The Diocese of Alba Pompeia or Alba Pompea ( la, Dioecesis Albae Pompeiensis) 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 territory or

diocese In 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 provinces were administratively associa ...

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 ...

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 ...

. Its territory comprises eighty towns in the civil

Province of Cuneo Cuneo (Italian), or Coni (Piedmontese), is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ( departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Haut ...

and two in the Province of Asti. The Diocese of Alba Pompeia is a suffragan diocese in the

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of seve ...

of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Turin."Diocese of Alba (Pompea)"
''

Catholic-Hierarchy.org ''Catholic-Hierarchy.org'' is an online database of bishops and dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. The website is not officially sanctioned by the Church. It is run as a private project by David M. Cheney in ...

''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016"Diocese of Alba"
''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016

History

The earliest figure in the traditional list of the bishops of Alba is a St. Dionysius, of whom the story is told that after serving in Alba for some years he became

Archbishop 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 ...

. He was the Dionysius who so energetically opposed Arianism and was exiled in the year 355 by the Emperor Constans. Daniel

Papebroch Daniel Papebroch, S.J., (17 March 1628 – 28 June 1714) was a Flemish Jesuit hagiographer, one of the Bollandists. He was a leading revisionist figure, bringing historical criticism to bear on traditions of saints of the Catholic Church. Life ...

disputes the reliability of this tradition, since a bishop of that period was forbidden to leave his diocese for another. A list of nine early bishops of Alba, from another St. Dionysius (380) down to a Bishop Julius (553), was compiled from sepulchral inscriptions found in the cathedral of Alba towards the end of the fifteenth century by Dalmazzo Berendenco, an antiquarian.

Giovanni Battista De Rossi Giovanni Battista (Carlo) de Rossi (23 February 1822 – 20 September 1894) was an Italian archaeologist, famous even outside his field for rediscovering early Christian catacombs. Life and works Born in Rome, he was the son of Commendatore C ...

, however, on examination of the inscriptions proved them to be a forgery. The first bishop of Alba whose existence is certain is Lampradius who was present at the synod held in Rome in 499 under

Pope Symmachus Pope Symmachus (died 19 July 514) was the bishop of Rome from 22 November 498 to his death. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was elected pope by a majority of the Roman clergy. Early life He was born on the Mediterranean islan ...

. In the series of bishops,

Benzo of Alba Benzo of Alba (died ) was an Italian bishop. He was an opponent of Gregorian reform who supported Henry IV of Germany in the Investiture Controversy. Benzo's date of birth is unknown but he was probably born in northern Italy. Benzo began his caree ...

is notable as an adversary of Pope Gregory VII and a partisan of the Empire in the

Investiture controversy The Investiture Controversy, also called Investiture Contest ( German: ''Investiturstreit''; ), was a conflict between the Church and the state in medieval Europe over the ability to choose and install bishops ( investiture) and abbots of mona ...

. The Emperor Frederick Barbarossa spent Christmas of 1159 in Alba. The prominence of natives of Mantua among the bishops of Alba in the 16th and 17th centuries is accounted for by the grant of the

Marquisate of Montferrat The March (also ''margraviate'' or ''marquisate'') of Montferrat was a frontier march of the Kingdom of Italy during the Middle Ages and a state of the Holy Roman Empire. The margraviate was raised to become the Duchy of Montferrat in 1574. O ...

to the Dukes of Mantua by the Emperor Charles V in 1536. With the marquisate came the patronage previously enjoyed by the Dukes of Savoy. This arrangement persisted until 1708, when the House of Savoy acquired Montferrat and the patronage over the bishopric of Alba. Bishop Lodovico Gonzaga held a diocesan synod in 1636. A diocesan synod, the first in more than thirty years, was held by Bishop Eugenio Roberto Galletti in September 1873.

Cathedral and Chapter

The office of Penitentiary in the Cathedral Chapter was created by Bishop Paolo Brizio de Braida on 15 January 1644. In 1856 the Chapter was composed of five dignities and fourteen Canons. The dignities were: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Provost, the Cantor, and the Dean. The cathedral was considered a parish church, and was supervised by the Archpriest; there were two residentiary chaplains.

French conquest

When the French revolution guillotined King Louis XVI, King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia declared war on the French Republic, but in three successive engagements, the

Battle of Montenotte The Battle of Montenotte was fought on 12 April 1796, during the French Revolutionary Wars, between the French army under General Napoleon Bonaparte and an Austrian corps under Count Eugène-Guillaume Argenteau. The French won the battle, whi ...

(12 April 1796), the Battle of Millesimo (13–14 April 1796) and the Battle of Mondovi (21 April 1796), General Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Piedmontese. In suing for peace, Victor Amadeus was forced to cede Savoy and Nice to France. The territory became part of the Department of

Mont-Blanc Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the List of European ultra-prominent peaks, second-most prominent mountai ...

. King Victor Amadeus died on 18 October 1796, and his son and successor, Carlo Emanuele was forced to abdicate on 6 December 1798. Bonaparte crossed the Alps again in the Spring of 1800, intent on driving the Austrians out of the Po Valley. The victory at the

Battle of Marengo The Battle of Marengo was fought on 14 June 1800 between French forces under the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian forces near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy. Near the end of the day, the French overcame General Mich ...

gave the French control of most of Lombardy. 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 The current Constitution of France was adopted on 4 October 1958. It is typically called the Constitution of the Fifth Republic , and it replaced the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of 1946 with the exception of the preamble per a Consti ...

. 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". Following the

Concordat of 1801 The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801 in Paris. It remained in effect until 1905, except in Alsace-Lorraine, where it remains in force. It sought national reconciliation ...

between Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, the Pope issued a bull, ''Gravissimis causis'' (1 June 1803), in which the number of diocese in Piedmont was reduced to eight: Turin, Vercelli, Ivrea, Acqui, Asti, Mondovi, Alessandria and Saluzzo. Alba was suppressed, and its territory was handed over to the diocese of Asti. Bishop Vitale of Alba was required to resign. The Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States (which had been abolished by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte) were restored by the

Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...

. The confused situation of the dioceses in Piedmont was addressed by Pope Pius VII in his bull, ''Beati Petri'' (17 July 1817) as far as the redrawing of diocesan boundaries was concerned. The diocese of Alba was restored, and it temporarily took control of the territory of the suppressed diocese of Mondovi, until it too was restored on 29 October 1817.

Territorial adjustments

*400: Established as the Diocese of Alba *1511 Oct 29: Lost territory to establish the Diocese of Saluzzo *1768: Lost territory to the Diocese of Mondovi *1803 Jun 01: Suppressed to the

Diocese of Asti The Diocese of Asti ( la, Dioecesis Astensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Piedmont, northern Italy, centered in the city of Asti. It has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Turin since 1515.

*1817 Jul 17: Restored as the Diocese of Alba from the

and the Diocese of Mondovì *1817 Oct 29: Lost territory to Diocese of Mondovi

Bishops

Diocese of Alba Pompeia

to 1100

: Dionisius (350–355) : Adelgisus (355) : Severus (391, 397) : Bruningus (419) : Aldericus (443) * Lampadius (c. 499) : Manfredo (482, 483) : enanzio (503): Oldarico (532) : Pietro I (563) : Venanzio II (593) : Guglielmo (627) : Vitelmo I (661) * Benedictus (c. 680) * Lampadio II (801) * Sigifredo (829) : Pietro (c. 855) * Hildradus (c. 876) * Liutardus (c. 901) : Vitelmo II (901) * Daiberto (c. 938, 945) * Flocardo or Fulcardo (960–985) * Costantinus (c. 997, c. 1005) * Oberto (1027) * Benzo (c. 1059) * Albertus (1061, 1074) : Pellegrino (1098)

from 1100 to 1400

* Pietro de Valpergia (1124–1125) * Robaldus (1125–1139) * Pietro (V.) (1150–1158) * Rozone (c. 1163) * Otto (c. 1169 – c. 1177) * ? Federico (1180) * Bonifacius (1185, 1188) * Gerardus (c. 1191 or 1194) * Ogerius (c. 1192, c. 1204) * Bonifacio (II) del Carretto (c. 1210, c. 1214) * Reinerio (c. 1216 – c. 1226) * Gandulfus Cauda (1227) * Sardo (1231) * Guglielmo Braida (1237–1253) * Monaco (1255–1260) : andolfo (1259–1262)* Simone (1261–1271) * Martino, O.F.M. (c. 1276) * Bonifacius (III) de S. Julia (c. 1283 − 1306) * Raimundus de Mausaco, O.Min. (1311–1321) * Guglielmo Isnardi, O.F.M. (1321–1333) * Pietro Artaudi, O.P. (1334–1349) * Lazzarino Fliscus (Fieschi) (1349–1367) * Ludovico del Carretto (27 Apr 1369 – 1388)Period of the Great Western Schism (1378–1417): allegiance unknown * Federico del Carretto (1389–1390) * Pietro del Carretto, O.P. (c. 1392) * ? Bonifacio (IV) (1398)

from 1400 to 1600

* Francesco (I) del Carretto (1401–1406) (Roman Obedience) * Aleramo del Carretto (c. 1407 – c. 1409) * Jacobus (1409) * ? Francesco (II) del Carretto (towards 1413)Eubel believes that Aleramo, Jacobus and Giacomo are doublets. * ? Giacomo del Carretto (1412–1418) * Alerinus de Rembaldis (1419–1456) * Bernardo del Carretto (18 October 1456 – 1460) * Pietro del Carretto (1460–1482) * Andrea Novelli (6 Feb 1483 – 13 May 1521 Died) * Ippolito Novelli (13 May 1521 Succeeded – 11 Nov 1530 Died) * Antonio Mollo (de Nerlis) (28 Nov 1530 – 1531 Died) * Giuliano Visconti (16 August 1532 – 27 August 1532) (bishop elect) *

Marco Girolamo Vida Marco Girolamo Vida or Marcus Hieronymus Vida (1485? – September 27, 1566) was an Italian humanist, bishop and poet. Life Marco was born at Cremona, the son of the consular (patrician) Guglielmo Vida, and Leona Oscasale. He had two brother ...

, C.R.L. (6 February 1533 – 27 February 1566) *

Leonardo Marino Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English language, English, German language, German, and Dutch language, Dutch name, Leonard. People Notable people with the name include: * Leonardo da ...

, O.P. (1566 − 1572 Resigned) * Vincenzo Marino (19 November 1572 – 25 February 1583 Died) * Lelio Zimbramonti (Aurelio Gibramontis) (28 March 1583 – 14 November 1583) * Lodovico Michelio (19 Dec 1583 – 27 Apr 1590 Died) * Alberto Capriano (30 Jul 1590 – 23 Jan 1595 Died)

from 1600 to 1800

Giovanni Anselmo Carminato 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 ...

(26 Aug 1596 – 6 July 1605) *

Francesco Pendasio Francesco Pendasio (1571 – September 1616) was a Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Alba (1605–1616).

(18 Jul 1605 – Sep 1616 Died)"Bishop Francesco Pendasio"
''

''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 *

Vincenzo Agnello Suardi Vincenzo Agnello Suardi (1582 – September 1644) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Mantua (1620–1644) and Bishop of Alba (1616–1620)."Bishop Vincenzo Agnello Suardi"
''

''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016. *

Ludovico Gonzaga (bishop) Ludovico Gonzaga (1588–1632) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Alba (1619–1632). ''(in Latin)'' By birth, he was member of the House of Gonzaga. Biography Ludovico Gonzaga was born in Mantua, Italy in 1588 as the son of Ma ...

(12 Aug 1619 – 1633) * Giovanni Francesco Gandolfo (10 Jan 1633 – 4 Nov 1638 Died) * Paolo Brizio, O.F.M. Obs. (15 Dec 1642 – 2 Nov 1665 Died) * Cesare Biandrati (5 May 1666 – June 1666) * Vittorio Nicolino della Chiesa (16 March 1667 – 22 Sep 1691) *

Gerolamo Ubertino Provana Gerolamo Ubertino Provana, C.R. (1658–1696) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Alba (1692–1696). Biography Gerolamo Ubertino Provana was born in Nizza Monferrato, Italy in 1658 and ordained a priest in the Congregation of ...

, C.R. (25 June 1692 – 16 Aug 1696 Died)"Bishop Gerolamo Ubertino Provana, C.R."
''

''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved December 18, 2016. * Giuseppe Rottario (Rovero) (27 March 1697 – 4 Nov 1720) : ''Sede vacante'' (1720–1726) * Carlo Francesco Vasco, O.C.D. (30 July 1727 – 31 Dec 1749) * Enrichetto Virginio (Raffale Francesco) Natta, O.P. (22 July 1750 – 29 June 1768) * Giacinto Amedeo Vagnone (11 Sep 1769 Confirmed – 30 Jan 1777 Resigned) * Giuseppe Maria Langosco-Stroppiana (20 Jul 1778 Confirmed – 13 Dec 1788 Died) * Giovanni Battista Pio Vitale (11 Apr 1791 Confirmed – 29 May 1803 Resigned)

since 1800

* Giovanni-Antonio Niccola (Nicola) (16 Mar 1818 – 12 Jan 1834 Died) * Costanzo-Michele Fea (1 Feb 1836 – 2 Nov 1853) * Eugenio Roberto Galletti (27 Mar 1867 – 5 Oct 1879) * Carlo Lorenzo Pampirio, O.P. (27 Feb 1880 – 24 May 1889) * Giuseppe Francesco Re (30 Dec 1889 – 17 Jan 1933 Died) * Luigi Maria Grassi, B. (13 Mar 1933 – 5 Apr 1948 Died) * Carlo Stoppa (27 Dec 1948 – 13 Feb 1965 Died) * Luigi Bongianino (15 Jan 1970 – 6 Jun 1975 Appointed,

Bishop of Tortona The Diocese of Tortona ( la, Dioecesis Derthonensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Northern Italy, spanning parts of three regions of Piedmont (Province of Alessandria), Lombardy (Province of Pav ...

) * Angelo Fausto Vallainc (7 Oct 1975 – 8 Dec 1986 Died) * Giulio Nicolini (16 Jul 1987 – 16 Feb 1993 Appointed,

Bishop of Cremona The Diocese of Cremona ( la, 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. ...

) * Sebastiano Dho (3 Jul 1993 – 28 Jun 2010 Retired) * Giacomo Lanzetti (28 Jun 2010 – 24 Sep 2015 Resigned) * Marco Brunetti (21 Jan 2016 – )

Parishes

The number of Catholics recorded for the diocese in 1920 was 150,500 and there were 101 parishes, 316 secular and 11 regular clergy, 43 seminarians, 675 churches or chapels, 6 brothers, and 180 sisters. In 1962 the diocese had 137 parishes, 242 secular priests, 62 religious priests, and 41 seminarians. The diocese currently (2015) has 126 parishes, all within the (civil) region of Piedmont. Three are in the Province of Asti and 123 in the

.chiesacattolica.it
(Retrieved:2008-03-11 09:57:58 +0000)

References

Bibliography

References

* pp. 809–810. (in Latin) * * * * * * *

Studies

* variorum list, inaccurate and credulous* * * Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1914).
Italia pontificia
: sive, Repertorium privilegiorum et litterarum a romanis pontificibus ante annum 1598 Italiae ecclesiis, monasteriis, civitatibus singulisque personis concessorum.'' Vol. VI. pars ii. Berolini: Weidmann. pp. 185–189. * Maggi, G. (1983). "Temi politici e sociali nell'azione dei cattolici albesi del primo Novecento," in: ''Alba Pompei'', nuova serie 4 (1983), pp. 5–18. * * *

Acknowledgment

:: {{authority control Alba Pompeia Alba, Piedmont Province of Alessandria Province of Cuneo Alba Pompeia