Archdiocese of Sassari

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Archdiocese of Sassari

Archidioecesis Turritana
SAN NICOLA sassari(126).JPG
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical province Sassari
Statistics
Area1,978 km2 (764 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2023)
  • 220,000 (est.) Decrease2.svg
  • 215,000 (est.) Decrease2.svg
Parishes60
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established5th century
CathedralCattedrale di S. Nicola di Bari
Secular priests
  • 94 (diocesan)
  • 38 (Religious Orders)
  • 3 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Archbishop Gian Franco Saba
Suffragans
Bishops emeritus Paolo Mario Virgilio Atzei, O.F.M. Conv.
Website
arcidiocesisassari.it (in Italian)

The Archdiocese of Sassari (Latin : Archidioecesis Turritana) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Sardinia, Italy. Its see was initially at Torres, and the diocese was subhect to the metropolitan of Cagliari. It was elevated to the status of an archdiocese in 1073. [1] From the last quarter of the 13th century, the bishops of Torres habitually resided in Sassari.

Contents

The suffragan sees of the archdiocese are the diocese of Alghero-Bosa, the diocese of Ozieri and the diocese of Tempio-Ampurias.

History

The ecclesiastical history of Torres (Turris Lybissonis) goes back to the fourth century. In 304, the soldier Gavinus, Protus a priest, and the deacon Januarius are said to have suffered martyrdom there. [2] A number of martyrs are mentioned in inscriptions found at Porto Torres; all of them are forgeries. [3] Later Gavinus and Protus were reputed bishops, and said to have lived in the second and third centuries respectively. St. Gaudentius, who seems to have belonged to the beginning of the fourth century, is also venerated there.

The first bishop whose date is known is Felix (484). [4]

In July 599, Pope Gregory I wrote to Bishop Marinianus of Torres and five other bishops of Sardinia that they should not ignore their metropolitan, the bishop of Cagliari, and should not venture abroad without his permission. [5]

A bishop, whose name is unknown, often called "Novellus," caused a controversy between Pope John V and the Archbishop of Cagliari in 685. He had been consecrated by the archbishop of Cagliari, though the normal consecrator of bishops of Torres was the pope. Permission had once been granted to the archbishop in an emergency situation, and he evidently attempted to continue the practice as though it were his right. Pope John cancelled the privilege. [6]

Almost nothing is known concerning bishops of Torres for the next three centuries, till Simon (1065). His successor, Costantino de Crasta (1073), was an archbishop. Other archbishops: Blasius (1199), representative of Innocent III, on several occasions; Stefano, O.P. (1238), legate of Innocent IV in Sardinia and Corsica; Trogodario (about 1278) who erected the episcopal palace in Sassari, to which Teodosio (1292) added the Church of St. Andrea; after this the archbishops resided habitually at Sassari. [7]

Transfer to Sassari

Archbishop Pietro Spano (1422–1448) was a restorer of discipline, for which purpose he held a provincial council in Sassari in 1441. [8] During Spano's episcopate, on 3 April 1441, the episcopal seat was definitively transferred to Sassari by Pope Eugenius IV. The name of the diocese, however, remained the same. [9] The bishop intended to erect a seminary for the training of the clergy, but his death frustrated the plan.

Salvatore Salepusi (1553) was distinguished at the Council of Trent. Alfonso de Sorca (1585), was highly esteemed by Clement VIII.

In 1503, Pope Julius II united the Archdiocese of Sassari with the diocese of Ploaghe (Plubium) and the diocese of the Diocese of Sorres (Sorrensis), [10] which had been united permanently with the suppressed diocese of Bosa by Pope Eugenius IV in 1445. [11]

Bishops and archbishops of Torres

Bishops
...

Archbishops

From 1073 to 1298

  • Constantinus de Castra (c. 1073–1074) [17]
  • Christopher (1090) [18]
  • Atto (Azzo) (c. 1112–1116) [19]
  • Manfred (1116) [20]
  • Petrus de Canneto (1134–1139) [21]
  • Atto (c. 1139–1146) [22]
  • Petrus Manacu (1153–1170) [23]
  • Albertus, O.S.B. (c.1170–1178) [24]
  • Erbertus, O.Cist. (1181–1196) [25]
  • Bandinus (Biagius) (1196 ?–1199) [26]
  • Ignotus (c. 1200–1201) [27]
  • Biagio (1202–1217) [28]
  • Januarius (c. 1218–1226) [29]
  • Placentinus (1230) [30]
  • Opizzo [31]
  • Stephanus, O.P. (1249–1252) [32]
  • Prospero (c. 1261–1264) [33]
  • Dergotorius (Torgatorius) (c. 1278–1289) [34]
  • Pandulfus (1290–1296) Administrator [35]
  • Giovanni Balasro, O.Min. (1296–1298) [36]

From 1298 to 1422

  • Theodicius (Theodoricus) (1298–1322) [37]
  • Jacobus (1324–1327) [38]
  • Pietro de Portillo, O.P. (1327–1349) [39]
  • Bartholomaeus Galmarii (1349–1352) [40]
  • Diego de Navasquez, O.Carm. (1354–1355) [41]
  • Arnaldus Bordach, O.Cist. (1355–1360) [42]
  • Arnaldus Bajuli, O.Min. (1360–1368) [43]
  • Bernardus, O.Min. (1368–1369) [44]
  • Guglielmo Belvaisii, O.Min. (1369–1371) [45]
  • Giacomo de Lanfranchis, O.P. (1371–1372) [46]
  • Giacomo Petri, O.P. (1372–1373) [47]
  • Giovanni de Fornellis, O.Min. (1373–1387?) [48]
  • Giovanni de Passaviis, O.P. (1391-1393) Avignon Obedience [49]
  • Guglielmo, Roman Obedience [50]
  • Bertrandus, Roman Obedience
  • Paulus, Roman Obedience
  • Jacobus, Roman Obedience
  • Franciscus, Roman Obedience
  • Ubaldus Bonamici (1393–1397) Roman Obedience [51]
  • Antonio Cippolini, O.P. (1397–1399), Roman Obedience
  • Perinus (1399– ), Roman Obedience [52]
  • Giovanni de Azaro (1412– ), Pisan Obedience [53]

From 1422 to 1700

  • Pietro Spano (1422–1448)
  • Antonio Cano (1448–1476) [54]
  • Giovanni de Sos (1478–1480 ) [55]
  • Berenger de Sos (1481– ? ) [56]
  • Francesco Pellicer (1500–1508) [57]
  • Angelo Leonini (1509–1517) [58]
  • Francesco Minerbetti (1515–1516 Resigned)
  • Giovanni Sanna (1516–1523)
  • Salvador Alepuz (1524–1568)
  • Juan Segría (1568–1569) [59]
  • Martín Martínez de Villar (7 Oct 1569-1573 [60]
  • Miguel Ibáñez (10 Oct 1572-1573) [61]
  • Alfonso de Lorca (24 Oct 1576-1603) [62]
  • Andrés Bacallar (13 Sep 1604-1612) [63]
  • Gavino Manca de Cedrelles (29 Jul 1613-1620) [64]
  • Antonio Canopolo (1621-1622)
  • Giacomo Passamar (1622-1644)
  • Andrea Manca (1644-1652)
  • Gaspare Litago (1656-1657)
  • Honuphrius Geronda (Gerona) (1659-1660)
  • Íñigo (Ignacio) Royo, O.S.B. (1660-1670) [65]
  • Gavino Cattayna, O. Carm. (1671-1678) [66]
  • Antonio de Vergara, O.P. (1680-1683) [67]
  • Juan Morillo Velarde (1685-1699) [68]

From 1700 to 2000

  • [ Giorgio Sotgia (Soggia) Serra, O.S.M. (1701) ]
  • José Sicardo Martinez, O.E.S.A. (1702-1714) [69]
  • Gaspar Fuster, C.O. (1714-1720) [70]
Sede Vacante (1720–1726) [71]
  • Costanzo Giordini, O.Carm.Disc. (1726-1729) [72]
  • Pietro Rovèro di Cortanze, O.F.M. Cap. (1730-1741) [73]
  • Matteo Bertolini (1741-1750) [74]
  • Carlo Francesco Casanova (1751-1763) [75]
  • Giulio Cesare Viancini (16 May 1763-1772) [76]
  • Giuseppe Maria Incisa Beccaria (1772-1782) [77]
  • Angelo Filippo Giacinto Olivieri di Vernier (1784-1787) [78]
  • Giacinto della Torre, O.E.S.A. (1790-1797) [79]
  • Giovanni Battista Simon (1798-1806) [80]
Sede Vacante (1806–1819) [81]
  • Gavino Murro (1819) [82]
  • Carlo Tommaso Arnosio (1822-1828) [83]
  • Giovanni Antonio Gianotti (1833-1837) [84]
  • Alessandro Domenico Varesini (1838-1864) [85]
Sede Vacante (1864–1871) [86]
  • Diego Marongiu Delrio (1871-1905)
  • Emilio Parodi, C.M. (1905-1916)
  • Cleto Cassani (1917-1929 Resigned)
  • Maurilio Fossati, O.Ss.G.C.N. (1929-1930) [87]
  • Arcangelo Mazzotti, O.F.M. (12 Feb 1931 - 29 Jan 1961)
  • Agostino Saba (16 Mar 1961 - 19 Feb 1962)
  • Paolo Carta (22 Mar 1962 - 18 Mar 1982 Retired)
  • Salvatore Isgró (18 Mar 1982 - 2004) [88]

Since 2004

  • Paolo Mario Virgilio Atzei, O.F.M. Conv. (2004-2017) [89]
  • Gian Franco Saba (27 Jun 2017-2025) [90]

See also

Notes and references

  1. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Diocese of Sassari"; retrieved: 12 November 2025.[ self-published source ].
  2. Lanzoni, p. 676.
  3. Lanzoni, pp. 673-675: "Del resto tutte le riferite iscrizioni sono registrate dal C(orpus) I(nscriptionum) L(atinarum) tra le falsae."
  4. U. Benigni, in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1st ed.), gives the date of 404.
  5. Kehr, Italia pontificia X, pp. 376, no. 14; 427-428, nos. 1-4.
  6. Duchesne, Le Liber Pontificalis(in Latin) Vol. 1 , p. 366-367. Kehr, p. 428, no. 5.
  7. Benigni, p. 485.
  8. Cappelletti, p. 125. A. Sanna, "Il sinodo di Pietro Spano arcivescovo di Torres, testo inedito logudorese del sec. XV (9 Marzo 1442), (in Italian), in: Bollettino bibliografico Sardo Anno II, no. 12 (1956), pp. 4-6. A. Ruzzu, La Chiesa turritana dall'episcopato di Pietro Spano ad Alepus 1420–1566 (Sassari 1974), p. 149.
  9. Rivista di storia della chiesa in Italia, (in Italian) Volume 62 (Roma, 2008), p. 684. Graziella Lintas, La bolla della traslazione. Eugenio IV e il trasferimento della sede vescovile turritana (Cargeghe: Biblioteca di Sardegna–Documenta 2008).
  10. Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica(in Italian) Vol. 53 (Venezia: Emiliana 1851), p. 315.
  11. Maffei, p. 228. Moroni, Vol. 67 (1854), p. 233, states that the suppression of Sorres (Sorra) took place under Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503).
  12. In 484, a Bishop Felix was summoned to a meeting with the Arian king of the Vandals, Huneric, in Carthage. There were two Turritanus, however, one in Sardinia and the other in Africa. The orthodox bishops were exiled to Corsica, or executed. Mattei, p. 144. Cappelletti, p. 114. Lanzoni, p. 677.
  13. Mattei, p. 144-145. Cappelletti, p. 114. Lanzoni, p. 677.
  14. Bishop Valentinus was present at the Lateran synod of Pope Martin I in October 649. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima (in Latin), Vol. 10 (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 867. Mattei, p. 145.
  15. Usually called "Novellus", without warrant. Mattei, pp. 145-146.
  16. Vidili, p. 82.
  17. Constantine was consecrated and named archbishop of Torres at Capua in September or the first half of October 1073; he is referred to by Pope Gregory VII in a letter of 16 January 1074. Kehr, p. 428, nos. 6–7. Philippus Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum 2nd ed. (in Latin) Vol. 1 (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 601, no. 4800; p. 602, no. 4817. Vidili, pp. 82-83.
  18. Videli, pp. 83-84.
  19. Jaffé, pp. 428-429, nos. 8-9. Vidili, pp. 84-86.
  20. Archbishop Manfredi was also a canon of Pisa. He participated in the consecration of the church of San Stefano di Carreria by Archbishop Pietro of Pisa. Vidili, pp. 86-87.
  21. Vidili, pp. 90-91.
  22. Vidili, pp. 91-92.
  23. Vidili, p. 92.
  24. Vidili, pp. 93-94.
  25. Eribertus is said to have been born at Leon (Spain) and to have been a monk of Clairvaux. Vidili, pp. 94-95.
  26. In December 1202, Biagio was still bishop-elect. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 503 with note 2. Vidili, pp. 95-96.
  27. Vidili, pp. 96-97.
  28. Vidili, pp. 98-106.
  29. Eubel I, p. 503. Cf. Vidili, pp. 106-107; 107-108.
  30. Placentinus: Eubel I, 504. Vidili, pp. 108-110.
  31. Opizzo is mentioned as archbishop-elect on 13 September 1231. Gams, p. 839. Vidili, pp. 110-111.
  32. Stephanus: Eubel I, 504 with note 3. Vidili, pp. 113-119.
  33. Vidili, pp. 121-123.
  34. "Dergotorius" in the papal bull. A. Thomas et al., Les registres de Boniface VIII(in Latin) Vol. 1 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1907, p. 342, no. 980 (4 March 1296). Vidili, pp. 123-124.
  35. On the death of Archbishop Dergotorius, the Chapter of Sassari elected in the midst of discord Bishop Raynerius of Ploaghe, a suffragan of Torres. Pope Nicholas IV (1288–1292) rejected the candidate, and reserved the appointment of the bishop to the Papacy. In the menatime, he appointed the exiled Bishop Pandulf of Patti administrator. A. Thomas et al., Les registres de Boniface VIII(in Latin) Vol. 1 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1907, p. 342, no. 980 (4 March 1296). Eubel I, p. 403, 504. Vidili, pp. 124-126.
  36. Giovanni had been archbishop of Nicosia (Cyprus (1288–1296). A. Thomas et al., Les registres de Boniface VIII(in Latin) Vol. 1 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1907, p. 342, no. 980 (4 March 1296). Eubel I, pp. 365 with note 8; 504. Vidili, pp. 126-127.
  37. Theodicius (Theodorus) was a native of Pisa. >Maffei, pp. 158, col. 2. Eubel I, p. 504 with note 6.
  38. Jacobus: Eubel I, p. 504 with notes 7-8.
  39. Maffei, pp. 158-159. Eubel I, p. 504 with note 9.
  40. Bartolomeo Jalmar: Eubel I, p. 504 with note 10.
  41. Maffei, pp. 159. Eubel I, p. 504.
  42. Arnaldus Bordach: Eubel I, p. 504 with note 11.
  43. Arnaldus Bajuli: Eubel I, p. 504, with note 12.
  44. Bernard had been Archdeacon of Mazara and Collector of papal revenues in Sardinia and Corsica. He had been bishop of Ploaghe (1361–1368). He was transferred to the diocese of Sassari by Pope Urban V on 12 January 1368. He was appointed archbishop of Cagliari on 8 August 1369. Eubel I, pp. 157; 403 with note 6; 504.
  45. Guglielmo Belvaysii: Eubel I, p. 504; p. 157.
  46. Giacomo Gualterotti de Lanfranchis was a native of Pisa, and a Dominican. He became procurator of his Order at the papal court, and was named archbishop of Sassari at the request of the authorities of Pisa. Maffei, p. 159, col. 2. Eubel I, p. 504.
  47. Giacomo was appointed on 11 October 1372, and was consecrated in Pisa by the archbishop of Pisa. He died on 30 June 1373. Maffei, p. 159, col. 2-160. Cappelletti, p. 124. Eubel I, p. 504 with note 14.
  48. Maffei states that Giovanni was summoned to Barcelona in 1380, to attend the meeting to decide the claims of Urban VI and Clement VII to the papal throne. Gams, p. 840, posits an ending date for his episcopacy at 1387. Maffei, p. 160. Eubel I, p. 504.
  49. Giovanni had ben Prior of the cathedral Chapter of Urgel. He was appointed archbishop of Sassari by Pope Clement VII on 1 July 1391. Eubel I, p. 504.
  50. Five bishops were appointed by Urban VI (1378–1389) during the eleven years of his reign. None of them took possession of the diocese of Sassari, which was in the hands of the Crown of Aragon, which did not recognize Urban VI. None of these is recognized by Gams, p. 840. Eubel I, p. 504.
  51. Ubaldo Campi, a native of Florence, and held the degree of doctor of Canon Law; he may have been an Apostolic Referendary (judge) in the papal Court. He was named bishop of Cortona and collector of papal funds in Bohemia. He was Apostolic Nuncio in Bohemia (1392–1393). He was appointed archbishop of Sassari by Boniface IX on 8 March 1393, while still bishop-elect of Cortona. He was transferred by Pope Boniface to the archbishopric of Oristana (Sardinia) on 4 April 1397. He died in 1400. Maffei, p. 160. Eubel I, pp. 102; 213 with note 2; 504 with note 15.
  52. Perinus was appointed by Boniface IX on 8 August 1399. Maffei, p. 160. Eubel I, p. 504 with note 16..
  53. Giovanni was appointed by Pope John XXIII on 4 May 1412. He died in 1422. Eubel I, p. 504.
  54. Canus had been Bishop of Bisarchi, a suffragan of Sassari (1436–1448). He paid for his bulls on 23 October 1448. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica II, p. 159, 259.
  55. Sos had been dean of the cathedral Chapter of Barcelona. Eubel II, p. 259.
  56. Berengarius Sos was appointed on 19 January 1481. Eubel II, p. 259.
  57. Pellicier was appointed coadjutor with the right of succession on 20 November 1499. He died in 1509. Eubel II, p. 259.
  58. Bishop Angelo Leonini (1509) attended the Fifth Lateran Council.
  59. Segria was the rector of a parish in the diocese of Valencia, and had been appointed bishop of Christopolis (Thrace) on November 28 1547, by Pope Paul III. He was named archbishop of Sassari on 23 July 1568. On 16 September 1569, Segrià was appointed Archbishop of Palermo by Pope Pius V, on the nomination of King Philip II of Spain. Maffei, pp. 166-167. Eubel III, pp. 166 with note 10; 328 with note 8.
  60. On 3 Mar 1573 Villar was appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Barcelona by Pope Gregory XIII. Maffei, p. 167. Eubel III, p. 328 with note 9.
  61. Ibáñez: Maffei, pp. 167-168. Eubel III, p. 328 with note 10.
  62. De Lorca: Maffei, p. 168. Eubel III, p. 328 with note 11.
  63. Bacallar: Maffei, p. 168.
  64. Cedrelles: Maffei, p. 168.
  65. Royo was appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Albarracin)
  66. Cattayna: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 395 with note 2.
  67. On 15 November 1683, De Vergara was appointed, Archbishop of Cagliari by Pope Innocent XI. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 395 with note 3.
  68. Velarde: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 395 with note 4.
  69. Martinez: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 396 with note 5.
  70. Fuster: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 395 with note 6.
  71. Maffei, p. 170, col. 1.
  72. Giordini was a native of Turin. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 395 with note 7.
  73. Fra Bernardino Ignazio. On 18 September 1741, Di Cortanze was appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Novara. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 2.
  74. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 3.
  75. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 4.
  76. On 7 September 1772, Viancini was appointed archbishop (Personal Title) of Biella. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 5.
  77. Beccaria: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 6.
  78. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 422 with note 7.
  79. On 24 July 1797 Della Torre was appointed Archbishop (Personal Title) of Acqui. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 423 with note 8.
  80. Simon: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 423 with note 9.
  81. Cappelletti, p. 130.
  82. Gavino had been Bishop of Bosa (1800–1819). He was transferred to the diocese of Sassari by Pope Pius VII on 29 March 1819. He died on 21 December 1819. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, pp. 115, 381.
  83. Arnosio was appointed on 27 September 1822. He died on 18 August 1828. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, p. 381.
  84. Gianotti was appointed archbishop of Sassari on 15 April 1833. He was named bishop-archbishop of Saluzzo on 19 May 1837. He died in 1863. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, pp. 331, 381.
  85. Born at Castel-Cermelli (diocese of Alessandria, Piedmont), Varesini had been Provost of the cathedral Chapter of Aosta. He was named archbishop of Sassari by Pope Gregory XVI on 13 September 1838. He died on 22 September 1864. Cappelletti, p. 130. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, p. 381.
  86. The Papal States had been annexed by the Kingdom of Italy (Savoy) in 1860. In 1870, the city of Rome was annexed, and approved by a plebiscite in 1871. Pope Pius IX refused to cooperate with the new kingdom.
  87. Fossati had previously been bishop of Nouro, Sardinia (1924–1929). He was transferred to the diocese of Sassari on 2 October 1929 by Pope Pius XI. On 11 December 1930, Fossati was appointed, Archbishop of Torino {Turin}, and in 1933 he became a cardinal.
  88. Isgro had been Bishop of Gravinae Irsina (1975–1982). He was appointed archbishop of Sassari on 18 March 1982, by Pope John Paul II. He died on 2 May 2004. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 74 (Città del Vaticano 1982), p. 727.
  89. Atzei was named archbishop on 14 September 2004, by Pope John Paul II. He retired on 27 June 2017, at the age of 75. Arcidiocesi di Sassari, "Arcivescovo emerito di Sassari, S.E.R. Mons. Paolo Mario Virgilio Atzei;" retrieved: 16 November 2025. Holy See Press Office, "Resignations and Appointments, 27.06.2017"; retrieved: 16 November 2025.
  90. Saba was appointed archbishop of Sassari on 27 June 2017 by Pope Francis. On 10 April 2025, Saba was appointed, Archbishop of Italy, Military, by Pope Leo XIV. Arcidiocesi di Sassari, "L'Arcivescovo di Sassari, S. Ecc. Mons. Gian Franco Saba;" retrieved: 11 November 2025.

Sources

Reference Works

Studies

40°44′00″N8°33′00″E / 40.7333°N 8.5500°E / 40.7333; 8.5500