The Diocese of Como ( la, Dioecesis Comensis) is a

Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...

ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

in 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 established in the Fourth Century. It is a

suffragan diocese A suffragan diocese is one of the dioceses other than the metropolitan archdiocese that constitute an ecclesiastical province. It exists in some Christian denominations, in particular the Catholic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria ...

in the

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United State ...

of the metropolitan

Archdiocese of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has lon ...

. The Bishop of Como's

cathedra A ''cathedra'' is the raised throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne. With time, the related term ''cathedral'' became synonymous with the "seat", or principa ...

is in the

Como Cathedral Como Cathedral ( it, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta; ''Duomo di Como'') is the Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. History ...

. Local legend credits the conversion of

Como Como (, ; lmo, Còmm, label=Comasco dialect, Comasco , or ; lat, Novum Comum; rm, Com; french: Côme) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and ...

to the apostolate of

Hermagoras of Aquileia Saint Hermagoras of Aquileia (also spelled Hermenagoras, Hermogenes, Ermacoras) ( it, Sant'Ermagora, fur, Sant Macôr or Sant Ramacul, sl, sveti Mohor; fl. 3rd century – c. 305) is considered the first bishop of Aquileia, northern Italy. Christ ...

(died c. 70). The diocese of Como was originally suffragan of Milan, as the consecration of its first bishop by Ambrose of Milan demonstrates. By the mid 6th century the diocese was subject to Aquileia.Orsini, p. 4.

Pope Stephen V Pope Stephen V ( la, Stephanus V; died 14 September 891) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from September 885 to his death. In his dealings with Photius I of Constantinople, as in his relations with the young Slavic Orthodox ...

(885-891) twice ordered Patriarch Walpert of Aquileia to consecrate Liutard, the Bishop-elect of Como. Until 1751 Como was, indeed, a suffragan of the patriarchate of Aquileia and followed the

Aquileian Rite The Aquileian Rite was a particular liturgical tradition of the Patriarchate of Aquileia and hence called the ''ritus patriarchinus.'' It was effectively replaced by the Roman Rite by the beginning of the seventeenth century, although elements of ...

; the Patriarchate was suppressed by

Pope Benedict XIV Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758.Antipope ...

, who, on 18 April 1752, created the metropolitanate of Gorizia, and made Como subject to Goriza. In 1789

was placed under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

by Pope Pius VI.

History

From the 6th century to the 15th, the rite of Aquileia, commonly called the patriarchal rite, was used in the Church of Como. It was only in 1598 that

Pope Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII ( la, Clemens VIII; it, Clemente VIII; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born ...

substituted the Roman rite. In the tenth century the Bishops of Como were also its temporal lords. From the election of Bishop Raimundus in 1061, the episcopal elections were carried out by the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter and the Abbots of S. Carpoforo, S. Abondio, and S. Giuliano. Como lost a relevant part of its territory to the newly formed

Diocese of Lugano The Diocese of Lugano (Latin: ''Dioecesis Luganensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Switzerland covering the canton of Ticino. The diocese immediately exempt to the Holy See. In 2004, there we ...

in 1884.

Cathedral and Chapter

The Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta was begun in 1396, and was completed only in 1595; later the

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome. The word derives, via Italian, from ...

and some small chapels were added (1730–44). The Cathedral was granted the honorary title and privileges of a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII, at the request of Bishop Felix Bonomini, in a decree of 18 January 1951. In 1695, the Chapter of the cathedral was composed of three dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Provost) and twenty Canons. In 1764, there were three dignities and seventeen Canons. In 1846 there were twenty members of the Chapter, headed by the Archpriest, the Theologos, and the Penitentiary. The Chapter of the Cathedral currently (2018) consists of ten Canons, headed by the Archpriest. In the city of Como there was also the Collegiate Church of S. Fedele, which was presided over by a Provost and seven Canons.

Synods

A diocesan synod was an irregular 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. Bishop Gianantonio Volpi (1559–1588) held a diocesan synod on 16 March 1565. This was the first synod since the closing of the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent ( la, Concilium Tridentinum), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trento, Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italian Peninsula, Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation ...

, which had mandated regular and frequent diocesan synods. He held a second synod on 3–5 September 1579. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Filippo Archinti (1595–1621) in 1598; and another synod on 16–18 May 1618. The Fifth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Lazzaro Carafino (1626–1665) on 18–20 September 1633. The Sixth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Ambrogio Torriano (1680–1694) on 13–15 September 1672. It issued particularly strong regulations against the use of snuff by the clergy, following the decree of

Pope Innocent X Pope Innocent X ( la, Innocentius X; it, Innocenzo X; 6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death in Januar ...

, and prescribed a fine of two aurei for any priest who used snuff before the Mass. The Seventh Diocesan Synod was held on 10–12 September 1682 by Cardinal Carlo Cicero, Bishop of Como. Bishop Teodoro de Valfrè held a diocesan synod on 13–15 September 1904 in the Cathedral. The Ninth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Alessandro Macchi (1930–1947) on 8–10 September 1942. The Tenth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Felice Bonomini (1948–1974) in 1953. Bishop Oscar Cantoni has announced the Eleventh Diocesan Synod, that will take place in 2020.

Bishops of Como

to 1000

Felix of Como Saint Felix of Como (died on October 8, 391 AD) is venerated as the first bishop of Como The Diocese of Como ( la, Dioecesis Comensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy. It was esta ...

(c. 379 – c. 391) * Provinus (Probinus, Prouinus) (391–420) *

Amantius of Como Saint Amantius of Como ( it, Sant'Amanzio di Como) (died April 8, 448 AD) is venerated as the third bishop of Como. He was preceded by Felix of Como and Saint Provinus. He was succeeded by Saint Abundius. His feast day is 8 April. Biograp ...

(420–450) *

Abundius Abundius (also Abondius, Abundias, or Abbondio; early fifth century – 469), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Abundius, was a bishop of Como, Northern Italy. Biography Abundius was born at Thessalonica. Around 448 Abundius became the ...

(or Abundantius) (attested 450–489) * Console (489–495) * Exuperantius (495–512) * Eusebius (512–525) * Eutychius (Eutichio) (525–539) * Eupilius (approx. 539) * Flavianus I * Prosper * Joannes (c. 607) * Agrippinus (607–617) * Rubianus * Adalbert * Martiniano * Vittorino (approx. 628) * John II * John III * Ottaviano * Benedict I * Flaviano II (approx. 712) * Adeodato (712–730) * Gausoaldo (approx. 730) * Angilbert I (approx. 750) * Lupo (approx. 750) * Teodolfo * Adelongo (approx. 776) * Peter I (776–818) * Leo I (attested 823–838) * Perideo (840–843) * Amalrico (844–865) *Angilbert II (866–880) * Luitardus (Liutardo) (attested 888–905) *Valperto I (attested 911–914) *Valperto II (915) *Peter II (921) *Azzone (922–945) *Waldo (Ubaldus) (946–966) *Adelgisius (attested 973–977) *Peter III (attested 983–1005)

1000 to 1300

*Eberhardus (attested 1004–1006) *Albericus (c. 1010 – c. 1028) *Liudger (1030/32–1046) *Benno (attested 1049–1061) *Rainaldo (1061/62–1084) *Aribertus (1085–1088) :Hartwicus (attested 1092) *Guido Grimoldi (1098–1125) :: andulfus de Carcano (1098–1118)*Ardizzo I (1125–1158) *Enrico della Torre (1158–1162) *Anselmo Raimundi (della Torre) (1163–1193) *Ardizzone II (1193–1204) *Guglielmo della Torre (1204–1226) *Uberto di Sala (1228–1259) *Leone degli Avvocati (1259–1261) *

Raimondo della Torre Raimondo della Torre (died 23 February 1299) was an Italian clergyman, who was patriarch of Aquileia from 1273 until his death. He was a member of the della Torre Guelph family. Biography He was the son of Pagano I della Torre, lord of Milan and ...

(1261–1273) *Giovanni degli Avvocati (1274–1293) *Leone Lambertenghi (1294–1325)

1300 to 1600

*Benedetto di Asinago, O.P. (1328–1339) *Beltramino Paravicini (1339–1340) *Bonifacio da Modena (1340–1351) *Bernard, O.Cist. (1352–1357) *Andrea degli Avvocati (1357–1361) *Stefano Gatti (1362–1369) *Enrico da Sessa (1369–1380) *Beltramo da Brossano (1380–1395) *Lucchino da Brossano or Borsano (1396–1408) *Antonio Turcone (1409–1420) *Francesco Bossi (1420–1434) * Giovanni Barbavara (1436–1437) *Gerardo Landriani (1437–1445) *

Bernardo Landriani Bernardo Landriani or Bernardo Landriano (died 1451) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Asti (1446–1451) and Bishop of Como (1439–1446). ''(in Latin)'' Biography On 31 August 1439, Bernardo Landriani was appointed during t ...

(1446–1451) *Antonio Pusterla (1451–1457) *Martino Pusterla (1457–1460) *Lazzaro Scarampi (1460–1466) * Branda Castiglione (1466–1487) * Cardinal Antonio Trivulzio (1487–1508) *

Scaramuccia Trivulzio Scaramuccia Trivulzio (1465 – 3 August 1527) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was Bishop of Como in Italy, from 1508 to 1518. He was then Bishop of Piacenza, from 1519 to 1525. He was made cardinal in July 1517 by Pope Leo X. It was ...

(1508–1527) * Antonio Trivulzio (1518–1519) *Cesare Trivulzio (1519–1548) *Bernardino della Croce (1548–1559) *Gianantonio Volpi (1559–1588) *

Feliciano Ninguarda Feliciano (spelled Felizian in Germany) Ninguarda (1524 – 5 June 1595) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate and one of the main movers of the Counter Reformation. He was bishop of Scala, bishop of Sant’Agata de’ Goti, bishop of Como, g ...

(1588–1595) * Filippo Archinti (bishop) (1595–1621)

1600 to 1800

* Aurelio Archinti (1621–1622) *Desiderio Scaglia, O.P. (1622–1625) *Lazzaro Carafino (1626–1665) * Ambrogio Torriano (1680–1694) *Carlo Ciceri (1680–1694) * Stefano Giuseppe Menatti (1694–1695) *Francesco Bonesana (1696–1709) *

Giuseppe Olgiati Giuseppe Olgiati (10 December 1660 – 29 July 1736) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Como (1711–1735) ''(in Latin)'' and Bishop of Parma (1694–1711). ''(in Latin)'' Ot ... (1710). References External links and additi ...

(1710–1735) *Alberico Simonetta (1736–1739) *Paolo Cernuschi (1739–1746) *Agostino M. Neuroni (1746–1760) *Giovanni Battista Peregrini (1760–1764) *Giambattista Mugiasca (1764–1789) *Giuseppe Bertieri, O.E.S.A. (1790–1792) *Carlo Rovelli, O.P. (1793–1819)

since 1800

*Giambattista Castelnuovo (1821–1831) : ''Sede Vacante'' (December 1831–January 1834) *Carlo Romanò (1834–1855) *Giuseppe Marzorati (1858–1865) *Pietro Carsana (1871–1887) *Luigi Nicora (1887–1890) *

Andrea Carlo Ferrari Andrea Ferrari (13 August 1850 – 2 February 1921) – later adopting the middle name "Carlo" – was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as a cardinal and as the Archbishop of Milan from 1894 until his death. Ferrari was a well- ...

(1891–1894) *Teodoro Valfrè di Bonzo (1895–1905) *Alfonso Archi (1905–1925) *Adolfo Luigi Pagani (1926–1930) *Alessandro Macchi (1930–1947) *Felice Bonomini (1947–1974) *Teresio Ferraroni (1974–1989) * Alessandro Maggiolini (1989–2006) * Diego Coletti (2006–2016) *

Oscar Cantoni Oscar Cantoni (born 1 September 1950) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Bishop of Como since 2016. He was previously Bishop of Crema from 2005 to 2016. On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal. Early life Can ...

(2016 – )

Parishes

The 338 parishes of the diocese are spread across four provinces of the

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

region: the Province of Como, the

Province of Lecco The Province of Lecco ( it, provincia di Lecco; Lecchese: ) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecco. As of 2017, the province had a population of 337,211 on a surface of divided into 85 ''comuni'' (mun ...

, the Province of Sondrio, and the

Province of Varese The province of Varese ( it, provincia di Varese) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Varese (population of 80,857 inhabitants), but its largest city is Busto Arsizio. The head ...

.Source for parishes: . There is one priest for every 1,001 Catholics.

References

Books

Reference works

* pp. 786–789. * p. 217. * p. 140. * pp. 182–183. * pp. 157–158. * p. 166. * pp. 175–176. * * *

Studies

* * * * * *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. pp. 398–418. (in Latin). * Lanzoni, Francesco (1927).
Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)
', vol. II, Faenza 1927. *Orsini, Giustino Renato (1955)
"La giurisdizione spirituale e temporale del vescovo di Como,"
''Archivio storico Lombardo'' Serie ottava. 5 (1954–1955), pp. 3–63. * * *Schwartz, Gerhard (1913). ''Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den Sächsischen und Salischen Kaisern'' Teil I and Teil II A. Leipzig: Teubner. (in German) * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Diocese Of Como

Province of Como Province of Lecco Province of Sondrio Province of Varese Dioceses established in the 4th century