The Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino ( la, Dioecesis Massana-Plumbinensis) is a Roman Catholic eccleasistical territory in Tuscany, central Italy. It was known as Diocese of Massa Marittima before 1978. Up until 1458, it was a

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...

of the archdiocese of Pisa; since 1458, it has been a suffragan of the

Archdiocese of Siena In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

."Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino"
'' Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino"
''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 11, 2016. The territory of the diocese includes the islands of Elba and Pianosa, and (up to 1817) Capraia.

History

Massa Maritima was first mentioned in the eighth century. It grew at the expense of Populonia, an ancient city of the Etruscans. Populonia was besieged by

Sulla Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (; 138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He won the first large-scale civil war in Roman history and became the first man of the Republic to seize power through force. Sulla had ...

, and in

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

's time was already declining; later it suffered at the hands of Totila, King of the Lombards, and in 817 of a Byzantine fleet. After this, the bishops of Populonia abandoned the town, which was destroyed in the 9th century, and moved their seat to Castrum Corniae. In the eleventh century, the bishops established their residence at Massa, though continuing to call themselves bishops of Populonia. Bishop Martinus (1181–1196) is the first to be called Bishop of Populonia e Massa. On 22 April 1138, Populonia was made a suffragan of Pisa by

Pope Innocent II Pope Innocent II ( la, Innocentius II; died 24 September 1143), born Gregorio Papareschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 February 1130 to his death in 1143. His election as pope was controversial and the fi ...

, who had once been living in exile in Pisa; the bull stated that the grant was a compensation for Pisa's loss of the overlordship of the bishops of Corsica earlier in the century. Before 1138, Populonia had been directly subject to the Holy See (Papacy), and attended the Roman synods. In 1226 Massa became a commune under the protection of

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...

. In 1307 it made an alliance with Siena, which was the cause of many wars between the two republics. On 22 April 1459, Pope Pius II issued the bull "Triumphans Pastor", in which he raised the diocese of Siena to metropolitan status, and assigned to it as

s the dioceses of Soano, Chiusi, Massa, and Grosseto. The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures. This applied to Populonia, which had a tiny population but was part of the name of the diocese, while the much larger city of Piombino, which was a civil administrative center, had no recognition. On 14 May 1978, at the instruction of Pope Paul VI, the name "Populonia" was removed from the name of the diocese, and the name "Piombino" substituted. The name "Populonia", however, was preserved as the name of a new titular diocese. The first known Bishop of Populonia was Atellus, or Asellus (about 495). Among the bishops of Massa were Antonio da Massa Marittima (1430), a former minister general of the Franciscans, and legate of Pope Boniface IX;

Leonardo Dati Leonardo di Piero Dati (1360 – 16 March 1425) was an Italian friar and humanist. He was Master General of the Dominican Order from 1414 to his death. He was a Prior of Santa Maria Novella from 1401, and took part in the Council of Pisa of 14 ...

(1467), author of poetic satires. Massa Marittima's most famous native son was Saint Bernardino (of Siena) (1380–1444), whose father was the governor of Massa at the time of Bernardino's birth.

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral of Massa, begun in the first years of the 11th century, is dedicated to Saint Cerbonius, one of its earliest bishops, who was named protector of the city. The cathedral is also a parish church. Its earliest construction is Romanesque, but, beginning in 1287, it was extended under the supervision of Giovanni Pisano. The present cathedral structure was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585– 1587) on 23 March 1586. The cathedral is served and administered by a Chapter, composed of two dignities (the Archpriest and the Provost) and ten Canons. In 1679, there were only six Canons. In 1770 there were eight Canons. Since the cathedral has parishioners, the Archpriest is responsible for their spiritual care. The co-cathedral in Piombino, once the convent of the Augustinian monks, was built through the generosity of the Lord of Piombino, Jacopo d'Appiano, between 1374 and 1377. The Augustinians were ejected in 1806, under the regulations of the French occupation, and S. Antimo was severely damaged. The co-cathedral is dedicated to Saint Antimo.

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. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica ''de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis'' (March 19, 1997)
''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' 89
(1997), pp. 706-727. Bishop Nicolaus Beruti, O.P. (1394–1404) held a diocesan synod on 20 May 1396, at which, having considered the effects of the wars and famine, it was decided to reduce the ''decima'' (tithe). A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585–1587) on 10–11 April 1586. On 18–20 April 1723, Bishop Eusebio Ciani (1719–1770) presided over a diocesan synod, held in the cathedral at Massa. He held another synod in 1746, at which the parish priest of the island of Capraia was raised to the dignity of archpriest. Bishop Giovanni Battista Boracchia (1892–1924) held a diocesan synod in Massa on 11–13 October 1921.

Bishops of Massa Marittima

Bishops of Populonia

to 1200

:... *Asellus (attested 495, 501) :... : lorentius (6th cent.)* Cerbonius (attested 546-547) :... : aximinus:... *''Sede vacante'' (591) :... *Wido (Guido) (attested 979) :... *Henricus (attested 1015, 1036, 1050) *Tegrino (attested 1057–1061) *Bernardus (attested 1065, 1068) *Wilelmus (attested 1074, 1080) :Wilelmus (attested 1082) *Joannes (attested 1099) *Laurentius (attested 1103) *Rolandus (attested 1112, 1126, 1138) :... *Albertus (attested 1149) :... *Martinus (1181–1196) :...

1200 to 1500

:... *Marsuccus Gaetani (attested 1211–1213) *Albertus (attested 1217) : uglielmo (1231) *Hldebrandus (attested 1231–1236) *Nicolaus (attested 1254) *Ruggierus Ugurgeri (attested 1256–1268) *Philippus (1268–1278?) *Rotlandus Ugurgeri (attested 1278–1300) *Lando (attested 1307) *Christophorus Tolomei, O.P. (1310–1313?) *Joannes (1313–1332) *Galganus de Pagliarecci, O.P. (1332–1348?) *Guido (1349–1361?) *Antonio di Riparia (1361–1380) *Pietro da Fano,

O.E.S.A. The Order of Saint Augustine, ( la, Ordo Fratrum Sancti Augustini) abbreviated OSA, is a religious mendicant order of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1244 by bringing together several eremitical groups in the Tuscany region who were fo ...

(1380–1389) ''Roman Obedience'' *Nicolaus da Salerno, O.Min. (1385– ? ) ''Avignon Obedience'' *Andrea Galeazzi, O.Min. (1389–1390) ''Roman Obedience'' *Giovanni Gabrielli (1390–1394) ''Roman Obedience'' *Nicolaus Beruti, O.P. (1394–1404) ''Roman Obedience'' *Bartolomeo Ghini (1404–1425) ''Roman Obedience'' *Antonius Francisci (1425–1430) *Antonius da Massa, O.Min. (1430–1435) *Richardus del Frate, O.S.B.Vallamb. (1435–1438) * Pietro Dell'Orto (6 Mar 1439 – 1467) *Leonardo Dati (1467–1472) *

Bartolomeo della Rovere Bartolomeo or Bartolommeo is a masculine Italian given name, the Italian equivalent of Bartholomew. Its diminutive form is Baccio. Notable people with the name include: * Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo (1824–1860), Italian paleobotanist and lichen ...

, O.F.M. (1472–1474) *

Giovanni Gianderoni Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

, O.S.A. (1475–1483) * Gerolamo Conti (1483–1500)

1500 to 1800

Ventura Benassai Ventura Benassai (died 1511) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Massa Marittima (1501–1511).David M. Cheney"Bishop Ventura Benassai"''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. Retrieved January 4, 2017. Biography Ventura Benassai was a native ...

(1501–1511) *

Alfonso Petrucci Alfonso Petrucci (c. 1491 – July 16, 1517) was an Italian people, Italian nobleman, born to the Petrucci Family. He was the son of Pandolfo Petrucci. In 1511, he was made a cardinal, which gave the Petrucci dynasty some influence within the chur ...

(1511 – 22 Jun 1517 Resigned) *

Giovanni Gregorio Peroschi Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

(16 Jul 1517 – 1524) * Francesco Peroschi (29 Jul 1524 – 1529 Resigned) :Cardinal Paolo Emilio Cesi (1529–1530) ''Administrator'' * Girolamo Ghianderoni (1530–1538) : Alessandro Farnese (iuniore) (1538–1547) ''Administrator'' *

Bernardino Maffei Bernardino Maffei ( Bergamo, 27 January 1514 – Rome, 16 July 1553) was an Italian archbishop and cardinal. He studied jurisprudence at Padua, and during the frequent absence of Dandino acted as secretary to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, an ...

(1547–1549) ''Bishop-elect'' *Cardinal

Miguel da Silva Miguel da Silva (c. 1480 – 5 June 1556) was a Portuguese nobleman, the second son of Diogo da Silva, 1st Count of Portalegre and of his wife Maria de Ayala, a Castilian noblewomen. He was ambassador of the king of Portugal to several popes, ...

(1549–1556) * Francesco Franchini (30 Oct 1556 – 1559) * Ventura Bufalini (13 Mar 1560 – 1570) * Antonio de Angelis (23 Aug 1570 – 1579) * Alberto Bolognetti (27 Apr 1579 – 17 May 1585) *

Vincenzo Casali Vincenzo is an Italian male given name, derived from the Latin name Vincentius (the verb ''vincere'' means to win or to conquer). Notable people with the name include: Art *Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), Italian actor and sculptor *Vincenzo Bella ...

(1 Jul 1585 – 1587 Resigned) *

Achille Sergardi Achille is a French and Italian masculine given name, derived from the Greek mythological hero Achilles. It may refer to: People Artists * Achille Beltrame (1871–1945), Italian painter * Achille Calici (c. 1565–?), Italian painter * Ach ...

(28 Sep 1587 – 1601) *

Alessandro Petrucci Alessandro Petrucci (died 7 June 1628) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Siena (1615–1628) and Bishop of Massa Marittima (1602–1615). ''(in Latin)'' ''(in Latin)''Fabio Piccolomini Fabio is a given name descended from Latin ''Fabius'' and very popular in Italy and Latin America (due to Italian migration). Its English equivalent is Fabian. The name is written without an accent in Italian and Spanish, but is usually accented ...

(1615–1629) *

Giovanni Battista Malaspina Giovanni Battista Malaspina (1589–1655) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Massa Marittima (1629–1655). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Giovanni Battista Malaspina was born in 1589. On 13 Dec 1629, he was appointed during the papa ...

(17 Sep 1629 – 16 Oct 1655) * Bandino Accarigi (3 Mar 1656 – Aug 1670) * Niccolò Della Ciaia (20 Apr 1671 – Aug 1679) *

Paolo Pecci Paolo Pecci (1630–1694) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Massa Marittima (1679–1694). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Paolo Pecci was born on 18 Aug 1630 in Siena, Italy and ordained a priest on 3 May 1679. On 27 Nov 1679, he wa ...

(27 Nov 1679 – Oct 1694) *

Pietro Luigi Malaspina Pietro Luigi Malaspina, C.R. (1637 – December, 1705) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Massa Marittima (1695–1705) and Bishop of Cortona (1684–1695).C.R. (2 May 1695 – Dec 1705 Died) *Ascanio Silvestri (17 May 1706 –1714) *Niccolò Tolomei (21 Jan 1715 – May 1718) *Eusebio Ciani, O.S.B. (2 Oct 1719 – 2 Feb 1770) *Pietro Maria Vannucci (12 Dec 1770 – 7 Aug 1793) :''Sede vacante'' (1793-1795) *Francesco Toli (22 Sep 1795 –1803)

since 1800

:''Sede vacante'' (1803–1818) *Giuseppe Mancini (1818 –1824) *Giuseppe Traversi (1825–1872) *Giuseppe Morteo,

O.F.M. Cap. The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (; postnominal abbr. O.F.M. Cap.) is a religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, one of Three " First Orders" that reformed from the Franciscan Friars Minor Observant (OFM Obs., now OFM) ...

(23 Dec 1872 – 21 Nov 1891) *Giovanni Battista Boracchia (11 Jul 1892 – 24 Apr 1924 Died) *Giovanni Piccioni (18 Dec 1924 – 1933 Resigned) *Faustino Baldini (8 Aug 1933 – 20 May 1966 Died) *Lorenzo Vivaldo (7 Sep 1970 – 13 Mar 1990 Died)

Bishops of Massa Marittima-Piombino

''Name Changed: 14 May 1978'' *

Angelo Comastri Angelo Comastri (born 17 September 1943) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica from 2006 to 2021, and Vicar General for the Vatican City State and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter from 2005 t ...

(25 Jul 1990 – 3 Mar 1994 Resigned) *Gualtiero Bassetti (9 Jul 1994 – 21 Nov 1998 Appointed,

Bishop of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro The Italian Catholic diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro has existed since 1986. In that year the historic diocese of Arezzo was combined with the diocese of Cortona and the diocese of Sansepolcro, the enlarged diocese being suffragan of the ar ...

) *Giovanni Santucci (28 Oct 1999 – 19 May 2010 Appointed, Bishop of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli) *Carlo Ciattini (15 Dec 2010 – )CV of Bishop Ciattini: Diocesi di Massa Marittima Piombino
"Vescovo: Sua Eccellenza Mons. Carlo Ciattini"
retrieved: 9 January 2020.

Auxiliary bishops

Rodrigo Vázquez Rodrigo Vázquez was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Auxiliary Bishop of Massa Marittima (1551–1562?).

(18 Feb 1551 – 1562?)David M. Cheney
"Bishop Rodrigo Vázquez"
'' Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. Retrieved March 21, 2016.

Notes and references

Books

* pp. 756–757. (Use with caution; obsolete) * * * * * * * * *

Studies

*Antonio Canestrelli, Antonio (1910). ''L'Abbazia di Sant'Antimo. Monografia storico-artistica, con documenti e illustrazioni.'' Siena: Rivista Siena Monumentale Editrice, 1910–1912. * * * (1873). *Garzella, Gabriella (1991). "Cronotassi dei vescovi di Populonia-Massa Marittima dalle origini all'inizio del secolo XIII," in ''Pisa e la Toscana occidentale nel Medioevo. A Cinzio Volante nei suoi 70 anni'' (Pisa 1991), vol. I, pp. 1–21. *Greco, Gaetano (1994)
"I vescovi del Granducato di Toscana nell'età medicea"
In: ''Istituzioni e società in Toscana nell'età moderna''. Rome 1994. pp. 655–680. *Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1908)
''Italia pontificia''
vol. III. Berlin 1908. pp. 268–278. *Lanzoni, Francesco (1927).
Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)
'. Faenza: F. Lega. pp. 554–558. * *Schwartz, Gerhard (1913)
''Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern : mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122''
Leipzig-Berlin 1913, p. 260-262. * :: {{authority control Massa Marittima Massa Marittima Massa Marittima