Roman Catholic Diocese of Alba Pompeia

The Diocese of Alba Pompeia or Alba Pompea (Latin: Dioecesis Albae Pompeiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. Its territory comprises eighty towns in the civil Province of Cuneo and two in the Province of Asti.^[1][2]

Diocese of Alba Dioecesis Albae Pompeiensis
Alba Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Turin
Statistics
Area	1,050 km^2 (410 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2020) 137,070 (est.) 132,475 (guess)
Parishes	126
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	5th century
Cathedral	Cattedrale di S. Lorenzo
Secular priests	79 (diocesan) 38 (Religious Orders) 11 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Marco Brunetti
Bishops emeritus	Giacomo Lanzetti
Map
Website
www.diocesidialba.it

The Diocese of Alba Pompeia is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Turin.^[3][4]

History

The earliest figure in the traditional list of the bishops of Alba is a St. Dionysius, of whom the story is told that after serving in Alba for some years he became Archbishop of Milan.^[5] He was the Dionysius who so energetically opposed Arianism and was exiled in the year 355 by the Emperor Constans. Daniel Papebroch^[6] disputes the reliability of this tradition, since a bishop of that period was forbidden to leave his diocese for another.^[7]

A list of nine early bishops of Alba, from another St. Dionysius (380) down to a Bishop Julius (553), was compiled from sepulchral inscriptions found in the cathedral of Alba towards the end of the fifteenth century by Dalmazzo Berendenco, an antiquarian. Giovanni Battista De Rossi, however, on examination of the inscriptions proved them to be a forgery.^[8]

The first bishop of Alba whose existence is certain is Lampradius who was present at the synod held in Rome in 499 under Pope Symmachus.^[9]

On 26 May 969, Pope John XIII notified Archbishop Wilpertus of Milan that he had suppressed the diocese of Alba Pompeia, due to the devastation of the Saracens and the death of its bishop, and united it with the diocese of Asti.^[10] The decision was confirmed by Pope Benedict VII on 19 October 982.^[11] It was restored by 997, when Bishop Constantinus is found in office.

Benzo of Alba was an adversary of Pope Gregory VII and a partisan of thue Empire in the Investiture controversy.^[12]

The Emperor Frederick Barbarossa spent Christmas of 1159 in Alba.^[13]

The diocese of Saluzzo was established by Pope Julius II on 29 October 1511, in his bull Pro excellenti, on territory taken in part from the diocese of Alba Pompeia.^[14]

The prominence of natives of Mantua among the bishops of Alba in the 16th and 17th centuries is accounted for by the grant of the Marquisate of Montferrat to the Dukes of Mantua by the Emperor Charles V in 1536. With the marquisate came the patronage previously enjoyed by the Dukes of Savoy. This arrangement persisted until 1708, when the House of Savoy acquired Montferrat and the patronage over the bishopric of Alba.^[15]

Bishop Lodovico Gonzaga held a diocesan synod in 1636.^[16]

A diocesan synod, the first in more than thirty years, was held by Bishop Eugenio Roberto Galletti in September 1873.^[17]

Cathedral and Chapter

The office of Penitentiary in the Cathedral Chapter was created by Bishop Paolo Brizio de Braida on 15 January 1644.^[18]

In 1856 the Chapter was composed of five dignities and fourteen Canons. The dignities were: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Provost, the Cantor, and the Dean. The cathedral was considered a parish church, and was supervised by the Archpriest; there were two residentiary chaplains.^[19]

French conquest

When the French revolution guillotined King Louis XVI, King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia declared war on the French Republic, but in three successive engagements, the Battle of Montenotte (12 April 1796), the Battle of Millesimo (13–14 April 1796) and the Battle of Mondovi (21 April 1796), General Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Piedmontese. In suing for peace, Victor Amadeus was forced to cede Savoy and Nice to France. The territory became part of the Department of Mont-Blanc. King Victor Amadeus died on 18 October 1796, and his son and successor, Carlo Emanuele was forced to abdicate on 6 December 1798.^[20] Bonaparte crossed the Alps again in the Spring of 1800, intent on driving the Austrians out of the Po Valley. The victory at the Battle of Marengo gave the French control of most of Lombardy.

The French government, in the guise of ending the practices of feudalism, confiscated the incomes and benefices of the bishops and priests, and made them employees of the state, with a fixed income and the obligation to swear an oath of loyalty to the French constitution. As in metropolitan France, the government program also included reducing the number of bishoprics, making them conform as far as possible with the civil administration's "departments". Following the Concordat of 1801 between Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, the Pope issued a bull, Gravissimis causis (1 June 1803),^[21] in which the number of diocese in Piedmont was reduced to eight: Turin, Vercelli, Ivrea, Acqui, Asti, Mondovi, Alessandria and Saluzzo. Alba was suppressed, and its territory was handed over to the diocese of Asti. Bishop Vitale of Alba was required to resign.

The Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States (which had been abolished by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte) were restored by the Congress of Vienna. The confused situation of the dioceses in Piedmont was addressed by Pope Pius VII in his bull, Beati Petri (17 July 1817)^[22] as far as the redrawing of diocesan boundaries was concerned. The diocese of Alba was restored, and it temporarily took control of the territory of the suppressed diocese of Mondovi, until it too was restored on 29 October 1817.

Bishops

Diocese of Alba Pompeia

to 1100

[Dionisius (350–355)]

Adelgisus (355)

Severus (391, 397)

Bruningus (419)

Aldericus (443)

• Lampadius (c. 499)^[23]

Manfredo (482, 483)

[Venanzio (503)]^[24]

Oldarico (532)

Pietro I (563)

Venanzio II (593)

Guglielmo (627)

Vitelmo I (661)

• Benedictus (c. 680)^[25]
• Lampadio II (801)
• Sigifredo (829)

Pietro (c. 855)^[26]

• Hildradus (c. 876)^[27]
• Liutardus (c. 901)^[28]

Vitelmo II (901)^[29]

• [Daiberto (c. 938, 945)]^[30]
• Fulcardus (969–985)^[31]
• Constantinus (c. 997, c. 1006)^[32]
• Obertus (1027)^[33]
• Benzo (attested 1059–1090)^[34]
• Albertus (1061, 1074)^[35]

Peregrinus (attested 1098)^[36]

from 1100 to 1400

• Pietro de Valpergia (1124–1125)^[37]
• Robaldus (1125–1139)^[38]
• Pietro (V.) (1150–1158)^[39]
• Rozone (c. 1163)^[40]
• Otto (c. 1169 – c. 1177)^[41]
• ? Federico (1180)
• Bonifacius (1185, 1188)^[42]
• Gerardus (c. 1191 or 1194)^[43]
• Ogerius (c. 1192, c. 1204)^[44]
• Bonifacio (II) del Carretto (c. 1210, c. 1214)^[45]
• Reinerio (c. 1216 – c. 1226)^[46]
• Gandulfus Cauda (1227)^[47]
• Sardo (1231)
• Guglielmo Braida (1237–1253)^[48]
• Monaco (1255–1260)^[49]

[Gandolfo (1259–1262)]^[50]

• Simone (1261–1271)
• Martino, O.F.M. (c. 1276)^[51]
• Bonifacius (III) de S. Julia (c. 1283 − 1306)^[52]
• Raimundus de Mausaco, O.Min. (1311–1321)^[53]
• Guglielmo Isnardi, O.F.M. (1321–1333)^[54]
• Pietro Artaudi, O.P. (1334–1349)^[55]
• Lazzarino Fliscus (Fieschi) (1349–1367)^[56]
• Ludovico del Carretto (27 Apr 1369 – 1388)^[57]
• Federico del Carretto (1389–1390)^[57]
• Pietro del Carretto, O.P. (c. 1392)^[58]
• ? Bonifacio (IV) (1398)^[59]

from 1400 to 1600

• Francesco (I) del Carretto (1401–1406)^[60] (Roman Obedience)
• Aleramo del Carretto (c. 1407 – c. 1409)^[61]
• Jacobus (1409)^[62]
• ? Francesco (II) del Carretto (towards 1413)^[63]
• ? Giacomo del Carretto (1412–1418)^[63]
• Alerinus de Rembaldis (1419–1456)^[64]
• Bernardo del Carretto (18 October 1456 – 1460)
• Pietro del Carretto (1460–1482)
• Andrea Novelli (6 Feb 1483 – 13 May 1521 Died)
• Ippolito Novelli (13 May 1521 Succeeded – 11 Nov 1530 Died)
• Antonio Mollo (de Nerlis) (28 Nov 1530 – 1531 Died)
• Giuliano Visconti (16 August 1532 – 27 August 1532) (bishop elect)
• Marco Girolamo Vida, C.R.L. (6 February 1533 – 27 February 1566)^[65]
• Leonardo Marino, O.P. (1566 − 1572 Resigned)
• Vincenzo Marino (19 November 1572 – 25 February 1583 Died)
• Lelio Zimbramonti (Aurelio Gibramontis) (28 March 1583 – 14 November 1583)^[66]
• Lodovico Michelio (19 Dec 1583 – 27 Apr 1590 Died)^[67]
• Alberto Capriano (30 Jul 1590 – 23 Jan 1595 Died)^[68]

from 1600 to 1800

• Giovanni Anselmo Carminato (26 Aug 1596 – 6 July 1605)^[69]
• Francesco Pendasio (18 Jul 1605 – Sep 1616 Died)^[70][71]
• Vincenzo Agnello Suardi (5 Dec 1616 – 13 May 1619)^[72][73]
• Ludovico Gonzaga (bishop) (12 Aug 1619 – 1633)^[74]
• Giovanni Francesco Gandolfo (10 Jan 1633 – 4 Nov 1638 Died)^[75]
• Paolo Brizio, O.F.M. Obs. (15 Dec 1642 – 2 Nov 1665 Died)^[76]
• Cesare Biandrati (5 May 1666 – June 1666)^[77]
• Vittorio Nicolino della Chiesa (16 March 1667 – 22 Sep 1691)^[78]
• Gerolamo Ubertino Provana, C.R. (25 June 1692 – 16 Aug 1696 Died)^[79][80]
• Giuseppe Rottario (Rovero) (27 March 1697 – 4 Nov 1720)^[81]

Sede vacante (1720–1726)

• Carlo Francesco Vasco, O.C.D. (30 July 1727 – 31 Dec 1749)^[82]
• Enrichetto Virginio (Raffale Francesco) Natta, O.P. (22 July 1750 – 29 June 1768)^[83]
• Giacinto Amedeo Vagnone (11 Sep 1769 Confirmed – 30 Jan 1777 Resigned)^[84]
• Giuseppe Maria Langosco-Stroppiana (20 Jul 1778 Confirmed – 13 Dec 1788 Died)^[85]
• Giovanni Battista Pio Vitale (11 Apr 1791 Confirmed – 29 May 1803 Resigned)^[86]

since 1800

• Giovanni-Antonio Niccola (Nicola) (16 Mar 1818 – 12 Jan 1834 Died)^[87]
• Costanzo-Michele Fea (1 Feb 1836 – 2 Nov 1853)^[88]
• Eugenio Roberto Galletti (27 Mar 1867 – 5 Oct 1879)^[89]
• Carlo Lorenzo Pampirio, O.P. (27 Feb 1880 – 24 May 1889)^[90]
• Giuseppe Francesco Re (30 Dec 1889 – 17 Jan 1933 Died)
• Luigi Maria Grassi, B. (13 Mar 1933 – 5 Apr 1948 Died)^[91]
• Carlo Stoppa (27 Dec 1948 – 13 Feb 1965 Died)
• Luigi Bongianino (15 Jan 1970 – 6 Jun 1975 Appointed, Bishop of Tortona)
• Angelo Fausto Vallainc (7 Oct 1975 – 8 Dec 1986 Died)
• Giulio Nicolini (16 Jul 1987 – 16 Feb 1993 Appointed, Bishop of Cremona)
• Sebastiano Dho (3 Jul 1993 – 28 Jun 2010 Retired)
• Giacomo Lanzetti (28 Jun 2010 – 24 Sep 2015 Resigned)
• Marco Brunetti (21 Jan 2016 – )

Parishes

The number of Catholics recorded for the diocese in 1920 was 150,500 and there were 101 parishes, 316 secular and 11 regular clergy, 43 seminarians, 675 churches or chapels, 6 brothers, and 180 sisters. In 1962 the diocese had 137 parishes, 242 secular priests, 62 religious priests, and 41 seminarians.^[92]

The diocese currently (2015) has 126 parishes, all within the (civil) region of Piedmont. Three are in the Province of Asti and 123 in the Province of Cuneo.^[93]

References

1. Diocese of Alba Pompeia - Catholic Encyclopedia article
2. Official web site (in Italian)
3. "Diocese of Alba (Pompea)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016
4. "Diocese of Alba" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
5. Lanzoni, p. 830, rejects the attribution to the diocese of Alba: "lo chiamano per errore, abbastanza strano anche in due orientali, vescovo di Alba metropoli d'Italia...."
6. Daniel Papebroch, in: Godefroy Henschen (S.I.); Daniele Papebrochius; Francois Baert (1688). Acta Sanctorum Maii (in Latin). Antwerp: apud Michaelem Cnobarum. p. 40.
7. Savio, p. 49.
8. Giovanni Battista di Rossi (1867). Bullettino di archeologia cristiana (in Italian). Vol. Anno VI, no. 1. Roma: Tipi del Salviucci. pp. 45–47. Paul Fridolin Kehr remarks (p. 185), Seriem episcoporum Albensium inde ab a. 380, incipientem a. s. Dionysio, ad annum usque 553, quam ex epitaphiis Dalmatius Berardencus congessisse perhiberetur, a Meyranesio abbate confictam esse constat. (...they were forged by Abbot Meyranesius.)
9. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Vol. VIII (Firenze: A. Zatta 1772), p. 235; Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi Vol. XII (Berlin: Weidmann 1894), p. 400.
10. Kehr VI. 2, p. 185, no. 1: "Albensis dioecesis, a. 969 propter Saracenorum incursus suppressa, postea vero in integrum restituta, comprehendebat olim Cevae celebre oppidum cum toto marchionatu, dein Montis regalis episcopatui addicto, et Olarascum (Cherasco), ubi ecclesia collegiata s. Petri, quae saepius sub titulo s. Petri de Manzano occurrit."
11. Kehr VI. 2, p. 185, no. 2: "...Astensi supponatur ecclesiae, sitque utraque unum ovile."
12. Pietro Orsi, "Un libellista del sec. XI", in: Rivista storica Italiana, Vol. 1 (Torino: De Bocca 1884), pp. 423-444, at p. 427.
13. Paul Arras (2014). Die Ronkalischen Beschlüsse vom Jahre 1158 und ihre Durchführung (in German). BoD – Books on Demand. pp. 29, note 119. ISBN 978-3-8460-9534-8.
14. F. Ughelli, Italia sacra Vol. I (Venice: Coleti 1717), pp. 1226-1228, prints the entire bull.
15. Cappelletti, p. 170. Daniela Ferrari (1997). Stefano Guazzo e Casale tra Cinque e Seicento: atti del convegno di studi nel quarto centenario della morte, Casale Monferrato, 22-23 ottobre 1993 (in Italian). Rome: Bulzoni. p. 161. ISBN 978-88-8319-137-4.
16. P. Vayre (1876). Curiosita e ricerche di storia subalpina (in Italian). Vol. II. Torino: Fratelli Bocca. pp. 183–184.
17. Eugenio Galletti (1873). Appendix novissima ad synodum diœcesanam albensem ab illustrissimo et reverendissimo d. d. Eugenio Galletti episcopo albensi edita in solemni pro-synodali conventu die 5 septembris 1873 (in Latin). Alba: typ. diœcesana Sansoldi.
18. Bima, p. 318.
19. Cappelletti, p. 173.
20. The King retreated to the Island of Sardinia.
21. Bullarii Romani continuatio, Summorum Pontificum Benedicti XIV, Clementis XIII, Clementis XIV, Pii VI, Pii VII, Leonis XII, Pii VIII constitutiones (in Latin). Vol. Tomus septimus. Prati: Typographia Aldina. 1850. pp. 443–447, no. CCVIII.
22. Bullarii Romani continuatio, VII, pp. 1490-1503, § 11.
23. Lampadius was present and subscribed the acts of the Council of Rome of 499. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VIII (Florence: A. Zatta 1762), p. 235. Savio, p. 51. Kehr, p. 185.
24. Venanzio was Bishop of Alba Vivaria (Viviers) in France, not Alba in Piedmont. Savio, p. 51. Lanzoni, p. 830.
25. Bishop Benedictus was present at the Council of Rome of 680. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florenze: A. Zatta 1765), p. 306. Savio, pp. 51-52. Kehr, p. 185.
26. Ughelli, p. 285, places Bishop Pietro at a provincial council in Pavia in 855, but Savio (p. 52) points out that the subscription list of that council does not survive.
27. Bishop Hildradus, referred to in the vernacular as Olderado or Ildrado, took part in the election of Charles the Bald at Pavia in February 876. He was present at the Council of Ravenna in November 877. Savio, p. 52. Kehr, p. 185.
28. Bishop Liutardus signed a charter in April 901. Savio, pp. 52-54. Kehr, p. 185.
29. Bima, p. 94, repeated by the Dizionario corografico, p. 23. Neither Ughelli nor Savio mention this alleged bishop.
30. Daibertus witnessed the Testament of Bishop Attone of Vercelli. Savio, p. 54. Kehr, p. 185. Schwartz, p. 90 with note 1, points out that the source, the Testament of Atto of Vercelli, is a forgery.
31. During the reign of Fulcardus, the diocese of Alba was united with the diocese of Asti; . He was dead by 985. Schwartz, p. 90.
32. Constantinus subscribed at a council held in Pavia by Pope Gregory V in 997 (between February and June). On 2 December 1006, he was authorized by the Pope (John XVIII ?) to participate in the consecration of the church of Fruttuaria. Savio, p. 55. Schwartz, p. 90.
33. On 6 April 1027, Bishop Obertus was present at the Roman synod of Pope John XIX. Schwartz, p. 91.
34. It is conjectured that Benzo was a south Italian, and that he was named Bishop of Alba by Emperor Henry III (died 1056). It is also conjectured that he was a north Italian. Benzo was already Bishop of Alba in 1059. Bonizo of Sutri, Ad Amicum VI, says that Bishop Benzo of Alba was present at the Roman synod of April 1059 held by Pope Nicholas II. He supported the antipope of Emperor Henry IV, Cadalus, who was called Honorius II (1061–1064), and followed him to Rome in 1061 and again in 1063. He retreated with him to Germany in 1065, but was apparently back in his diocese by 1076 or 1077. He wrote his book In Hugonem schismaticum in 1089. Hugo Lehmgrübner (1887). Benzo von Alba, ein Verfechte der kaiserlichen staatsidee unter Heinrich IV: sein leben und der sogenannte "Panegyrikus" (in German). Berlin: R. Gaertner. pp. 3–7, 129–151. Delarc, O. (1888). "Le pontificat d'Alexandre II". Revue des Questions Historiques. 43: 5–60, esp. 15–23. Gams, p. 809 column 2. Schwartz, p. 91.
35. Ughelli, IV, p. 286, says he has in his possession a manuscript of the acta of Nicholas II, in which he finds that Albert seems to have been elected in 1061
36. Bishop Peregrinus was a supporter of the Emperor, and was labelled an "Invasor" by the Synod of Milan. Schwartz, p. 92.
37. Pietro was Abbot of the monastery of S. Benedetto di Fruttuaria, according to the chronicle of the abbey, from 1118 to 1124. He was then elected Bishop of Alba, but for only a short time, since his successor was in place by December 1125. Giuseppe Calligaris (1889). Un'antica cronaca piemontese inedita (in Italian and Latin). Loescher. p. 134. Savio, p. 59. Schwartz, p. 92.
38. Robaldus had been Archdeacon of Milan. In December 1125 Bishop Robaldus subscribed a decree of a provincial council of Milan (Sassi, p. 488, from Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Antiquitates Italiae Tomus V (Milan 1741), column 1027). From 1133 to 1135 he served as Vicar of the Church of Milan, as Archbishop Anselmo had been expelled and deposed as a supporter of Pope Anacletus II (1130–1138). On 29 July 1139 Robaldus was elected Archbishop of Milan (1135–1145). His transfer to the diocese of Milan was approved by Pope Innocent II. Giuseppe Antonio Sassi (1755). Archiepiscoporum Mediolanensium Series Historico-Chronologica (in Latin). Vol. Tomus secundus. Milan: Regia Curia. pp. 503–506, 516–519. Savio, p. 59.
39. Ughelli, IV, p. 286, says that Bishop Petrus was present at Frederick Barbarossa's diet of Roncalia in November 1158. E. A. Heiliger (1751). De Campis Roncaliae habitisque ibi curiis sollemnibus (in Latin). Göttingen: Schultze. pp. 57–72. Savio, p. 59.
40. A single document places Rozone in the episcopal chair of Alba in 1163. Savio, p. 59.
41. Bishop Otho certified an arbitration on 15 June 1169. On 1 August 1177 he participated in a peace with Venice. Savio, p. 60.
42. Bonifacius: Savio, pp. 60-61.
43. Gerardus is erroneously said to have been bishop of Nola by Dalla Chiesa (p. 181). Savio, 61.
44. Ogerius was already bishop on 11 December 1192 when he took part in arranging a truce with Asti. In 1202 he invested the Consuls of Alba with the woods of Castagnola. Savio, p. 61.
45. Bonifacius is first attested subscribing a charter for Otto IV on 13 June 1210. He died on a 27 December, possibly in 1213 or 1214. Savio, pp. 61-62. Eubel, I, p. 80, citing Gams and Savio.
46. Reinerius first appears in a document of 1 August 1216. He confirms a sale on 4 May 1226. Savio, p. 62. Ughelli, p. 287, claims that he was a Cistercian monk.
47. Gandulfus: Cf. Savio, p.. 62. Eubel, I, p. 80.
48. Guillelmus Braida had been Provost of the Cathedral Chapter of Asti; he is mentioned as such on 10 June 1221. Ughelli, p. 287. Savio, pp. 62-63.
49. Monachus was provided by Pope Alexander IV in January 1255. On 29 February 1256 he was granted an additional two months after the return of his metropolitan, Archbishop Leo of Milan, for him to be consecrated a bishop. On 23 February 1260 he confirmed the surrender of the city of Alba to King Charles I of Sicily. Savio, p. 63. Eubel I, p. 80, with note 1.
50. Gandulfus was formerly Provost of the Cathedral Chapter of Asti. His death is recorded in their Necrology under 21 December. Ughelli, pp. 287-288, Savio, pp. 62 and 63-64, expresses strong doubts, and does not include his name in a separate lemma. His name is not accepted by Eubel, I, p. 80.
51. On 26 April 1271 he was chosen by King Charles I of Sicily as his procurator in negotiations with the Commune of Ivrea. He died on a 14 March, in some year between 1272 and 1283. Savio, p. 64.
52. Bonifacius is recorded as having been a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Alba in 1268 and 1270. Bishop Boniface was already in office on 26 January 1283, when he ratified a treaty between the Commune of Alba and Marquis Guglielmo of Monferrat; he may have been appointed in 1282 or earlier. Ughelli places his accession c. 1276. He died on 18 March 1306. Gams, p. 809 column 2, calls him Bonifacius del Carretto. Ughelli, p. 288. Savio, p. 65.
53. Bishop Raimundus was already in office in 1311 (Gams places his accession on 5 July 1311), and conducted an investiture in 1312. He was transferred to the diocese of Chieti on 21 February 1321 by Pope John XXII. He was then appointed to the diocese of Aversa on 21 February 1326. Ughelli, p. 288. Gams, p. 809 column 2. Eubel, I, pp. 80, 123, 481.
54. Guillaume was named bishop of Alba in succession to Bishop Raimundus by Pope John XXII in a letter of 9 February 1321. He was transferred to the diocese of Brindisi on 6 December 1333. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes Tome troisième (Paris: Fontemoigne 1906), p. 242, no. 12943. Eubel, I, pp. 80,
55. Pierre Artaudi (not Avogadro), according to his letter of appointment to the diocese of Sisteron by Pope Clement VI on 28 January 1349: J. Albanés, Gallia christiana novissima: Aix (Montbelier 1899), pp. 728-730; and Instrumenta, pp. 483-484. Cf. Eubel, I, p. 80.
56. Fieschi was a member of the House of the Counts of Lavagna (Genoa). He was governor of Piedmont for Queen Joanna I of Naples. Though only a subdeacon, he was Provost of the Collegiate Church of San Stefano de Bugella (diocese of Genoa) when he was named Bishop of Alba on 19 January 1349 by Pope Clement VI. Ughelli, pp. 288-289. Eubel, I, p. 80.
57. Period of the Great Western Schism (1378–1417): allegiance unknown
58. Pietro belonged to the family of the Marchesi di Savona e Signori di Millesimo. He had been Abbot of S. Quintino di Spigno. He was appointed bishop of Alba in 1391, according to Eubel, I, p. 80. On 11 August 1392 he executed a legal document, according to Ughelli, p. 289. Period of the Great Western Schism (1378–1417): allegiance unknown
59. Ughelli (p. 289) says only that he was bishop of Alba in 1398, without citing an authority. Gams (p. 809) places him after Bishop Aleranus, with no dates assigned. Period of the Great Western Schism (1378–1417): allegiance unknown
60. Francesco Carretto, of the family of the Marchesi di Savona, had been Abbot of S. Quintino. He was appointed by Pope Boniface IX (Roman Obedience). Ughelli, p. 289. Cappelletti, p. 167. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 80 with note 8.
61. Aleramo: Ughelli, p. 289. Cappelletti, p. 167. Gams, p. 809. Eubel, I, p. 80 note 7.
62. Bishop Jacobus (Giacomo): Cappelletti, p. 168. Gams, p. 809. Eubel, I, p. 80 note 7.
63. Eubel believes that Aleramo, Jacobus and Giacomo are doublets.
64. Alerinus was a native of Alba, and a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. He was named Administrator on 10 September 1419, due to the fact that he was only 25, which was below the minimum age for consecration as a bishop. He was named Bishop of Alba on 10 November 1421. He died on 20 July 1456. Ughelli, p. 290. Eubel, I, p. 80; II, p. 84 note 1.
65. Vida was born in Cremona (or in the nearby village of Lancetti) around the year 1480. He studied in Cremona, Mantua, Bologna and finally Padua. He was Prior of S. Pelagria in Cremona, a house of the Order of Saint Antony. In 1510 he joined the Lateran Canons. He was a personal friend of Pope Leo X. He was named Bishop of Alba by Pope Clement VII on 7 February 1533. In June 1546 he participated in the Council of Trent. Schizzi (Conte), Folchino (1840). Sulle principali opere di Marco Girolamo Vida, e sull'utilita in generale dello studio della lingua latina (in Italian). Resnati. pp. 7–16. Vida died on 27 September 1566. Cappelletti, p. 169. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 100 with notes 4 and 5.
66. Zimbramonti was a native of Mantua. was transferred to the diocese of Casale Monferrato. Ughelli, p. 299.
67. Michelio was a native of Mantua. Ughelli, p. 299. Cappelletti, p. 170.
68. Capriano was a native of Mantua. Ughelli, p. 299. Cappelletti, p. 170.
69. Carminato (not Carmitanus, as in Ughelli) was a native of Mantua, and a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He was appointed in the Consistory of 26 August 1596 by Pope Clement VIII. Ughelli, p. 299. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 2.
70. Pendasio was a native of Mantua. Ughelli, p. 299. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 3.
71. "Bishop Francesco Pendasio" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
72. Suardi was a native of Mantua, and a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He was approved as Bishop of Alba by Pope Paul V on 5 December 1615; he required a dispensation because he had only been ordained a subdeacon. On 13 May 1619 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Mantova and was relieved of his obligation to the Church of Alba, though retaining the title while he was coadjutor. He succeeded to the bishopric of Mantua in 1620, and died in September 1644. Ughelli, p. 299. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gauchat, pp. 75 with note 4; 230 with note 3.
73. "Bishop Vincenzo Agnello Suardi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
74. Gonzaga had been Precentor of the Collegiate Church of S. Andrea in Mantua. He was appointed bishop of Alba by Pope Paul V on 12 August 1619. He died in 1633. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gams, p. 810. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 5.
75. Gandolfo was born at Porto Maurizio on the Ligurian coast, southwest of Savona. In Rome he was an Abbreviator Praesidentiae and a Referendary of the Two Signatures for fifteen years. He was appointed Vice-Legate in the city and duchy of Ferrara. He was then named Bishop of Ventimiglia (1623-1633). He was transferred to Alba from Ventimiglia on 10 January 1633 by Pope Urban VIII. He died in Turin on 4 November 1638. Historiae patriae monumenta (in Italian). Turin: e regio typographeo. 1839. p. 1875. Stefani, Guglielmo, ed. (1854). Dizionario Corografico degli Stati Sardi di Terraferma (in Italian). Milano: Civelli Giuseppe. p. 25. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, pp. 75 with note 6; 363 with note 6.
76. A native of Bra(da), a town some ten miles west of Alba, Brizio became a friar of the Observant Franciscans. He obtained a doctorate in theology, and served a term as Minister of the Province of Saint Thomas of his Order, and then was Definitor General of his Order. During that term he established a convent of his Order at Braida. He was appointed Bishop of Alba by Pope Urban VIII on 15 December 1642. He died in December 1665 (according to Gauchat; or in November, according to Cappelletti, p. 170). Della Chiesa, p. 184. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 7. Brizio was the author of an early work on the growth of the church in Piedmont: Paolo Briccio (Brizio) (1652). Progressi della chiesa occidentale ... (in Italian). Torino: Alessandro Federico Cavalerii.
77. Biandrati subscribed himself Caesar de Blandrate. He was a native of Asti, and held the degree Doctor in utroque iure (Doctor of Civil and Canon Law). He had been Archdeacon of Vercelli, Vicar General of Novara, Vicar General of Tortona, and Vicar General of the Archbishop of Milan. He was appointed Bishop of Alba on 5 May 1666, received his episcopal consecration in Rome on 9 May, and died in June, the next month. Ughelli-Coleti, pp. 300-301. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gams, p. 810 column 1. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 8. David M. Cheney, Catholoic-Hierarchy.org gives a death date of 26 August 1666, but cites no authority or source.
78. Born in Sanfrè (Torino), Della Chiesa was a member of the family of the Counts of Cervignasco (Marquisate of Saluzzo). He was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law), and held in commendam the Benedictine Priory of San Giovanni Battista Fallicetti in Saluzzo. Della Chiesa died on 22 September 1691. He was a Canon and Cantor of the Cathedral Chapter of Saluzzo, and the Vicar General of the Bishop of Saluzzo, when nominated to the diocese of Alba. His nomination was approved by Pope Alexander VII on 16 March 1667. He died on 22 September 1691. Cappelletti, p. 170. Gauchat, p. 75 with note 9. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 74 note 2.
79. Provana was born in Nizza Monferrato in 1698. He became a Theatine priest, and taught theology in houses of his Order. He was approved as bishop of Alba by Pope Innocent XII on 25 June 1692, and consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Fabrizio Spada on 30 June 1692. He died on 16 August 1696 at the age of 38. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 74 with note 3.
80. "Bishop Gerolamo Ubertino Provana, C.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved December 18, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
81. Rottario was born at Vezza d'Alba (Vicia) in 1657, and was a Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Macerata (1678). He had been Archdeacon and Vicar General of Asti when his appointment as bishop of Alba was approved by Pope Innocent XII on 27 March 1697. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Domenico Cursio on 8 April 1697. He died on 4 November 1720. Cappelletti, p. 170 (wrongly giving the year of death as 1726). Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 75 with note 4.
82. Carlo Franciscus Vasco was born Dalmazio Octavio Vasco in Mondovì in 1675. His father, Carlo Francesco, was Conte delle Torre, was Prefect of Mondovì. He became a member of the Discalced Carmelites under the name of Fr. Carlo Francesco. He served as a Consultor of the Office of the Holy Inquisition in Turin, and rose to become Provincial of the Piedmontese Province of his Order. He was approved by Pope Benedict XIII as Bishop of Alba on 30 January 1727, and was consecrated in Rome by the Pope himself on 24 August 1727. As bishop, he was regularly in conflict with the civil authorities, having an excessively broad view of his own judicial competence. He died in Alba on 31 December 1749. Notizie per l'anno 1734 (in Italian). Roma: Nella Stamparia del Chracas. 1734. p. 104. Maria Teresa Silvestrini (1997). La politica della religione: il governo ecclesiastico nello Stato Sabaudo del XVIII secolo (in Italian). Firenze: Leo S. Olschki. pp. 187, 224. ISBN 978-88-222-4541-0. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 75 with note 5.
83. Natta was born in Casale in 1701. In 1732 he was named a Consultor of the Inquisition in Modena. In 1747 he was granted the degree of master of theology, and he began to lecture in philosophy and theology at Turin. He was Provincial of the Dominican Province of Lombardy when he was nominated to the diocese of Alba by King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia on 22 April 1750. His nomination was approved by Pope Benedict XIV on 22 July 1750, and he was consecrated in Rome on 25 July by Cardinal Carlo Alberto Cavalchini. He died in Alba on 29 June 1768. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, pp. 23 no. 31; 73 with note 2.
84. Born in Truffarello (diocese of Torino) in 1728, Vagnone held a doctorate in Canon and Civil Law and theology (Turin 1753), and was a royal Aumonier. He was nominated Bishop of Alba by the King of Sardinia on 19 July 1769, and confirmed by Pope Clement XIV on 11 September 1769. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Carlo delle Lanze on 21 September 1769. He resigned on 30 January 1777, and died in June 1778. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 73 with note 3.
85. Langosco-Stroppiana was born in Vercelli in 1722, and was Doctor in utroque iure (Turin 1745). Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 73 with note 4.
86. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 73 with note 5.
87. Niccola was born in Carmagnola in 1763. He had been Provost of the Collegiate Church of Giavena. He was nominated bishop of Alba on 13 December 1817, and preconised (approved) by Pope Pius VII on 16 March 1818. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 7 June 1818 by Cardinal Paolo Solaro. Cappelletti, p. 172 (who places the death on 12 February 1834). Ritzler-Sefrin, VIII, p. 65.
88. Born in Voghera (diocese of Tortona) in 1787, Fea was a Doctor in utroque iure and a Canon of the Cathedral of Tortona, and of Mondovì; he served as pro-Vicar General of the diocese of Mondovì. He was nominated bishop of Alba by the King of Sardinia on 26 September 1835, and preconised by Pope Gregory XVI on 1 February 1836. He was consecrated in Turin by Archbishop Luigi Fransoni on 10 April 1836. He died on 2 November 1853. Calendario generale pe' regii stati (in Italian). Vol. Nono anno. Torino: Giuseppe Pompa. 1832. p. 60. Annuario pontificio 1847 (Roma: Cracas), p. 78. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 65.
89. Galletti was born in Turin in 1816. He was appointed Bishop of Alba by Pope Pius IX on 27 March 1867. He died on 5 October 1879. Annuario pontificio (Roma 1868), p. 115. Ritzler-Sefrin, VIII, p. 85.
90. Pampirio is called Carlo Lorenzo half the time, and Lorenzo or C. Lorenzo or Lorenzo Carlo otherwise. He was elected Provincial of the Dominican Province of Lombardia Superiore in 1875, and reelected in 1879. He was appointed bishop of Alba on 27 February 1880 by Pope Leo XIII. He was transferred to the diocese of Vercelli by Leo XIII on 24 May 1889. Mario Capellino (1999). Mons. C.L. Pampirio O.P. arcivescovo di Vercelli (in Italian). Torino.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 86, 586.
91. Grassi and his Vicar General were leaders of the anti-Fascist movement in Piedmont, and partisans of the resistance to the Germans. Grassi wrote a book about the struggle in Alba: Luigi Maria Grassi, La tortura di Alba e dell' Albese, (Alba: Edizioni Paoline 1946) (in Italian). Celestino Argente (1950), Mons. Luigi Grassi, Vescovo di Alba (Alba: 1950).(in Italian)
92. Annuario pontificio (Città del Vaticano 1962), p. 20.
93. chiesacattolica.it (Retrieved:2008-03-11 09:57:58 +0000) 2008-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography

References

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• Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus, eds. (1923). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
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• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1968). Hierarchia Catholica medii et recentioris aevi sive summorum pontificum, S. R. E. cardinalium, ecclesiarum antistitum series... A pontificatu Pii PP. VII (1800) usque ad pontificatum Gregorii PP. XVI (1846) (in Latin). Vol. VII. Monasterii: Libr. Regensburgiana.
• Remigius Ritzler; Pirminus Sefrin (1978). Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi... A Pontificatu PII PP. IX (1846) usque ad Pontificatum Leonis PP. XIII (1903) (in Latin). Vol. VIII. Il Messaggero di S. Antonio.
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Studies

• Bima, Palemone Luigi (1842). Serie cronologica dei Romani Pontefici e degli Arcivescovi e Vescovi di tutti gli stati di Sardegna. 2. ed (in Italian) (seconda ed.). Torino: Fratelli Favale. pp. 49–55. [a variorum list, inaccurate and credulous]
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• Della Chiesa, Francesco Agostino (1645). S. R. E. Cardinalium, Archiepiscoporum,Episcoporum et Abbatum Pedemontanae Regionis ... historia (in Latin). Turin: Giovanni Domenico Tarini. pp. 177–184.
• Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1914). Italia pontificia : sive, Repertorium privilegiorum et litterarum a romanis pontificibus ante annum 1598 Italiae ecclesiis, monasteriis, civitatibus singulisque personis concessorum. Vol. VI. pars ii. Berolini: Weidmann. pp. 185–189.
• Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). Le diocesi d'Italia, dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (anno 604). Faenza: F. Lega.
• Maggi, G. (1983). "Temi politici e sociali nell'azione dei cattolici albesi del primo Novecento," in: Alba Pompei, nuova serie 4 (1983), pp. 5–18. (in Italian)
• Savio, Fedele (1898). Gli antichi vescovi d'Italia dalle origini al 1300 descritti per regioni: Il Piemonte (in Italian). Torino: Fratelli Bocca. pp. 49–65.
• Schwartz, Gerhard (1913). Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122, Leipzig-Berlin 1913. (in German)
• Stefani, Guglielmo, ed. (1854). Dizionario corografico degli Stati Sardi di Terraferma (in Italian). Milano: Civelli. pp. 19–24.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolo (1719). Italia sacra, sive de episcopis Italiae et insularum adjacentium (in Latin). Vol. Tomus quartus (4) (2nd ed.). Venice: Apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 281–301.

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