Roman Catholic Diocese of Fossano

The Diocese of Fossano (Latin: Dioecesis Fossanensis) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Piedmont, in the Province of Cuneo. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Turin.^[1][2]

Diocese of Fossano Dioecesis Fossanensis
Fossano Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Turin
Statistics
Area	275 km^2 (106 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2016) 41,730 38,900 (est.) (93.2%)
Parishes	33
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	15 April 1592
Cathedral	Cattedrale-Basilica di S. Maria e S. Giovenale
Secular priests	37 (diocesan) 17 (Religious Orders) 4 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Piero Delbosco
Map
Website
Diocesi di Fossano (in Italian)

Fossano became an episcopal see in 1592, through the reassignment of eleven localities from the diocese of Turin and four from the diocese of Asti.^[3] The diocese was suppressed in 1802 during the control of the French Consulate and the First Empire, and reestablished in 1817.

History

The diocese of Fossano was established by Pope Clement VIII in a bull which he signed on 15 April 1592. On the same day he addressed a bull of appointment to Bishop Camillo Daddeo, transferring him to Fossano from the diocese of Brugnano. He also addressed a letter to the Archbishop of Turin, notifying him of the transfer of a number of parishes from his jurisdiction to that of the new diocese. He addressed another to the people of Fossano, notifying them of the promotion of their town (oppidum) to the status of a city (civitas). Finally, the Pope wrote to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, officially notifying him of the creation of the diocese and the appointment of Bishop Daddeo. In the letter to Bishop Daddeo, Pope Clement notes that he has assigned the right of presentation to the vacant See of Fossano to the Dukes of Savoy, and that the Dukes are to continue to enjoy the rights of patronage which they possessed in the territory before the diocese was erected. In fact, the initiative for the creation of the new diocese had come from Charles Emanuel himself, who had recently (1588) seized the Marqisate of Saluzzo in an effort to free himself from the political grasp of his French cousins.^[4]

French occupation

During the occupation by the French Republic, between 1802 and 1805, Piedmont was annexed to metropolitan France, and divided into six departments: Ivrea or Doire (Dora), Marengo, Po or Eridan, Sofia, Stura, and Tanaro. Fossano found itself part of the Department of the Stura.^[5] 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". In accordance with the Concordat of 1801, and at the demand of the First Consul N. Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII was compelled to issue a bull, Gravissimis causis (1 June 1803),^[6] in which the number of diocese in Piedmont was reduced from seventeen to eight: Turin, Vercelli, Ivrea, Acqui, Asti, Mondovi, Alessandria and Saluzzo. The diocese of Fossano was suppressed. The details of the new geographical divisions were left in the hands of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Caprara, the Papal Legate in Paris. The territory of the diocese of Fossano was assigned to the diocese of Turin.^[7]

After Waterloo, the Congress of Vienna agreed in the restoration of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States, both of which were in a state of disarray because of French political and administrative actions. The confused situation of the dioceses in Piedmont was addressed by Pope Pius VII in his bull, Beati Petri (17 July 1817)^[8] The diocese of Fossano was reestablished, but the vacant See was not immediately filled.

Cathedral, Chapter, churches, monasteries

The ancient Collegiate Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Juvenalis, the largest in the town of Fossano, was presided over by a Provost a Penitentiarius and ten canons. It was chosen as the new cathedral on the same day as the town was promoted to the rank of city (civitas) by Pope Clement VIII, 15 April 1592.^[9] In 1678, the Cathedral Chapter had only one dignity and twelve Canons; in 1755 there were thirteen Canons.^[10]

Under Napoleon, the Chapter continued to exist, even though the diocese had been suppressed and there was no incumbent bishop. In 1809 there were fourteen Canons.^[11] In 1858, the Chapter was composed of a Provost, a Dean, and fourteen Canons.^[12]

A new Cathedral building was erected in the 18th century, and consecrated on 25 September 1791.^[13]

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.^[14]

Upon entry into his diocese, Bishop Daddeo conducted, from 1593 to 1595, an official visitation of each of the parishes in his new diocese. Then, in 1595, he conducted the first diocesan synod in the new diocese. The decrees of the synod, along with a selection of papal bulls and decrees of the Council of Trent were immediately published. The decrees contained theological, liturgical, and disciplinary clauses, both for the clergy and for the laity. The regular and correct conduct of religious services and the proper administration of the sacraments was a major concern. Bishop Federico Sandri-Trotti (1627–1646) presided over another synod. A synod was held in 1642 by Bishop Clemente Sandri-Trotti (1658–1675), and its decrees too were immediately published; the bishop held another synod in April 1663, and published the decrees, along with a republication of those of Bishop Daddeo and Bishop Frederico Sandri-Trotti. He held another synod in 1669. In September 1748, Bishop Giambattista Pensa (1741–1754) held his first diocesan synod, and in August 1778 Bishop Carlo Giuseppe Morozzo (1762–1800) presided over another. In 1882 Bishop Emiliano Manacorda (1871–1909) held a synod.^[15]

Bishops

• Camillo Daddeo (Doddeo) (15 Apr 1592 – 24 Sep 1600)^[16]
• Pedro de León (4 Mar 1602 – 1606)^[17]
• Tommaso Piolatto (Biolato), C.R.L. (1606 – 15 Sep 1620)^[18]
• Agaffino Solaro di Moretta (29 Mar 1621 – 18 Jun 1625)^[19]

Sede vacante (1625–1627)

• Federico Sandri-Trotti (20 Dec 1627 – 5 Nov 1646)^[20]

Sede vacante (1646–1648)

• Nicola Dalmazzo (Dalmatico), O.S.A. (23 Nov 1648 – 20 Apr 1653 Died)^[21]
• Clemente Ascanio Sandri-Trotti (8 Jul 1658 – 20 Apr 1675)^[22]
• Ottaviano della Rovere, B. (17 Jun 1675 – 10 Oct 1677)^[23]
• Maurizio Bertone, C.R.S. (28 Mar 1678 – 27 Nov 1701 Died)^[24]

Sede vacante (1701–1727)

• Cristoforo Lorenzo Baratta (26 Nov 1727 – 20 Jul 1740 Died)^[25]
• Giambattista Pensa (17 Apr 1741 – 1 Jun 1754 Died)^[26]
• Filippo Mazzetti (17 Feb 1755 – 1761)^[27]
• Carlo Giuseppe Morozzo (19 Apr 1762 – 18 Nov 1800)^[28]

Sede vacante (1800–1803)

Diocese suppressed (1802–1817)

Sede vacante (1817–1821)

• Luigi Fransoni (13 Aug 1821 – 24 Feb 1832)^[29]

Sede vacante (1832–1836)^[30]

• Ferdinando Bruno di Tournafort (1 Feb 1836 – 27 Sep 1848)^[31]
• Luigi Carlo Fantini (28 Sep 1849 – 28 Aug 1852 Died)^[32]

Sede vacante (1852–1871)

• Emiliano Manacorda (24 Nov 1871 – 29 Jul 1909 Died)^[33]
• Giosuè Signori (15 Apr 1910 – 23 Dec 1918)^[34]
• Quirico Travaini (16 Jan 1919 – 19 Mar 1934)
• Angelo Soracco (12 Dec 1934 – 11 Mar 1943)^[35]
• Dionisio Borra (30 Apr 1943 – 2 Sep 1963 Retired)
• Giovanni Francesco Dadone (17 Sep 1963 – 29 Oct 1980 Died)
• Severino Poletto (29 Oct 1980 – 16 Mar 1989 Appointed, Bishop of Asti)
• Natalino Pescarolo (4 May 1992 – 24 Aug 2005 Retired)
• Giuseppe Cavallotto (24 Aug 2005 – 9 Oct 2015 Retired)
• Piero Delbosco (9 Oct 2015 – )^[36]

Parishes

The diocesan web site maintains a list of parishes, locations, and assigned clergy.^[37] There are 33 parishes, all within the Piedmontese Province of Cuneo.^[38]

See also

• In persona episcopi

References

1. "Diocese of Fossano" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 9, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
2. "Diocese of Fossano" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 9, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
3. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 190 note 1.
4. Ughelli, pp. 1080-1083. Cappelletti, XIV, pp. 282-283.
5. D. Destombes (1809). Annuaire statistique du département de la Stura: pour l'an 1809 (in French). Coni (Cuneo): P. Rossi. pp. 18, 61.
6. 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.
7. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 285.
8. Bullarii Romani continuatio, VII, pp. 1490-1503, § 8.
9. Ughelli, p. 1079. Cappelletti, XIV, pp. 281-282.
10. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 205, note 1; VI, p. 219, note 1.
11. Destombes, p. 100.
12. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 285.
13. Manno, p. 325, column 2.
14. 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.
15. Manno, p. 322-323.
16. Daddeo, a native of Mondovì, had previously been Canon and Provost of the Cathedral Chapter of Mondovì, and then Bishop of Brugnato (1584–1592). He was appointed bishop of Fossano by Pope Clement VIII in the Consistory of 15 April 1592. Daddeo died on 24 September 1600. Ughelli, pp. 1081-1083. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 283. Eubel, Conradus (ed.); Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica. Vol. Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 141. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help) (in Latin) Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 190.
17. Pedro was a priest of the diocese of Toledo, a doctor of theology, and the confessor of Catalina Micaela of Austria, Duchess of Savoy. He was nominated bishop of Fossano by Carlo Emanuele the Duke of Savoy, and preconised (approved) by Pope Clement VIII on 4 March 1602. It is unknown where, when, or by whom the bishop was consecrated. He died in Spain in 1606. Ughelli, p. 1083. Gauchat, p. 190 with note 3.
18. A native of the town of Liburno in the Marquesate of Monferrato, Piolatto was a priest of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Fossano on 18 July 1605 by Pope Paul V, with the title of Bishop of Paphos (Greece, Ottoman Empire). It is unknown where, when, or by whom the bishop was consecrated. He succeeded to the bishopric on the death of Bishop Pedro de Leon in 1606. He died on 15 September 1620 Ughelli, p. 1083. Cappelletti, pp. 283-284. Gauchat, p. 190 with note 4.
19. Of the family of the Counts of Moretta, Agaffino (Piedmontese for 'Agostino') was born at the family property of Moretta (diocese of Turin, province of Cuneo). He had been Provost of Moreta and Auditor of Cardinal Maurizio di Savoia. He was nominated bishop by Carlo Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy, and preconised (approved) by Pope Gregory XV on 29 March 1621. He wrote a book on the Shroud of Turin. He died on 18 June 1625. Ughelli, p. 1083. Cappelletti, pp. 283-284. Gauchat, p. 190 with note 5.
20. Federico Sandri-Trotti was born in Fossano ca. 1582. He was a Doctor in utroque iure and a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Fossano. In 1608 he was named Vicar-General of the Bishop of Fossano. He was named Bishop of Fossano on 20 December 1627 by Pope Urban VIII. He established the Theologus prebendary in the Cathedral Chapter. He died on 3 November 1646 (according to Ughelli), or 5 November (according to Cappelletti), or 1 November (according to the diocesan web site). Ughelli, IV, p. 1083. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 284. Gauchat, p. 190 with note 6.
21. "Bishop Nicola Dalmazzo (Dalmatico), O.S.A." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved July 10, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
22. Ascanio Sandri-Trotti was the nephew of Bishop Federico Sandri-Trotti. He was presented by the Duke of Savoy, and preconised (approved) by Pope Alexander VII on 8 July 1758. He held diocesan synods in 1663 and 1669. He died on 20 April 1675. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 284. Gauchat, p. 190 with note 8. Alfred Baudrillart, Albert Vogt, Urbain Rouziès, Albert de Meyer, Étienne Cauwenbergh, Roger Aubert (editors), Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, Tome 17 (Paris: Letouzey 1967), p. 1204. David M. Cheney, "Bishop Clemente Ascanio Sandri-Trotti" Catholic-Hierarchy.org; Retrieved March 9, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
23. A native of Asti, Della Rovere was a Barnabite priest, who served as parish priest of S. Dalmazio in Turin. He was presented by the Duke of Savoy, and preconised (approved) by Pope Clement X on 17 June 1675. He was consecrated in Rome on 23 June 1675 by Cardinal Francesco Barberini, and made his solemn entry into Fossano on 29 June. He died on 10 October 1677 (according to the diocesan web site). Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 205, with note 3.
24. Bertone: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 205, with note 4.
25. Baratta: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 205, with note 5.
26. Pensa: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 219, with note 2.
27. Mazzetti was born in 1709, in a locality called Saluggia in the diocese of Casale (Ritzler-Sefrin and Cappelletti), though Muratori, p. 131, calls him Torinese, of the Counts of Saluggia. He held a degree in theology (Turin 1734). He was presented to the diocese of Fossano by the King of Sardinia on 16 October 1754, and preconised (approved) by Pope Benedict XIV on 17 February 1755. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 23 February 1755 by Cardinal Guidobono Calvachini. He died in 1761, leaving his personal estate to the poor and to the diocesan seminary. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 285. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 219, with note 3.
28. Morozzo was born in Turin in 1722, and held a doctorate in theology from the University of Turin. He held the position of Convictor of the royal Congregation of Superga, and was a almoner of the King of Sardinia. He was presented to the diocese of Fossano by the King on 10 February 1762, and preconised (approved) by Pope Clement XIII on 19 April 1762. He held a diocesan synod in 1778, and he laid the cornerstone of the new cathedral. He died on 18 November 1800. Cappelletti, XIV, p. 285. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 219, with note 4.
29. Born in 1789, Fransoni's parents fled the French occupation in Genoa. Luigi was summoned to the imperial armies by Napoleon I, but he refused the summons on a technicality. When he was ready for ordination to the priesthood, Cardinal Spada of Genoa refused to ordain him out of fear of the imperial governor, and he was therefore ordained by the Bishop of Savona in 1814. He was nominated bishop of Fossano by King Vittorio Emanuele I of Sardinia, but he refused, out of respect for the objection of his aged father, who believed him to be too young for such a position. When his father and King Vittorio Emanuele were dead, King Carlo Felice nominated him again on 24 June 1820, and preconised (approved) by Pope Pius VII on 13 August 1821. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Galeffi on 19 August. He took possession of his diocese on 2 December 1821. On 12 August 1831, Fransoni was named Administrator of the diocese of Turin. He was transferred to the diocese of Turin as Archbishop by Pope Gregory XVI on 24 Feb 1832. He was expelled from his diocese by his own flock in 1850, and died in Lyon, France, on 26 March 1862, in exile from Turin and the Kingdom of Italy, whose creation he had vigorously opposed. Giuseppe O. Corazzini (1873). Memorie storiche della famiglia Fransoni (in Italian). Firenze: Tip. Giuliani. pp. 115–117. Emanuele Colomiatti (1902). Mons. Luigi dei marchesi Fransoni, arcivescovo di Torino 1832-1862: e lo Stato Sardo nei rapporti colla Chiesa durante tale periodo di tempo : due commemorazioni con documenti annotati ... (in Italian). Torino: G. Derossi. pp. 15–17. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, pp. 198, 361.
30. Archbishop Fransoni continued as Administrator of the diocese of Fossano after his transfer to Turin, until 1836. Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques Vol. 17, p. 1205.
31. Tournafort was born in Turin in 1799. He was presented to the diocese of Fossano by King Carlo Alberto on 26 September 1835. He was preconised on 1 February 1836 by Pope Gregory XVI, and consecrated a bishop in Rome on 14 February 1836. He died on 27 September 1848. Cappelletti, p. 285. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 198.
32. Fantini was born in the diocese of Turin in 1808. He had been curate of Santissima Annunziata in Turin. Fantini died on 28 August 1852. Ritzler-Sefrin, VIII, p. 276.
33. Three years before his appointment as bishop, Manacorda wrote a book, demonstrating (to his satisfaction, and that of the Vatican, which published the book) that materialism was an enemy of civilization. Emiliano Manacorda (1868). Il materialismo è nemico del progresso e civilizzazione, dissertazione del sac. Emiliano Manacorda ... letta all'Accademia di Religione Cattolica nell'Aula Massima dell'Archiginnasio della Sapienza (in Italian). Roma: Tip. e Lib. Poliglotta de Propaganda Fide. One of the most conservative members of the Italian hierarchy, he also wrote against the Christian Democracy political party and against the Masonic movement. Carlo Luigi Golino, ed. (1986). Italian Quarterly. Vol. 27. New Brunswick NJ USA.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
34. Signori was born at Commenduno (diocese of Bergamo) in 1859. He had a degree in philosophy, and studied at the Collegio Cerasoli in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in theology (1883); he was also Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) (1886). He was Vicar General of the diocese of Bergamo from 1901 to 1904, and then Pro-Vicar of Bishop Radini-Tadeschi. He was named bishop of Fossano by Pope Pius X on 15 April 1910, and was transferred to the diocese of Alessandria on 23 December 1918 by Pope Benedict XV. He was later Bishop of Genoa (1921–1923). The Catholic Encyclopedia: Supplement 1. New York: Encyclopedia Press. 1922. pp. 26, 318.
35. Soracco was born in Canevale (diocese of Chiavari) in 1890. He was appointed Bishop of Fossano by Pope Pius XI on 12 December 1934. He was a vigorous supporter of Catholic Action. He died on 11 March 1943. Annuario pontificio (Citta del Vaticano: Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1942), p. 153.
36. Diocesi di Fossano, Il Vescovo, S. E. R. Mons. Piero Delbosco; retrieved: 10-04-2018. (in Italian)
37. Diocesi di Fossano, Parrocchie; retrieved: 2018-05-21. (in Italian)
38. chiesacattolica.it (Retrieved:2008-03-11 10:47:30 +0000) 2008-03-10 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography

Episcopal lists

• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz.
• 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

• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1858). Le chiese d'Italia: dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. decimoquarto (14). Venice: G. Antonelli. pp. 281–286.
• Manno, Antonio, ed. (1893). Biblioteca storica italiana (in Italian). Vol. quinto. Torino: Fratelli Bocca. pp. 321–337.
• Moroni, Gaetano, ed. (1844). Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica (in Italian). Vol. XXVI. Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana. pp. 16–18.
• Muratori, Giuseppe Enrico (1787). Memorie storiche della città di Fossano (in Italian). Torino: Giammichele Briolo. pp. 128–131.
• 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. 1079–1084.

External links

• Catholic Hierarchy page
• (in Italian) Official page

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