The Diocese of Chiavari ( la, Dioecesis Clavarensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

, northern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. It was created on 3 December 1892 by

Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII ( it, Leone XIII; born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) was the head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 to his death in July 1903. Living until the age of 93, he was the second-old ...

in the Bull ''Romani Pontifices''. It is 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 Genoa The Archdiocese of Genoa ( la, Archidioecesis Ianuensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. Erected in the 3rd century, it was elevated to an archdiocese on 20 March 1133. The archdiocese of Ge ...

History

Chiavari Chiavari (; lij, Ciävai ) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in Italy. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. It is situated near the river Entella. History Pre-Roman and Roman Era A pre-Roman necropolis, which dates f ...

became an episcopal see in 1892, but until 1896 it was administered by Tommaso Reggio, the Archbishop of Genoa, to which diocese it originally belonged, through his Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General, Fortunato Vinelli, titular bishop of Epiphania (Cilicia, Ottoman Empire). The first bishop of Chiavari was Fortunato Vinelli. He was officially transferred from Genoa to the diocese of Chiavari by Pope Leo XIII on 29 March 1896. The creation of a new diocese, a rare event in the modern Church in Italy, was a solution to the rapid growth of population in Genoa due to industrialization. In the bull ''Romani Pontifices'' Pope Leo notes that the city of Chiavari had a population surpassing 12,000, and that requests for the creation of a diocese also came from Rapalla, Lavania, and Santa Margharita. In fact, pressure had been building for more than a decade. A not inconsequential factor, as the Pope admits, came from the testamentary bequest in 1884 of one-third of the estate of Francesco Bancalari, a priest of Chiavari, which was earmarked for the creation of a diocese of Chiavari, if and when the Holy See acted positively. A final consideration, as far as timing was concerned, was the death of the Archbishop of Genoa, Salvatore Magnasco, on 12 January 1892. Arrangements could be made for the new diocese with a new Archbishop, who was appointed on 11 July, without insult or diminution of the status and powers of the recently deceased Archbishop. The first diocesan synod was held by Bishop Vinelli in 1899, with 240 priests participating. The second synod was held by Bishop Casabona in 1921, and the third on 17–19 October 1933. The Fourth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Daniele Ferrari in 1987. On 5 July 1899 the new seminary, named in honor of Leo XIII, was blessed by Archbishop Reggio of Genoa. The old seminary had been established by the Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal

Luigi Lambruschini Luigi Lambruschini (6 March 1776 – 12 May 1854) was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in the mid nineteenth century. He was a member of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul and served in the diplomatic corps of the Holy See. Biography ...

(1819–1830).

Cathedral and Chapter

The church which was designated as the new cathedral was built between 1613 and 1633 as a shrine for the image of the Virgin Mary which was given credit for stopping the pestilence of 1493. Administration of the church was put in the hands of the Discalced Carmelites, until all religious orders were suppressed under orders of the French occupation authorities in 1797. A reconstruction was begun in 1823, with a façade designed by an architect called Luigi Poletti. The new façade and ''pronaos'' of the Cathedral was blessed by Cardinal Andrea Ferrari in 1907. In accordance with the bull of erection of Leo XIII, the Cathedral Chapter was to consist of ten Canons. It was to be presided over by a Provost, and there was to be a Canon Theological and a Canon Penitentiary. The cathedral was granted the status of a

minor basilica In the Catholic Church, a basilica is a designation given by the Pope to a church building. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular ...

Pope Pius X Pope Pius X ( it, Pio X; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of C ...

on 27 November 1904. The current bishop is Giampio Luigi Devasini, appointed on 10 April 2021 by

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

Bishops

*1893–1910: Fortunato Vinelli *1911–1916: Giovanni Gamberoni *1917–1917: Natale Serafino *1917–1948: Amedeo Casabona *1948–1971: Francesco Marchesani *1971–1973: Luigi Maverna *1973–1995: Daniele Ferrari *1995–2004: Alberto Maria Careggio *2004–2021: Alberto Tanasini *2021–........: Giampio Luigi Devasini

Parishes

The diocese has 139 parishes, all within the province of

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...

, including several parishes transferred from the diocese of La Spezia (and several transferred to La Spezia) on 26 July 1959. The diocesan web site maintains a current list of parishes, divided into five Vicariates.Diocesi di Chiavari
''Parrocchie''
retrieved: 2018-05-12.

Borzonasca Borzonasca is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Borzonasca borders the following municipalities: Mezzanego, Ne, Rezzoaglio, San Colombano Certénoli, San ...

: ''S. Bartolomeo Apostolo, S. Giovanni Battista, S. Margherita V, S. Maria Assunta, S. Vincenzo e Anastasio, S. Rocco, S. Maria Assunta, S. Andrea Apostolo, S. Lorenzo, S. Martino''

Carasco Carasco is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italy, Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa in the Val Fontanabuona. Carasco borders the following municipalities: Chiavari, Cogorno, Leivi, Mezzanego, ...

: ''S. Marziano, S. Pietro, S. Eufemiano, S. Nicolò, S. Quirico, S. Maria''

Casarza Ligure Casarza Ligure ( lij, Casersa) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. Casarza Ligure borders the following municipalities: Castiglione Chiavarese, Maissan ...

: ''Nostra Signora della Speranza, S. Lorenzo, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino, S. Michele Arcangelo, S. Bernardo e SS. Concezione''

Castiglione Chiavarese Castiglione Chiavarese ( ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. Castiglione Chiavarese borders the following municipalities: Carro, Casarza Ligure, D ...

: ''S. Antonino Martire, S. Pietro, S. Rocco e Gaetano, S. Michele, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino''

: ''N. S. della Pace e di S. Bernardo, S. Andrea, S. Giacomo di Rupinaro, S. Giovanni Battista, S. Giuseppe, S. Maria e S. Biagio di Bacezza, S. Michele, S. Margherita, S. Martino, S. Pietro, San Pier di Canne, S. Antonino Martire''

Cicagna Cicagna is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Cicagna borders the following municipalities: Coreglia Ligure, Lorsica, Mocònesi, Orero, Rapallo, Tribogna Tr ...

: ''S. Giovanni Battista, S. Rocco, S. Bartolomeo''

Cogorno Cogorno (, ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,316 and an area of .All demographics and other statisti ...

: ''S. Antonino Martire, S. Lorenzo, S. Maria, S. Colombano, S. Salvatore''

Coreglia Ligure Coreglia Ligure () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Coreglia Ligure borders the following municipalities: Cicagna, Orero, Rapallo, San Colombano Certé ...

: ''S. Martino, S. Nicolò, S. Giacomo''

Favale di Malvaro Favale di Malvaro ( lij, O Favâ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Favale di Malvaro borders the following municipalities: Lorsica, Mocònesi, Neirone, ...

: ''S. Vincenzo Martire, S. Martino, S. Bernardo,

Lavagna Lavagna is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Italy. History and Culture The village, unlike nearby Chiavari which has pre-Roman evidence, seems to have developed in Roman times with the Latin name of ''Lavania''. The ...

, S. Giulia, S. Maria del Ponte, S. Maria Madre della Chiesa, S. Stefano, S. Pietro, S. Concezione, S. Maria Assunta''

Leivi Leivi is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in the Liguria region of northwest Italy. Leivi sits in the Apennine hills, from the town of Chiavari, overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio 240px, Diagrammatic aerial view showing ...

: ''S. Rufino, S. Tommaso, S. Michele''

Lorsica Lorsica ( lij, Lorsega) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Lorsica borders the following municipalities: Cicagna, Favale di Malvaro, Mocònesi, Montebruno, ...

: ''S. Maria, S. Giuseppe, N. S. dell’Orto, S. Andrea''

Lumarzo Lumarzo ( lij, Lumarso) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Lumarzo borders the following municipalities: Bargagli, Davagna, Neirone, Sori, Torriglia, Uscio ...

: ''S. Margherita, S. Maria Maddalena, S. Tommaso, S. Stefano, S. Maurizio''

Mezzanego Mezzanego ( lij, Mezanego) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and ...

: ''S. Maria Assunta, S. Maria della Neve, S. Michele Arcangelo, S. Siro'' Moconesi: ''S. Cuore e di S. Margherita, S. Giuseppe e Margherita, S. Ambrogio, S. Giacomo''

Moneglia Moneglia (; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. It is a tourist resort on the Riviera di Levante. In 2012 it was added to the list of I Borghi più b ...

: ''S. Croce, S. Giorgio, S. Maria Assunta, S. Saturnino'' Ne: ''S. Cipriano e Giustina, S. Lorenzo, S. Biagio, S. Maria Assunta, S. Maria e Michele, S. Bartolomeo, S. Pietro, S. Antonio, S. Apollinare''

Neirone Neirone ( lij, Neion) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Neirone borders the following municipalities: Favale di Malvaro, Lorsica, Lumarzo, Mocònesi, T ...

: ''S. Maurizio, S. Marco, S. Rocco, S. Lorenzo'' Orero: ''S. Ambrogio, S. Michele Arcangelo''

Portofino Portofino (; ) is a ''comune'' located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore. Since the late 19th century ...

: ''S. Martino''

Rapallo Rapallo ( , , ) is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, located in the Liguria region of northern Italy. As of 2017 it had 29,778 inhabitants. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, on the Tigullio Gulf, between Portofino and Chiavar ...

: ''S. Andrea, S. Anna, S. Maria del Campo, S. Martino, S. Massimo, S. Pietro, Quirico'' San Colombano Certenoli: ''S. Maria, S. Maurizio, S. Michele, S. Stefano, S. Trinità, S. Bernardo, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino del Monte, S. Colombano, S. Giacomo di Corte, S. Margherita, S. Siro, S. Maria Assunta, S. Lorenzo della Costa''

Sestri Levante Sestri Levante ( la, Segesta Tigullorum/Segesta Tigulliorum) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, Italy. Lying on the Mediterranean Sea, it is approximately south of Genoa and is set on a promontory. While nearby ...

: ''S. Antonio, S. Bartolomeo della Ginestra, S. Bernardo, Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth, Sestri Levante, San Nicolò dell'isola di Sestri Levante, S. Stefano del Ponte, S. Giacomo, S. Paolo, S. Pietro, S. Vittoria, S. Sabina''

Zoagli Zoagli ( lij, Zoagi) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. Zoagli is a popular destination during all seasons of the year by tourists from all over the wo ...

: ''S. Ambrogio, S. Martino, S. Pietro, S. Giovanni Battista''

Notes and references

Bibliography

* * *

External links

{{authority control

Province of Genoa