Roman Catholic Diocese of Cremona

The Diocese of Cremona (Latin: Dioecesis Cremonensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Milan.^[1][2] The bishop of Cremona's cathedra is in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Diocese of Cremona Dioecesis Cremonensis
Cremona Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Milan
Statistics
Area	1,917 km^2 (740 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2016) 366, 213 317,208 (86.5%)
Parishes	222
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	4th century
Cathedral	Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta
Secular priests	295 (diocesan) 28 (Religious Orders) 14 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Antonio Napolioni
Bishops emeritus	Dante Lafranconi
Map
Website
www.diocesidicremona.it

As of 2008^[update], the Diocese of Cremona had 223 parishes, all located within the region of Lombardy, and the majority (174) within the Province of Cremona, besides 28 in the Province of Mantua, 17 in the Province of Bergamo, and 4 in the Province of Milan.^{[needs update][3]}

History

Cremona is in Lombardy, Italy, on the left (north) bank of the River Po. It was built by the Cenomani Gauls, but later became a Roman colony and a frontier fortress.

The tradition of Cremona considers St. Sabinus to be its first missionary and first bishop; he is said to have lived in the 1st century, though there is no documentary or monumental proof of his existence.^[4] His putative successor, Felix (c. 86) is known only from the name of a church.^[5] Among the early bishops^[6] are S. Syrinus (c. 340), a mere name but said to be a vigorous opponent of Arianism because of his alleged date, and S. Silvinus (733). Liudprand of Cremona was sent (946) as ambassador to Constantinople by the Emperor Otto II, and is a noted historical writer of the 10th century.^[7]

On 21 September 603, Cremona, until then a part of the Byzantine Empire, was captured by the Lombard king, Agilulf and completely destroyed.^[8] Under the Emperor Otto I (962–973) and his successors, its bishops acquired temporal sovereignty,^[9] but the people expelled Bishop Oldericus (973–1004) and adopted a republican form of government.^[10] On 26 February 1004, Bishop Oldericus obtained from Adelmus (a.k.a. Azo), the royal Missus of King Arduin (1002–1014), the royal ban against anyone who attempted to seize properties belonging to the bishop.^[11]

In 987, Bishop Oldericus founded a Benedictine monastery in honor of S. Lawrence in Cremona. In 1546 the Benedictines were succeeded by Olivetan monks. The monastery was suppressed by the French occupation administration in 1797.^[12]

In 1104, the diocese received a new bishop, Landulfus, a German and a Councillor and Chaplain of the Emperor Henry II, whose ascent was patronized by Henry's queen, Cunegonda.^[13] Landulfus was insensitive, arrogant, and overbearing. He was particularly hostile to his predecessor's foundation, the monastery of S. Lorenzo.^[14] His ill-treatment of the monks roused the anger of the citizens of Cremona, who had already twice suffered under the invasion of German imperial armies. They expelled Bishop Landulfus from the city, confiscated all his goods, and razed the bishop's castle to its foundations.^[15] The bishop's servants who were inside the castle were able to make an arrangement with the canons of the cathedral to ransom themselves with all of their goods, but their houses were destroyed.^[16] Bishop Landulfus was not able to reoccupy his episcopal seat until around 1010.^[17]

The Emperor Henry IV (1056–1106), however, confirmed Bishop Landulf in all imperial grants made to his predecessors. On the other hand Emperor Henry V (1106–25) restored to the people their communal rights. Thenceforth Cremona became a citadel of Ghibellinism and was greatly favoured by Frederic Barbarossa and Emperor Frederick II, though for the same reason frequently at war with the neighbouring cities.^[18]

In 1107, the city committed itself to the building of a new cathedral, and laid the first cornerstone in the absence of the bishop.^[19] In 1113, after his return, Bishop Landulfus held a diocesan synod, but the city was consumed by a fire on 10 August 1113.^[20] Then, on 3 January 1117, a major earthquake struck the Veneto and Lombardy, ruining the cathedral.^[21]

In 1211 and 1212, the papal legate Gerard of Sessa used Cremona as his base of operations in Lombardy, and employed Bishop Sicard of Cremona in some of his activities.^[22]

In later medieval times Cremona had many lords or "tyrants", the Pallavicini, the Dovara,^[23] the Cavalcabo,^[24] the Visconti of Milan (1334–1402), the Sforza, until it became part of the Duchy of Milan (1328). The commune of Cremona was abolished by Azzo Visconti in 1334. In 1702 it was taken by imperial troops, and in 1796 and 1800 fell into the hands of the French.^[25]

Other important bishops were Gualtiero (1096), in whose time the cathedral was begun;^[26] Sicardus (1185–1215), author of a chronicle and of the Mitrale, a handbook on ecclesiastical offices;^[27] Cacciaconte da Somma (1261–1285), under whom was erected the belfry of the cathedral; Niccolo Sfondrati (1560–1590), later Pope Gregory XIV; his nephew Cardinal Paolo Sfondrati (1607–1610); also the zealous and charitable Omobono di Offredi (1791–1829).

Bartolomeo Platina, the papal scriptor, Librarian of the Vatican Library, and noted author of papal biographies, who was born in the village of Piadena (Platina), seven miles east of Cremona, styled himself Cremonensis.^[28]

Cremona lost part of its territory to the newly established Diocese of Crema in 1579 for political reasons, as Cremona was Spanish while Crema was Venetian at time.

The complicated election of 1313

Bishop Raynerius de Casulo died two or three days before Christmas 1312.^[29] The preliminary meeting to summon electors to a meeting to elect his successor met on 15 February 1313, and fixed 17 February as the day of the election.^[30] Twelve electors met on 17 February in the choir of the cathedral, and announced their votes on oath in a scrutiny. Six of the twelve cast their votes for Canon Egidiolus de Bonseriis, four for Canon and Cantor Egidius de Madalbertis, one for Canon Joannes de Parma, and one for the archpriest. Egidiolus had half of the votes, but not a majority. Bickering began immediately. Egidiolus' party claimed that his supporters were older, were more outstanding in merit, and held more prestigious positions; they claimed that Egidius was not in Holy Orders, and therefore should not be electable. The other party pointed out that, while Egidiolus had more votes than Egidius, he had not reached a majority and his supporters were not the sanior pars of the electors; moreover, he possessed insufficient knowledge and his lifestyle was not commendable (as required by the Lateran Council).^[31]

Each party however proclaimed its candidate elected, and sang a Te Deum.

Sanclemente, relying on the authority of an unpublished manuscript by Giuseppe Maria Bonafossa, states that Egidiolus immediately demanded confirmation of his election from his metropolitan, Archbishop Gaston of Milan. The archbishop took the plea, and granted Egidiolus possession and administration rights. Egidiolus' opponents immediately registered a complaint with the archbishop, and demanded the confirmation of Egidius de Madalbertis, according to Cappelletti.^[32] In due course, the suits reached the papal Court. Unfortunately, Pope Clement V died on 20 April 1314, before the impasse was resolved. The papal Sede vacante lasted until 7 August 1316, when the Conclave elected Cardinal Jacques Duèse as Pope John XXII.

Pope John XXII finally issued a ruling on 18 July 1318,^[33] stating that Egidius de Madalbertis, Canon of the Church of Cremona, was the bishop of Cremona, to which he had been elected following the death of Bishop Raynerius. Egidiolus is referred to only as the other candidate in the contested election, and is not called a bishop.^[34] Since bishop-elect Egidius was still living in Avignon on 4 August 1319, he assigned to Frater Thomas of the house of S. Abundantius in Cremona the care of the physical fabric of the cathedral.^[35] Conditions in Cremona at the time are revealed in a letter to the Abbess and nuns of the monastery of Cistello, just outside the walls of Cremona, dated 6 October 1319; he commiserates with the nuns over the fact that they have been forced to abandon their monastery because of the incursions of hostile persons, and take up residence inside the city in houses of private individuals. Because they had been despoiled of all their property, they were forced to beg in the streets.^[36] In 1322, Duke Galeazzo Visconti seized Cremona. On 20 September 1325, Pope John sent a letter to Cardinal Giacomo Caetani Stefaneschi of S. Giorgio ad velum aureum, authorizing him to accept Bishop-elect Egidius' resignation, and to take charge of the administration of the diocese himself. Egidius had never been able to enter his diocese or take possession of his see due to the civil war which had enveloped Cremona. The Ghibellines had seized the city and the diocese and were triumphant against the papal government.^[37]

On 13 September 1319, Pope John XXII issued the bull "Imminente Nobis", reserving to the papacy the right of appointment to all benefices, archiepiscopal, episcopal, collegiate, abbatial, monasterial, prioral, and all other ecclesiastical places, whether secular or regular, exempt (from episcopal control) or not. In this grand seizure of power, the Papacy deprived all chapters of the right to elect their head. The right of the chapter of Cremona to elect its bishop was ended.^[38]

A new bishop for Cremona was appointed by John XXII in a letter of 6 March 1327.^[39] In 1328, the Emperor Louis the Bavarian seized Cremona.

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.^[40]

In 1550, Cardinal Francesco Sfondrati, Bishop of Cremona (1549–1550), issued a set of constitutions and edicts to be observed in his diocese. In his letter of transmittal, he admits that his predecessors for more than seventy years, because of their long absences, had allowed some of the clergy and people of the diocese to go wrong, which made corrections both beneficial and necessary.^[41]

Bishop Cesare Speciano (1591–1607) held a diocesan synod in Cremona in 1599.^[42] He held his second diocesan synod in 1604.^[43] Cardinal Pietro Campori (1621–1643) held a diocesan synod in 1635.^[44]

Bishop Alessandro Litta (1718–1749) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral in Cremona on 28–30 April 1727.^[45]

Bishops

The Diocese of Cremona provides a list of its bishops on its official web site. Of the bishops of the first eight centuries, it recognizes only Joannes (451), Eustasius (501), Desiderius (679), and Stephanus (774).^[46]

to 900

• Stephanus (320–342 ?)^[47]
• Sirinus (342–380)^[48]
• Auderius (381–391)
• Conradus
• Vincenzo (407–?)
• Sirinus II (422–451)
• Joannes I (attested 451)^[49]
• Eustasius, Eustachius (491– c. 513)^[50]
• Crisogonus (513–537)
• Felix (537–562)
• Creato (563 – c. 584)
• Sisto (584 – c. 609)
• Desiderius (609–610)
• Anselm (610–?)
• Eusebius (c. 637–?)
• Bernard (670–?)
• Desiderius (attested 679)^[51]
• Zeno, OSB (703–?)
• Silvino (733–?)
• Stephen II (776–?)
• Walfred (816–818)^[52]
• Atto (818–823)
• Siniperto degli Addobati (823–840?)^[53]
• Panchoardus (840–851?)^[54]
• Benedictus (c. 851 – c. 881)^[55]
• Lando (c. 881–c.910?)^[56]

900 to 1200

• Joannes (attested c. 915–924)^[57]
• Dagibertus (attested 931–960)^[58]
• Liutprand (attested 962–970/972)^[59]
• Oldericus (attested 973–1004)^[60]
• Landulfus (1007–1030)^[61]
• Ubaldus (1031–1067)^[62]
• Arnulfus (1068–1078)^[63]
• Walterius (attested 1096)^[64]
• Ugo de Noceto
• Ubertus (1087–1095)^[65]

...

• Ubertus (1118–1162)
• Presbyter de Medolao (1163–1167)^[66]
• Emmanuel, O.Cist. (1 May 1167 – 27 February 1168)
• Offredo degli Offredi (1168–1185)^[67]
• Sicardus (1185–1215)^[68]

1200 to 1500

• Omobono de Madalberti (c. 1215–1248)
  • Giovanni Buono de Geroldi (1248–1249) (bishop-elect)
• Bernerio (1249 – c. 1260)
• Cacciaconte da Somma (1261–1288)^[69]
• Ponzio Ponzoni (1288–1290)^[70]
• Bonizo (c. 1290– c. 1294)^[71]
• Raynerius de Casulo (1296–1312)^[72]

[Egidiolo Bonseri (1313–1317)]^[73]

• Egidio Madalberti (1318–1325) Bishop-elect^[74]
• Ugolino di San Marco, O.P. (1327–1349)^[75]

Dondino (1328–1331) Intrusus^[76]

• Ugolino Ardengheri (1349–1361)
• Pietro Capello (1361–1383)^[77]
• Marco Porri (1383–1386) ^[78]
• Giorgio Torti (1386–1389)
• Tommaso Visconti (1390)
• Francesco Lante, O.F.M. (1390–1401)^[79]
• Pietro Grassi (1401–1402)^[80]
• Francesco Lante (1402–1405)^[81]
• Bartolomeo Capra (1405–1411)
• Costanzo Fondulo (1412–1423)
• Venturino de Marni, OSB (1423–1457)
• Bernardo Rossi (1458–1466)^[82]
• Giovanni Stefano Botticelli (1466–1472)^[83]
• Jacopo-Antonio dalla Torre (1476–1486)^[84]
• Cardinal Ascanio Maria Sforza (1486–1505) Administrator^[85]

1500 to 1800

Cardinal Galeotto Franciotti della Rovere (1505–1507 Resigned) Administrator^[86]

• Gerolamo Trevisan, O.Cist. (1507–1523)^[87]
• Pietro Accolti (1523/4, resigned)
• Benedetto Accolti (1523–1549)^[88]
• Cardinal Francesco Sfondrati (1549–1550)^[89]
• Federico Cesi (1551–1560 Resigned)^[90]
• Niccolò Sfondrati (1560–1590)^[91]
• Cesare Speciano (1591–1607)^[92]
• Cardinal Paolo Camillo Sfondrati (1607–1610 Resigned)^[93]
• Giambattista Brivio (1610–1621)^[94]
• Cardinal Pietro Campori (1621–1643)^[95]
• Francesco Visconti (1643–1670 Resigned)^[96]
• Pietro Isimbardi, O. Carm. (1670–1675)^[97]
• Agostino Isimbardi, O.S.B. (1676–1681 Died)^[98]
• Lodovico Septala (1682–1697)^[99]
• Alessandro Croce (1697–1704)^[100]
• Carlo Ottaviano Guasco (1704–1717)^[101]
• Alessandro Maria Litta (1718–1749 Resigned)^[102]
• Ignazio Maria Fraganeschi (1749–1790)^[103]
• Omobono Offredi (1791–1829)^[104]

since 1831

• Carlo Emmanuelle Sardagna de Hohenstein (1831–1837 Resigned)^[105]
• Bartolomeo Casati (1839–1844)^[106]
• Bartolomeo Carlo Romilli (1846–1847)^[107]
• Antonio Novasconi (1850–1867)
• Geremia Bonomelli (1871–1914)
• Giovanni Cazzani (1914–1952)
• Danio Bolognini (1952–1972)
• Giuseppe Amari (1973–1978)^[108]
• Fiorino Tagliaferri (1978–1983 Resigned)
• Enrico Assi (1983–1992)
• Giulio Nicolini (1993–2001)
• Dante Lafranconi (2001–2015 Retired)^[109]
• Antonio Napolioni (2015–)^[110]

See also

• List of bishops of Cremona (in Italian)
• Timeline of Cremona

Notes

1. Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Cremona". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. ^{[self-published]}
2. Chow, Gabriel. "Diocese of Cremona (Italy)". GCatholic.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. ^{[self-published]}
3. Source for parishes: CCI (2008), , Chiesa Cattolica Italiana, archived from the original on 2008-03-10, retrieved 2008-03-15.
4. Cf. Sanclemente, p. 1, no. 1: "Sabinus circa An. D. LV., a quo traditur nominata Ecclesia S. Savini." Lanzoni observes that the episcopal lists are not all names of historical bishops, but actually only of persons who had a public cult (such as a church named after them) in the diocese: "molti e forti indizi dimostrano che i santi enumerati nel Communicantes non furono antichi vescovi di Cremona, ricordati nell'ordine di successione dai primordi in poi, ma nella immensa maggioranza semplicemente santi, vescovi o no, che ebbero ed hanno culto pubblico in Cremona."
5. Sanclemente, p. 1: FELIX circa An. Salutis LXXXVI., a quo fertur dicta Ecclesia S. Felicis."
6. Cf. Cappelletti XII, p. 126.
7. Cappelletti XII, pp. 156-160.
8. Cappelletti XII, p. 128, citing Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum.
9. Sanclemente, pp. 225-226.
10. Ughelli IV, pp. 592-597 (quoting the documents). Cappelletti XII, pp. 160-161.
11. Sanclemente, pp. 227-228.
12. Kehr VI. 1, p. 283.
13. Robolotti, p. 17.
14. Sigard, in: MGH SS XXXI, p. 120.
15. Robolotti, pp. xxvi-xxvii, xxxi.
16. Novati, pp. 254-256, with note 9, quoting a diploma of the Emperor Conrad: "...comperimus quod Cremonenses Cives contra S. Cremonensem Ecclesiam ... ac contra Landulfum bone memorie ejusdem sedis Episcopum eorum spiritualem patrem et dominum ita conspiravissent et coniurassent ut eum cum gravi ignominia ac dedecore de civitate ejecissent et de bonis suis expoliassent et terram unam castro cum duplici muro et turribus circumdatam funditus eruissent et famulos qui intererant ut mortem evadere possent cum quibusdam fidelibus canonicis venales fecissent et omnia bona que habebant eis tulissent, eorum domos optimas destruxissent et civitatem veterem a fundamentis obruissent et aliam majorem contra nostri honoris statum edificassent, ut nobis resisterent...." Sanclemente, pp. 59-60. Cappelletti XII, pp. 160-163.
17. Robolotti, p. xxvi.
18. Cappelletti XII, p. 125.
19. Cristiano Zanetti, La Cattedrale di Cremona. Genesi, simbologia ed evoluzione di un edificio romanico. (in Italian) Annali della Biblioteca Statale, Volume LIX (Cremona 2008), pp. 22-26.
20. Sicard, Cronica, p. 162: "Anno Domini millesimo CXIII predicta fuit synodus celebrata, et Cremona incendio concremata." Annales Cremonenses, p. 3: "Cremona fuit incensa MCXIII, in festo sancti Laurentii.
21. Sicard, Cronica, p. 162: "Anno Domini millesimo CXVI (1117) terre motus magnus in Ianuario fuit, propter quem maior Cremonensis ecclesia corruit, et corpus confessoris Ymerii diu latuit sub ruina." Mario Baratta, I terramoti d'Italia (Turin: Fratelli Bocca 1901), pp. 22-24.
22. Maria Cipollone (1987), "Gerardo da Sesso, Legato apostolico al tempo di Innocenzo III," Aevum 61, no. 2 (1987): 358-388, at 364-365. Accessed 26 October 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20858202.
23. G. Hanauer, "Das Bereufspodestat im dreizehnten Jahrhundert," in: Mittheilungen des Instituts für Oesterreichische Geschichtsforschung, Volume 23 (Innsbruck: Wagner 1902), pp. 418-419. (in German)
24. Giovanni Carlo Tiraboschi (1814). La Famiglia Cavalcabo (in Italian). Cremona: presso Giuseppe Feraboli. pp. 62–64, 93–96.
25. Cappelletti XII, p. 125.
26. Sanclemente, p. 78.
27. Sicardus (Cremonensis) (1855). Sicardi Cremonensis episcopi Mitrale sive de officiis ecclesiasticis summa. Migne.
28. Stefano Bissolati (1856). Le Vite di due illustri Cremonesi (Bartolomeo Platina - Marco Girolamo Vida) (in Italian). Milan.
29. Sanclemente, pp. 129-130, conjectures that it was several days before Christmas Eve, since (according to him) bishops were laid out for viewing by the people for several days before interment. This was not the case, however, for popes or for most persons, clerical or lay.
30. A notarized set of minutes of the proceedings survives, and has been published by Sanclemente, pp. 129-134 (partially summarized), and Cappelletti XII, pp. 194-201 (verbatim).
31. Cappelletti, p. 198.
32. Sanclemente, p. 133. If Sanclemente had had any documentary evidence, he would have, as was his practice, quoted it. Cappelletti XII, p. 200, repeats Sanclemente.
33. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes analysées d'après les registres dits d'Avignon et du Vatican Tome deuxième (Paris: Fontemoing 1905), p. 220, no. 7817.
34. The date is 1318, not 1317 as stated by Sanclemente and Cappelletti. Eubel I, p. 214, with notes 6 and 7, following Mollat. Is it possible that Mollat made a mistake in the date of the letter?
35. Sanclemente, pp. 287-288.
36. Sanclemente, pp. 286-287.
37. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes et curiales Vol. VI (Paris: Fontemoing 1905), p. 5, no. 23440. Eubel I, p. 214, note 8. It would seem that Egidiolus was a leader of the Guelf faction.
38. [Bullarium diplomatum et privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificium editio Taurensis, Vol. IV (Turin:Franco, Fory et Balmazzo 1859), p. 287. Guillaume Mollat, Les papes d'Avignon, deuxième édition (Paris: Victor Lecoffre 1912), pp. 386-399: "A l'égard de l'Espagne, de l'Italie, des Pays-Bas, des États Scandinaves et des États Slaves, Jean XXII suivit la même tactique qu'à l'égard de la France. Ses successeurs en apprécièrent les avantages et l'adoptèrent avec empressement. Elle consacra, du reste, la défaite des chapitres et assura le triomphe de l'omnipotence pontificale...."
39. Eubel I, p. 214. His bulls were apparently signed on 21 March. Sanclemente, p. 137.
40. Benedictus XIV (1842). "Lib. I. caput secundum. De Synodi Dioecesanae utilitate". Benedicti XIV ... De Synodo dioecesana libri tredecim (in Latin). Vol. 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.
41. "In commisi nobis pastoralis officii regimine, illud inter alias animi nostri sollicitudines consideramus attente, quod propter bonae memoriae Reverendissimorum Dominorum praedecessorum nostrorum in episcopatu praedicto, ab eodem diutinam ultra annos septuaginta absentiam, nonnulkla ita in clero et populo Cremonae adeo in sinistrum deflexerunt, et eis operae pretium est salubri, et necessaria reformatione, et correctione succurere...." Francesco Sfondrati (1550). Constitutiones, et edicta obseruanda in sancta Cremonensi Ecclesia, et eius tota dioecesi, nouiter per ... Franciscum, ... cardinalem, Cremonen. nuncupatum, ac episcopum Cremonen. ... promulgata. . (in Latin). Cremona.
42. Cesare Speciano (1599). Decreta et acta edita et promulgata in Synodo Dioecesana Cremonensi. Prima, quam reuerendissimus d. d. Caesar Specianus ... Episcopus Cremonensis habuit. Additis praeterea ad extremum nonnullis constitutionibus,et decretis apostolicis,et edictis episcopalibus (in Latin). Cremona: apud Baptistam Pellizzarium.
43. Synodus Cremonensis secunda sub Caesare Speciano episcopo, cuius iussu accessere synodi duæ Mediolanensis prouincialis vna, altera Cremonensis diœcesana à trecentis iam annis habitæ. In gratiam studiosorum antiquitatis. Additæ constitutiones pontificiæ, decreta, & edicta varia . (in Latin). Cremona: apud Christophorum Draconium. 1604.
44. Pietro Campori (1636). Synodus dioecesana cremonensis ab Eminentiss. & Reverendiss. D.D. Petro S.R.E. Card. Camporeo ... Habita anno 1635 (in Latin). Cremona: apud Marcum Antonium Belpierum.
45. Alessandro Litta (1728). Sanctiones editae, ac promulgatae in Cremonensi diocesana Synodo quam illustriss., ac reverendiss. d.d. Alexander Litta Dei, et Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae gratia episcopus cremonensis, et comes, ac pontificii solii assistens, in sua cathedrali ecclesià habuit anno Domini 1727 ... Addità Appendice (in Latin). Cremona: typis Petri Ricchini.
46. Diocesi di Cremona, "Cronologia dei vescovi"; retrieved: 10 October 2020.
47. Stephanus: Blasius Rubeus (Biagio Rossi), Doctor in utroque iure, published his Tabula Dyptica episcoporum ecclesiae cremonensis, in 1599 as an appendix to the Cesare Speziano (1599). Decreta et acta edita et promulgata in Synodo Dioecesana Cremonensi. Prima, quam reuerendissimus d. d. Caesar Specianus ... Episcopus Cremonensis habuit. Additis praeterea ad extremum nonnullis constitutionibus,et decretis apostolicis,et edictis episcopalibus (in Latin). Cremona: apud Baptistam Ellizzarium. p. 337. Rubeus states that Stephanus was sent to Cremona by Pope Sylvester I in the year of the First Council of Nicaea, which he wrongly puts in 320. The correct date for the council is 325. Rubeus claims that Stephanus served for twenty-two years, and (using the starting date of 320) died in 342. The source of this information is unknown. Lanzoni, P. 945.
48. Lanzoni, p. 947, notes that only two of the first twelve names in Rubeus' list can show documentary or monumental collaboration. "Del resto i dati cronologici e biografici della lista del Eubeus contengono evidenti errori di cronologia e sono inquinati di favole, come gli stessi scrittori locali hanno dimostrato. Ma che dovrà dirsi dei puri nomi e della loro successione? I nomi più antichi del catalogo edito dal Eubeus, eccetto due, Ioannes e Eustasius o Eustachius, riposano unicamente su la fede di quello scrittore; non sono appoggiati da alcun documento o monumento contemporaneo."
49. Bishop Joannes was present at the provincial council of Milan in 451, presided over by Archbishop Eusebius. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VI (Florence: A. Zatta 1761), p. 144. Sanclemente, pp. 5-9. Lanzoni, p. 945.
50. Rubeus claims that Bishop Eustasius was appointed by Pope Felix (483–492) in 491; he was present at the third Roman synod under Pope Symmachus in 501 (though not the 1st synod: Mansi, pp. 233-235; nor the 4th synod: Mansi, pp. 268-269). Rubeus, pp. 342-343. Mansi, Tomus VIII (Florence: Zatta 1762), p. 252. Sanclemente, p. 9. Lanzoni, p. 945.
51. Bishop Desiderius was present in Rome for the Roman synod of Pope Agatho in 679. He subscribed the synodical letter sent to the Third Council of Constantinople in 680. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florence: A. Zatta 1765), p. 774.
52. Walfrid was a native of Modena. He and Archbishop Anselm of Milan took the part of King Berengarius against the Emperor Louis the Pious. He was therefore deposed and sent to a monastery. Aporti I, p. 67.
53. Bishop Siniperto attended the council of Mantua held by Pope Eugenius II in 827. Aporti I, pp. 67-68.
54. Panchoardus: Sanclemente, pp. 21-22: "Nulla reperio monumenta, quae ad posteriorem aetatem [quam 842] spectent, quaeque idonea sint ad annum Panchoardi emortualem definiendum."
55. Sanclemente demonstrates that Bishop Benedictus was still alive in 881. Sanclemente, pp. 23-25. Cappelletti XII, p. 136-142.
56. Lando received a charter from King Berengarius I, dated 23 November 910. Sanclemente, pp. 25-33; 218-220.
57. Joannes had been a secretary and familiaris of the Emperor Berengarius, who was crowned in Rome on 24 March 916. c.f. Gesta Berengarii imperatoris. On 1 September 916, the Emperor, in consideration of the destruction and depopulation of Cremona, granted Bishop Joannes possession of Cremona up to the fifth milestone, tax relief, and freedom from imperial officials: "Comitatum extra civitatem ud quinque milliaria, et immunitatem a vectigalibus, ac ne quis Procurator Regius aliquam in urbe haberet potestatem." While a bishop, Joannes served as imperial chancellor. The powers and privileges of Bishop Joannes as bishop of Cremona were confirmed in a diploma of King Rudolph II of Burgundy (922–926) signed on 27 September 924. Sanclemente believes that Bishop Joannes may have lived into the year 925. Sanclemente, pp. 41-45.
58. Bishop Sicard calls him Dalbertus. Sanclemente, pp. 45-49. Schwartz, pp. 109-110.
59. Liutprand (also called Luysus) was a Deacon and Canon of the cathedral of Pavia. At least from 946, he was an official of King Berengar II, as epistolarum signator. The earliest evidence of his bishopric is a document of 14 January 962. The latest is 20 April 970. He is said to have died during his return from a third visit to Constantinople. He seems to have been dead before July 1272. Sanclemente, p. 49. Schwartz, p. 110.
60. Odelricus' father was Count of Seprio (province of Milan). The earliest reference to Odelricus in documents is on 5 March 973. On 985, Bishop Odelricus conducted a visitation of the Library and Archives of the Church of Cremona, and found theft, damage, and disorder everywhere; a record of the visitation survives. The latest document of Bishop Odelricus is on 26 February 1004. Sanclemente, pp. 58-59. Novati (1880), pp. 252-254. Schwartz, pp. 110-111.
61. Landulfus was a chaplain and Councilor of King Henry II. He first appears in documents in 1007, in a charter of Henry II. His latest appearance occurs on 18 March 1030, in a document of Conrad II. Aporti I, pp. 72-73. Schwartz, p. 111.
62. Hubaldus signed documents for Conrad II on 27 February 1031. His latest document is on 30 October 1066, in which Pope Alexander II confirmed his rights privileges and possessions and those of the Church of Cremona. Since he died on March 7, the year must be 1067. Sanclemente, pp. 65-74. Schwartz, pp. 111-112. Kehr VI. 1, p. 264, no. 1.
63. Bishop Arnulf was the nephew of Archbishop Guido of Milan. On 3 March 1078, in a public synod in Rome, Arnulfus confessed that he was a simoniac; he was deposed, anathematized, and denied the hope of restoration by Pope Gregory VII. Kehr VI. 1, p. 264, no. 3.
64. Cf. Sanclemente, pp. 78-79. Gams, p. 789.
65. Ubertus: Gams, p. 789, column 2.
66. Presbyter: Gams, p. 789, column 2.
67. On 22 March 1179, a dispute between Offredus and Abbot Silvester of Brixillense concerning rights over three churches. In 1182, Pope Lucius III was active in the affairs of Bishop Offredus, supporting him in his dispute with the clergy of Platina, but ordering him to arbitration with regard to property disputed with the Prior of the monastery of S. Maria de Calvenciano. Kehr Vi. 1, pp. 270, no. 32; 271, nos. 38 and 39.
68. Bishop Sicardus participated in the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204). He was a legate of Pope Innocent III in Lombardy in 1211. Sicardus died on 8 June 1215. E. Coleman, "Sicard of Cremona as legate of Innocent III in Lombardy," in: A. Sommerlechner (2003) (ed.), Innocenzo III Urbs et Orbis. Atti del Congresso internazionale (Roma 9-15 settembre 1998), Roma 2003 (Istituto Storico Italiano per il Medio Evo, Nuovi Studi Storici, 55; Miscellanea della Società Romana di Storia Patria, XLIV), II, pp. 929-953. Sanclemente, pp. 98-104. O. Holder-Egger, in MGH SS Vol. XXXI, pp. 24-59. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 214.
69. Bishop Cacciconte died on 16 July 1288. Sanclemente, p. 110.
70. Ponzio was still alive on 13 June 1290. He died on 14 July 1290. Sanclemente, pp. 111-114.
71. Bonizo: Cappelletti XII, pp. 192-193.
72. Following the death of Bishop Bonizo, there was a contested election, with Guiczardus de Persico obtaining the majority of votes. He travelled to the papal Court to defend his election against the complaints of two Canons of Cremona. While he was at the papal Court, he died. Pope Boniface VIII therefore named Raynerius de Casulo as Bishop of Cremona, on 24 April 1296, who was consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Matteo da Aquasparta, O.Min., the Bishop of Porto. Raynerius was a native of Volterra, and was a Canon in the cathedral Chapter of Volterra. He was a functionary in the court of Pope Celestine V (July–December 1294), who appointed him to a committee to examine the credentials of bishop-elect Walterius de Amella. He was also a chaplain of Pope Boniface. He died on Christmas Eve 1312. The meeting to elect his successor began on 15 February 1313. Cappelletti XII, p. 194. Antoine Thomas, Les registres de Boniface VIII Premier fascicule (Paris: E. Thorin 1884), p. 373, no. 1067; pp. 464-465, no. 1296. Eubel I, p. 214 with note 5.
73. His election was rejected by Pope John XXII.
74. Egidius was provided (appointed) by Pope John XXII. He had not yet been consecrated a bishop, despite several extensions of the normal six-month time period, due to civil war in Cremona. Cardinal Jacobus Caietani de Stefaneschi of S. Giorgio ad velum aureum was authorized to accept his resignation on 20 September 1325. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes et curiales Vol. VI (Paris: Fontemoing 1905), p. 5, no. 23440. Eubel I, p. 214, note 8.
75. Former Bishop Ugolino di San Marco died on 17 April 1362, and was buried in the church of S. Dominic in Cremona. Sanclemente, p. 288.
76. Dondino was an appointee of the Antipope Nicholas V. Sanclemente, p. 137.
77. Petrus died on 15 October 1383. Eubel I, p. 214.
78. Porri was appointed in 1383, in the last quarter of the year. He was transferred to the diocese of Ceneda by Pope Urban VI on 1 December 1386. Eubel I, pp. 186, 214.
79. He was transferred to the diocese of Brescia on 29 July 1401. Eubel I, p. 214.
80. Grassi was transferred to the diocese of Pavia on 27 September 1402 by Pope Boniface IX. He died on 28 September 1426. Eubel I, pp. 214, 390.
81. was transferred from Brescia to the diocese of Cremona by Pope Boniface IX on 21 October 1402. Eubel I, pp. 214.
82. Rossi was appointed Bishop of Cremona by Pope Calixtus III on 27 April 1458. He was transferred to the diocese of Novara on 8 October 1466, by Pope Paul II. He died in 1468. Eubel II, pp. 139, 205.
83. Botticelli: Eubel II, p. 139.
84. Della Torre had previously been Bishop of Parma. Eubel II, p. 139.
85. Sforza was born in Cremona, the sixth of eight children of Duke Francesco I Sforza of Milan. He was named a cardinal on 17 March 1484, and was appointed Administrator of Cremona on 4 August 1486 by Pope Innocent VIII. In August 1492, he was named Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, which necessitated his presence in Rome. He was never consecrated a bishop. He died on 27 May 1505. Eubel II, pp. 20 with note 2, 139; III, p. 181, note 2.
86. Galeotto: Eubel III, p. 181.
87. Trevisan was appointed by Pope Julius II on 20 October 1507. He died on 24 February 1523. Eubel III, p. 181.
88. Accolti was the nephew of Cardinal Pietro Accolti. He had been an Abbreviator of Apostolic Letters. He was named Bishop of Cremona on 16 March 1523 by Pope Hadrian VI. He was the first cardinal appointed by Pope Clement VII, on 3 May 1527. He died on 21 September 1549. Eubel III, pp. 19, no. 1; 181 with note 5.
89. Sfondrati was named a cardinal on 19 December 1544. He was appointed to Cremona (Eubel lists him as Administrator) on 9 November 1549 by Pope Paul III, who died the next day. He was in Rome for the conclave that followed, from 29 November 29, 1549 to 7 February 1550. Sfondrati died in Cremona on 31 July 1550. Eubel III, pp. 29, no. 55; 181 with note 6.
90. Cesi asked for the See of Cremona in 1550,l but was told to wait by Pope Julius III, who finally approved the appointment on 18 March 1551. Cesi attempted to resign in favor of Niccolò Sfondrati on 18 July 1558, but was refused because Sfondrati was below the minimum age for consecration as a bishop. Cesi finally resigned at the appointment of Sfondrati on 13 March 1560. Eubel III, p. 181 with notes 7 and 8.
91. Sfondrati was elected, Pope Gregory XIV on 5 December 1590. He died on 16 October 1591, having been pope for ten months. Eubel III, p. 53.
92. Speciano (Speciani) was a priest of the diocese of Milan, and had been Bishop of Novara (1584–1591). He was appointed Bishop of Cremona on 30 January 1591 by Pope Gregory XIV. He died on 21 August 1607. Eubel III, p. 181 with note 10; 261.
93. Sfondrati was born in Milan, and was a nephew of Pope Gregory XIV, who made him a cardinal in 1590. He was appointed Bishop of Cremona on 3 September 1607 by Pope Paul V. On 5 March 1618, he was promoted Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He died at Tivoli on 14 February 1618. Lorenzo Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa Vol. V (Roma: Pagliarini, 1793), pp. 310-313. Sanclemente, pp. 164-167. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, pp. 54, with note 1. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, pp. 36 with notes 3 and 4; 167 with note 2.
94. Brivio: Gauchat IV, p. 167 with note 3.
95. Campori had been named a cardinal on 19 September 1616. He was appointed Bishop of Cremona on 17 May 1621. He died in Cremona on 4 February 1643. Gauchat IV, pp. 167 with note 4.
96. Visconti had previously been Bishop of Alessandria. He died in Rome on 4 October 1681. Gauchat IV, p. 167 with note 5.
97. A native of Pavia, Isimbardi was a master of theology, and lectured in metaphysics at the Sapienza in Rome. He was Prior of the Carmelite convent at S. Maria Transpadina. He was appointed Bishop of Cremona on 6 October 1670 by Pope Clement X. He died in 1675. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 175 with note 2.
98. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 175 with note 3.
99. Septala: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 176 with note 4.
100. Croce: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 176 with note 5.
101. Guasco: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 176 with note 6.
102. Litta: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 176 with note 7.
103. Frangeschi: Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 186 with note 2.
104. Offredi Ambrosini was born in Cremona in 1750, of a distinguished family; his father, Gianpaolo Offredini Ambrosini was a Baron of the Holy Roman Empire. Ombono held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Pavia (1774), and was a Canon and Archpriest of the cathedral of Cremona. He was nominated bishop of Cremona by the Emperor Leopold II on 31 January 1791, and confirmed (preconised) by Pope Pius VI on 26 September 1791. He died on 28 January 1829. Giuseppe Baraldi (1829). Notizia necrologica su monsignor Omobono Offredi vescovo di Cremona (in Italian). Modena: per gli eredi Soliani tipografi reali. pp. 1–39. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 187 with note 3.
105. Born in 1772 in Rovereto (diocese of Trent), Sardagna had been Vicar General in Trent (1810–1818), then Vicar Capitular (1818–1823). From 1823 to 1831 he was Vicar General of Trent and Dean of the cathedral Chapter. He was nominated Bishop of Cremona 12 March 1830, and preconised (approved) on 28 February 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI. He resigned the diocese on 10 November 1837, to become a member of the Somaschi Fathers, and was named titular bishop of Caesarea Palastina on 21 February 1839. He died in 1840. Cappelletti XII, p. 231. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 124, 167. Erwin Gatz (1983). Die Bischöfe der deutschsprachigen Länder, 1785/1803 bis 1945: ein biographisches Lexikon (in German). Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. p. 647. ISBN 978-3-428-05447-3.
106. Casati was nominated by the Austrian Emperor Franz on 16 February 1839, and approved (preconised) by Pope Gregory XVI on 8 July 1839. He died on 18 September 1844. Ritzler and Sefrin VII, p. 167.
107. A native of Bergamo, Romilly was selected as Bishop of Cremona on 3 October 1845, by the Emperor Franz, and approved (preconised) by Pope Gregory XVI on 19 January 1846. He was named Archbishop of Milan on 10 April 1847, and approved (preconised) by Pope Pius IX on 14 June 1847. He died in 1859. Ritzler and Sefrin VII, p. 167; VIII, p. 376.
108. In 1978 Amari was appointed Bishop of Verona.
109. CV of Bishop Lafranconi: Diocesi di Cremona, "Vescovo S. E. Mons. Dante Lafranconi"; retrieved: 10 October 2020. (in Italian)
110. CV of Bishop Napolioni: Diocesi di Cremona, "Vescovo: S. E. mons. Antonio Napolioni"; retrieved: 10 October 2020. (in Italian)

Bibliography

Episcopal lists

• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp. 777–779. (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica. Vol. Tomus 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica. Vol. Tomus 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus (ed.); Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica. Vol. Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help) (in Latin)
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica. Vol. Tomus IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi. Vol. Tomus VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
• 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.
• Pięta, Zenon (2002). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi... A pontificatu Pii PP. X (1903) usque ad pontificatum Benedictii PP. XV (1922) (in Latin). Vol. IX. Padua: Messagero di San Antonio. ISBN 978-88-250-1000-8.

Studies

• Annales Cremonenses (ed. O. Holder-Egger). In: Georg Heinrich Pertz (1903). Monumenta Germaniae historica inde ab anno Christi quingentesimo usque ad annum millesimum et quingentesimum: Scriptorum (in Latin). Vol. Tomus XXXI. Hannover: Impensis Bibliopolii, Hahniani. pp. 1–21.
• Aporti, Ferrante (1835). Memorie di Storia ecclesiastica Cremonese: Dall'anno 1 al 1335 dell'era volgare (in Italian). Vol. Parte 1. Cremona: Manini. - 20 Aporti, Ferrante sec. 19 (1837). Parte 2.
• Astegiano, Lorenzo, ed. (1895). Codex diplomaticus Cremonae (in Latin). Vol. I. Turin: Apud fratres Bocca.
• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1856). Le chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. undecimo. Venice: G. Antonelli.
• Cremona città imperiale. Nell’VIII centenario della nascita di Federico II. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi (Cremona, 27-28 ottobre 1995). Cremona 1999 (Annali della Biblioteca Statale e Libreria civica di Cremona, XLIX). (in Italian)
• Dragoni, Antonio (1840). Sulla storia ecclesiastica Cremonese nei primi tre secoli del Cristianesimo Discorsi o disquisizioni critiche (in Italian). Cremona: Giuseppe Feraboli.
• Filippini, E. (2001), "Il vescovo Sicardo di Cremona (1185-1215) e la fondazione del monastero di San Giovanni del Deserto," in Annali dell'Istituto storico italogermanico in Trento XXVII (2001), pp. 13–56. (in Italian)
• Gualazzini, U. (1972). "Falsificazioni di fonti dell’età paleocristiana e altomedievale nella storiografia cremonese". Cremona 1975 (Annali delle Biblioteca Statale e Libreria Civica di Cremon, XXIII, 1972), pp. 31–32, 51-78. (in Italian)
• Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1913). Italia pontificia : sive, Repertorium privilegiorum et litterarum a romanis pontificibus ante annum 1598 Italiae ecclesiis, monasteriis, civitatibus singulisque personis concessorum. Vol. VI. pars i. Berolini: Weidmann. (in Latin)
• Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604), vol. II, Faenza 1927. (in Italian)
• Leoni, Valeria (2005). "Privilegia episcopii Cremonensis. Il cartulario vescovile di Cremona e il vescovo Sicardo (1185-1215)". (in Italian) Scrineum Rivista, 3 (Firenze: Firenze UP 2005), pp. 75–122.
• Novati, Francesco, "L' Obituario della cattedrale di Cremona," in: Archivio storico lombardo. 1880. VII (Milano 1880), pp. 245–276. Archivio storico lombardo. 1881. VIII (1881), pp. 246–266, and 484-506. (in Italian)
• Robolotti, Francesco (1878). Repertorio diplomatico Cremonese: Dall'anno 715 al 1200 (in Italian). Vol. primo. Cremona: Ronzi e Signori.
• Sanclemente, Enrico (1814). Series critico-chronologica episcoporum Cremonensium (in Italian). Cremona: J. Feraboli.
• Schwartz, Gerhard (1907). Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122. Leipzig: B.G. Teubner. pp. 109–115. (in German)
• Sigard, Bishop of Cremona. Cronica (ed. O. Holder-Egger). In: Georg Heinrich Pertz (1903). Monumenta Germaniae historica inde ab anno Christi quingentesimo usque ad annum millesimum et quingentesimum: Scriptorum (in Latin). Vol. Tomus XXXI. Hannover: Impensis Bibliopolii, Hahniani. pp. 22–181.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolò (1719). Italia sacra sive De episcopis Italiæ, et insularum adjacentium (in Latin). Vol. Tomus quartus (4). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 404–519.

External links

• Benigni, Umberto. "Cremona." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. Retrieved: 7 October 2020. [obsolete; there is a new edition]

Coordinates: 45°08′00″N 10°02′00″E / 45.1333°N 10.0333°E / 45.1333; 10.0333