Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 183–188. Cappelletti XIV, p. 645. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. C [100] (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1860), p. 114. The additions came from the dioceses of Milan, Pavia, and Novara.
  15. Benedictus XIV (1842). "Lib. I. caput secundum. De Synodi Dioecesanae utilitate". Benedicti XIV ... De Synodo dioecesana libri tredecim (in Latin). Tomus primus. Mechlin: Hanicq. pp. 42–49. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-727. Andrea Tilatti, "Sinodi diocesane e concili provinciali in italia nord-orientale fra Due e Trecento. Qualche riflessione," Mélanges de l'Ecole française de Rome. Moyen-Age, Temps modernes T. 112, N°1. 2000, pp. 273-304.
  16. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIbis (Paris: Hubert Welter 1913), p. 97.
  17. Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 151.
  18. Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 339.
  19. Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 977.
  20. Josephus Maria Franciscus Scarampi (1768). Synodus dioecesana Viglevanensis ... habita anno ... 1768 diebus 13., 14., 15. Junii (etc.) (in Latin). Turin: Mairesse.
  21. Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 206-207.
  22. Pietro Giuseppe de Gaudenzi (1876). Acta synodi diœcesanae primæ sanctae viglevanensis Ecclesiae quam ill.us et rev.us d. d. episcopus Petrus Joseph De-Gaudenzi habuit diebus 23, 24, 25 augusti 1876 (in Latin). Viglevano: excudebant Typ. episc. heredes Spargella.
  23. Acta Synodi Dioecesanae tertiae sanctae Viglevanensis Ecclesiae, quam Illmus ac Revñus DD. Episcopus Petrus loseph de Gaudenzi habuit diebus 16 et 17 septem. 1886. Mortariae: A. Costellezzi 1886.
  24. Ughelli IV, p. 817.
  25. Ughelli IV, p. 819.
  26. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415, note 1.
  27. Cappelletti XIV, p. 646.
  28. Galeazzo Pietra: Biffignandi, pp. 178–193. Eubel, III, p. 334.
  29. Maurizio Pietra was present at the Council of Trent in 1562 and 1563. Biffignandi, pp. 193–203. Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 4.
  30. A priest of Bologna, Casale was a protonotary apostolic, and practiced in the Roman Curia. Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 5.
  31. Bricennio: Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 6.
  32. Costacciaro: Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 7.
  33. Landriani was consecrated in Rome on 14 November 1593 by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 369, with note 2.
  34. Giovanni Maria Ferraria (1682). Vita del venerabile seruo di dio m.or Pietro Giorgio Odescalchi vescouo prima d'Alessandria, e poi di Vigeuano (in Italian). Vigevano: nella stampa vescouale per Camillo Corrada.
  35. "Archbishop Francisco Romero, O. Carm." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  36. "Bishop Juan Gutiérrez" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  37. On 24 September 1657 Bishop Adarzo was confirmed as Archbishop of Otranto, having been nominated by the King of Spain on 17 April 1657. He died in 1674. Gauchat IV, pp. 205 with note 5; 369 with note 6.
  38. Pietrasanta was a native of Milan. He was nominated to the See of Vigevano by the King of Spain on 2 February 1659, and approved (preconised) by Pope Alexander VII on 28 July 1659. He died on 7 November (or 23 December) 1666 in Rome. Gauchat IV, p. 369 with note 7.
  39. Visconti: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 2.
  40. Born in Milan, Rasino was a Doctor of Civil and Canon Law (Bologna 1652). He was Archdeacon of Milan when named Bishop of Vigevano. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Federigo Borromeo on 5 July 1671. He died on 18 November 1672. Ritzler and Sefrin, V, p. 415, with note 3. Cappelletti, pp. 630–631.
  41. Biffignandi, pp. 220–222. Jacopo Antonio Tadisi (1760). Memorie della vita di monsignore Giovanni Caramuel di Lobkowitz vescovo di Vigevano, descritte da Jacopo-Antonio Tadisi . (in Italian). Venezia: Giovanni Tevernin. Cappelletti, pp. 631–636. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 4.
  42. Rojas (Roxas) was born in Curiel in the diocese of Palencia (Spain). He held the degree of doctor of theology from the University of Salamanca. He was presented to the diocese of Viglevano by the King of Spain on 7 April 1683, and was approved (preconised) by Pope Innocent XI on 20 December 1683. He died on 30 December 1685. "Bishop Ferdinando de Rojas (Roxas)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 21, 2016. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 5.
  43. Sormani was born in Niguardae (diocese of Milan) in 1632. He was Minister General of the Franciscan Order. He was appointed to the diocese of Viglevano by Pope Alexander VIII on 11 October 1688. He died on 12 August 1702. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 6.
  44. Archinto was born in Milan in 1651. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Pavia (1677). He was a Canon and Primicerius of the cathedral Chapter of Milan. He was presented to the diocese of Vigevano by the King of Spain, and was approved by Pope Clement XI on 5 March 1703. He died on 22 October 1710, at the age of sixty-two. Ughelli IV, p. 826. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 7.
  45. Lorenzo Mazzini, pp. 144–149. Cappelletti, p. 641. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 8.
  46. Bossi was born in Milan and obtained a Doctorate in Civil and Canon Law from the University of Pavia (1690). He became a Canon in the Cathedral of Milan. On 31 January 1731 he was presented to the diocese of Vigevano by the Emperor in his capacity as Duke of Milan; and was approved by the Pope on 18 June. He was consecrated in Rome on 24 June by Cardinal Antonio Zondadari. He died on 7 October 1753. Ritzler, VI, p. 442, with note 2. Lorenzo Mazzini, pp. 149–155. Cappelletti, pp. 641–642.
  47. Della Chiesa: Ritzler, VI, p. 442, with note 3. Lorenzo Mazzini, pp. 155–157. Cappelletti, pp. 642–643.
  48. Lorenzo Mazzini, pp. 157–169. Cappelletti, pp. 643–644.
  49. Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 169-173. Cappelletti XIV, p. 645.
  50. Gambone was born in Naples in 1746, of a Milanese family. He had been Bishop of Capri. He was appointed Bishop of Vigevano by First Consul N. Bonaparte on 18 September 1805. He arrived in Vigevano on 31 March 1806. He held a solemn Mass on 3 April, and then transferred his residence to Milan, since his episcopal palace had been taken over by the French Prefecture. His episcopate in Vigevano was not recognized by the Vatican; Pius VII refused to sign the bulls for his transfer. On 11 June 1807, he was named Patriarch of Venice by Pope Pius VII, though his bulls read that he was being transferred from the diocese of Capri, not Vigevano. He died in Milan on 21 March 1808. Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 173-175. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. C [100] (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1860), p. 114.
  51. Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 176–182. Bishop Milesi attended the Council in Paris in 1811. Alfonso de Beauchamp (1825). Storia delle sciagure del s.p. Pio VII (in Italian). Torino: G. Pomba. p. 298. In 1815 he was named Patriarch of Venice by the Emperor Franz. He died in 1819. Gams, p. 793.
  52. Lorenzo Mazzini, pp. 188–216. One of his principal problems was the rise of the Carbonari and similar groups, the Adelfia and the Filadelfia.
  53. Accusani was born in Acqui in 1746. He was Vicar General of Mondovi. He was appointed Bishop of Vigevano on 5 July 1830, and consecrated in Mondovi on 5 September 1830. He died on 19 July 1843. Cappelletti XIV, p.
  54. Gams, p. 827, column 2.
  55. Di Mauro resigned for 'grave health reasons', according to a report in "Il giorno" (Pavia) on 21 July 2012: retrieved 2016-10-06. On 22 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI granted him the personal title of Archbishop. CV of Archbishop Di Mauro: Diocesi di Vigevano.it, "Vescovo: Sua Eccellenza Mons. Vincenzo Di Mauro;" retrieved 31 October 2020;
  56. CV of Bishop Gervasoni: Diocesi di Vigevano.it, "Vescovo: Sua Eccellenza Monsignor Maurizio Gervasoni;" retrieved: 31 October 2020. (in Italian)
  57. Source:chiesacattolica.it (retrieved:2008-03-13)

Books

Reference works

Studies
  • Benigni, Umberto. "Vigevano." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Retrieved: 2016-10-06.


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