The Diocese of Fiesole (Latin: Dioecesis Fesulana) is a Latindiocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, central Italy, whose episcopal see is the city of Fiesole. Fiesole was directly subject to the pope until 1420, when the archdiocese of Florence was created and Fiesole was made one of its suffragan bishops.[1] It is still a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archbishopric of Florence.[2][3]
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According to local legend the Gospel was first preached at Fiesole by Messius Romulus, said to have been a disciple of St. Peter. Documentary evidence, however, is from the 9th and 10th centuries.[4] The fact that the ancient cathedral (now the Abbazia Fiesolana) stands outside the city is an indication that the Christian origins of Fiesole date from after the period of the persecutions.[5] The earliest mention of a bishop of Fiesole comes at the end of the 5th century, in a letter of Pope Gelasius I (492–496), though the name of the bishop is not given.
A half-century later, under Pope Vigilius (537–555), a Bishop Rusticus is mentioned as papal legate at one of the councils of Constantinople. At the end of the 6th century, Fiesole was destroyed in the Lombard invasions, and its surviving population fled to Luni. There appears to have been no bishop of Fiesole in 599, when a priest and a deacon of the clergy of Fiesole, who were trying to rebuild the churches, which lay in ruins. They appealed for help to Pope Gregory I, who wrote a letter in May 599 to Bishop Venantius of Luni, asking him to contribute twenty solidi, or more if he has the resources, to the restoration project.[6]
By the mid-9th century, Fiesole had been the victim of an attack of the Normans, who destroyed the archives.[7]
Bishop Donatus of Fiesole, an Irish monk, was the friend and adviser of Emperors Louis the Pious and Lothair I. He was elected after 826, served for forty-seven years, and was buried in the Cathedral of S. Zeno, where his epitaph, which he dictated personally, may still be seen. He founded the abbey of San Martino di Mensola.[8]
Bishop Zenobius in 890 founded the monastery of St. Michael at Passignano, which was afterwards given to the Vallombrosan monks.[9] A second Bishop Zenobius (c. 966-968) established the Chapter of Canons of S. Zeno, who were given a canonica next to the church of S. Maria Intemerata.[10]
In 1167, Fiesole became involved in one of its many wars with Florence, and lost. Bishop Rodulfus requested permission from Pope Alexander III to transfer the seat of his bishopric to the more secure castle of Figline, and he is actually addressed in one letter as ep. Figlinense et Faesulano. The pope granted his request and authorized the consecration of the church at Figline as his cathedral and baptistery. He ordered him, however, to leave the monasteries in the area, especially that of Passiniano, untouched.[11] In retaliation the Florentines completely destroyed the castle, and, to prevent its being rebuilt, they compelled the Bishop to reside in Florence at the Church of S. Maria in Campo.[12] The unsatisfactory situation seems to have persisted for some time, for, on 16 December 1205, Pope Innocent III sent a mandate to the Abbot of Vallombrosa and Canon Gualando of Pisa, to summon the bishop and canons of Fiesole and the podestà, consuls, and councilors of Florence to a meeting, to find a suitable place in the diocese of Fiesole to which the seat of the bishop could be transferred.[13] The issues were still precarious at the end of the 13th century, when the bishop of Fiesole had to apply to Bishop Francesco Monaldeschi of Florence for license for the Vicar of Fiesole to conduct an ordination at S. Maria in Campo.[14]
In 1219, Pope Honorius III became increasingly uneasy about reports which were reaching him concerning the activities of Bishop Rainerius of Fiesole. He had fallen prey to his carnal appetites, was behaving like a teenager (in aetate senili juveniliter operetur), and was spending all his money, and the money belonging to the diocese, on the pursuit of pleasure (carnalibus desideriis, quae militant adversus animam se involvens.). He was giving away church property under the pretense of sale. Pope Honorius therefore commissioned an investigative committee on 10 July 1219, composed of the Carmelite abbots of S. Galgano and of S. Michele, to conduct a visitation of the diocese and ascertain the facts behind the reports. After their report had been completed, they were to fix a day for Bishop Rainerius to appear at the Roman Curia and answer the complaints against him. According to Giuseppe Cappelletti, the trial before the pope was cut short by the death of the bishop.[15]
The new Bishop of Fiesole, Hildebrand of Lucca (elected 1220), was in such poor financial condition because of the conduct of his predecessor that Pope Honorius remarked in a letter to the Abbot of Vallombrosa that he was in such dire circumstances "that he had no place to lay his head"; the abbot was asked to be generous in his assistance to Hildebrand.[16] From the beginning of his episcopate, Hildebrand was harassed in one way or another by the government of Florence. Reports reached Pope Honorius including one from the Bishop of Modena, who had travelled to Florence and witnessed the situation. The Florentines had put Bishop Hildebrand under the ban, and had imposed an outrageously large fine of 1,000 pounds of current money on him. On June 1224, Honorius appointed an investigative commission, led by the Bishop of Faenza, the Abbot of Nonantola, and Master Tancred, a Canon of Bologna, to seek redress of the injuries done to Bishop Hildebrand, and to have the issues submitted to the Holy See (the Pope); he ordered the fine to be cancelled. Hildebrand was exiled by the Florentines from 1224 to 1228, and took his case to Rome.[17] On 25 December 1226, Pope Honorius wrote to the Bishop of Florence, expressing the gravest indignation that the Florentines were doing injury to the Bishop of Fiesole and showing contempt toward the Holy See. He criticized the Bishop of Florence for not restraining his fellow citizens, and ordered him to notify the magistrates that they were to send their procurators to Rome by 1 February 1227, to explain and justify their aggressions against the Bishop of Fiesole. He wanted to bring a definitive end to their quarrels. Pope Honorius, however, died on 18 March 1227.[18]
Bishop Conradus de Penna died in 1312. Even before his death, however, Pope Clement V had reserved to himself the right to provide a prelate to any benefice in the diocese of Fiesole which might become vacant. On Bishop Conrad's death, the Canons of the cathedral Chapter, unaware of the Pope's reservation, elected the Archpriest of the Church of Fiesole, Thedisius, as their new bishop, by the canonical "way of compromise". Thedisius consented to his election within the legal time limit, and, not wishing to go to Avignon himself, sent his procurator along with the procurator of the Chapter to seek confirmation of the election from the Pope. The Pope declared the election void, but nonetheless appointed Thedisius to the bishopric on 20 July 1312.[19]
Andrew Corsini (1352), born in 1302 of a noble Florentine family, after a reckless youth, became a Carmelite friar, studied at Paris, and, as a bishop, was renowned as a peacemaker between individuals and states. He was canonized by Pope Urban VIII.
On 5 May 1639, Pope Urban VIII issued a motu proprio in which he granted Bishop Lorenzo Robbia and his successors as bishops of Fiesole the right to exercise their episcopal powers not only at the parish church of S. Maria in Campo in Florence, which belonged to the diocese of Fiesole, but also, like an Apostolic Delegate, beyond the limits of that parish in every part of the city and diocese of Florence.[20]
From 1637 to 1970, the Diocese of Fiesole operated the Diocesan Seminary of Fiesole, which is located next to the Fiesole Cathedral and near the Church of Santa Maria Primerana in Piazza Mino.[21] Jesuit principles influenced the curriculum from the beginning. The founder of the seminary, Bishop della Robbia, had been educated by Jesuits, and his Constitutions for the seminary mandated the use of the Spiritual Exercises of S. Ignatius.[22]
Statistics
In 1679, Fiesole was inhabited by c. 150 persons. By 1776, the population had grown to c. 200 inhabitants.[23] In 2018, the population of the city of Fiesole was 14,150.[24]
In the early 20th century, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the diocese had 254 parishes and 155,800 people. Within its limits there were 12 monasteries of men, including the famous Vallombrosa,[25] and 24 convents for women.
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↑ Until Christianity became a legal cult in 313, it was considered an illegal assembly, and could not own property or buildings. Verrando, p. 444, also assigns a date of 4th to 5th century.
↑ Kehr, Italia pontificia III, p. 74, no. 1. Cappelletti, p. 15.
↑ Benjamin Bossue, "De S. Donato episc. et confes., Fesulis in Tuscia," Acta Sanctorum Octobris, Tomus Nonus. Bruxelles: Alphonsus Greuse 1858, p. 657, column 2. Kehr, p. 73.
↑ August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Vol. I (Berlin: Decker 1874), p. 225, no. 2625.
↑ Richa, VII, p. 175: "Dominus Franciscus Episcopus Florent. concedit licentiam Domino Fratri Francisco Ord. Humil. Vicario Generali Domini Angeli Episcopi Fesulani celebrandi ordinationem in Ecclesia S. M. in Campo."
↑ Cibei, Gabriella (15 October 2005). "Seminario vescovile di Fiesole". Sistema Informativo Unificato per le Soprintendenze Archivistiche. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
↑ Gams, p. 749. Bishop Zenobius was present at the synod held by Pope John VIII at Ravenna from September to November 877. On 26 May 890 King Wido confirmed the possessions of the church of Fiesole for Bishop Zenobius. He obtained a similar confirmation from King Berengar of Italy on 25 April 899. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XVII (Venice: A. Zatta 1770), p. 342, 344. Cappelletti, XVII, pp. 19-20, 22.
↑ J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XVIII (Venice: A. Zatta 1770), p. 241. The date of 904, often found, is incorrect, since Pope Benedict IV died in August 903.
↑ Ragimbaldus was a simoniac. Schwartz, p. 205. Verrando, p. 449.
↑ Jacobus: On 4 April 1027, at the urging of Pope John XIX, the Emperor Conrad granted to Bishop Jacobus the monastery of S. Salvatore in Alina. Jacobus also removed the episcopal seat from the old cathedral, outside the walls, to a new building in the city, to which he translated the purported remains of Bishop Romulus on 27 February 1028. Kehr, p. 74 no. 2. Schwartz, p. 205. Verrando, p. 449.
↑ In the period 1277–1282, there were three popes; John XXI, who died on 20 May 1277; Nicholas III, who was elected on 25 November 1277 and died on 22 August 1280; and Martin IV, who was elected on 22 February 1281 and died on 28 March 1285. During that time two elections were attempted by the Chapter of Fiesole. Canon Octavante of Fiesole was elected, but his election was voided (cassatum), and Master Rainerius, Provost of Florence, which was carried out in the midst of discord. Rainerius then died before any papal decision could be obtained. P. Olivier-Martin, Les registres de Martin IV (Paris: Fontemoing 1901), p. 40, no. 104. Eubel I, p. 248, note 2.
↑ Bishop Philippus was appointed by Pope Martin IV on 12 February 1282. Eubel I, p. 248.
↑ Angelo was previously Bishop of Cagli (1296–1298). He was transferred to the diocese of Fiesole by Pope Boniface VIII on 22 April 1298. He resigned on 10 April 1301, because he was unable to compose the differences between the monks of S. Bartolomeo in Fiesole and the parish priest of S. Pancrazio. His resignation was refused and he was reappointed by the Pope, and the Pope made him Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Larino. He was named Bishop of Mothone (in Greece, in the Peloponnese) on 2 November 1303 by Pope Benedict IX. In January 1304, he refused a transfer to the diocese of Patti e Lipari (Sicily). On 15 October 1311, Pope Clement V named him Patriarch of Grado. He died in 1314. Ughelli III, p. 252. C. Grandjean, Les registres de Benoît XI (Paris: Thorin 1883), pp. 10-11 no. 7; 181-182 no. 225; 299. Eubel I, pp. 158; 248 with note 5; 284 note 2; 266; 351.
↑ Antonio was Archpriest of the cathedral Chapter of Florence and a member of the familia of Pope Boniface VIII. He was appointed Bishop of Fiesole on 2 October 1301. He was transferred to the diocese of Florence on 9 June 1310 by Pope Clement V. He died in July 1322. Eubel I, pp. 248 with note 7; 250 with note 5.
↑ Thedisius was provided by Pope Clement V on 20 July 1312, after his election by the Chapter was quashed by the Pope. He died in October 1336. Eubel I, p. 248.
↑ Corsini died on 8 January 1374. Eubel I, p. 248.
↑ Neri Corsini, nephew of Bishop Andrea Corsini, succeeded his uncle on 24 January 1374, on appointment of Pope Gregory XI. He died on 14 November 1377.Eubel I, p. 248.
↑ Gams, Pius Bonifacius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae (in Latin). Typis et sumtibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp.749–750.
↑ A native of Pescia, Salutati claimed expertise in both civil and canon law. He was a cleric of the chamber in the office of the papal Chamberlain, and had been made a papal Chaplain. He was a Canon of the cathedral church of Florence, and had risen to the office of Provost. He was granted his bulls on 3 August 1450. He died in 1466. Cappelletti, pp. 57-58. Eubel II, p. 154.
↑ Aglio was a humanist and author of a collection of lives of the saints. He was appointed Bishop of Volterra. Eubel II, pp. 154.
↑ Becchio was a preacher, and author of commentaries on Aristotle and on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. He had risen to the office of Prior General of his Order. He was granted his bulls as bishop of Fiesole on 17 May 1470. He died in Florence in 1480, according to Cappelletti, p. 58. Gams, p. 749 column 2 (who indicates that an Apostolic Administrator was appointed in 1480, Cardinal Giovanni Arcimboldi, who resigned in 1481). Eubel II, p. 154, note 1, states that he resigned.
↑ Camiani was a native of Arezzo, of a noble family with ties to the Medici. He became secretary of Duke Cosimo I in 1539, and in 1546 he was an official observer at the Council of Trent. He was sent on diplomatic missions, to Bologna in 1549, and to Venice in 1549–1551. Pope Julius III, whom Camiani had come to know at the council, appointed him Bishop of Fiesole, and then Nuncio to the Emperor, and Viceroy of Naples. On the death of Pope Julius he returned to Fiesole. Camaiani was appointed Bishop of Ascoli Piceno in 1566. G. Raspini, Pietro Camaiani (1519-1579), vescovo di Fiesole, Ascoli Piceno e nunzio apostolico, Fiesole 1983 (in Italian). Giuseppe Raspini, La visita pastorale alla diocesi di Fiesole fatta dal vescovo Pietro Camaiani (1564-1565), Firenze: Pagnini Editore, 1998 (in Italian).
↑ Cattani was a theologian at the Council of Trent and a prolific writer.
↑ Marzi was a Doctor in utroque iure and a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Fiesole. He was named Bishop of Fiesole by Pope Clement VIII on 12 February 1596. He was transferred to the diocese of Florence on 27 June 1605 by Pope Paul V. Gauchat, pp. 187, 188.
↑ Lanfredi was a Doctor in utroque iure, and was a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Florence. He was appointed by Pope Paul V on 12 September 1605. He died on 28 August 1614. Cappelletti, p. 62. Gauchat, p. 187 with note 3.
↑ Ginori was born in Florence in 1706. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Pisa (1728). He was appointed a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Florence. He was appointed Bishop of Fiesole on 27 February 1736 by Pope Clement XII, and was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 4 March by Cardinal Giovanni Antonio Guadagni. He died in Florence on 1 September 1775. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 215 with note 2.
↑ Mancini was born in Cortona in 1735. He obtained a doctorate in theology from Siena in 1768, and a Doctorate in utroque iure in 1771. He was Vicar General of Cortona, and Provost of the cathedral Chapter. He had been Bishop of Colle di Val d'Elsa from 1773 to 1776. He was transferred to the diocese of Fiesole on 15 April 1776. In July 1810 he was deported to France and placed under house arrest in Tours. In ill health, he died during his return, in Parma on 10 February 1814. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 172 with note 5; 215 with note 3.
↑ Parretti was born in Castello di Signa (Firenze) in 1779. He became Archpriest of the cathedral of Florence. He obtained a doctorate in philosophy and theology from Florence (1827), and was named Bishop of Fiesole on 28 January 1828. He was transferred to the diocese of Pisa on 23 December 1839. He died in 1851. Giuseppe Raspini (1996). Giovanni Battista Parretti (1778-1851): vescovo di Fiesole (1827-1839), arcivescovo di Pisa (1839-1851) (in Italian). Firenze: F. & F. Parretti.
Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi. Vol.Tomus VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
Faini, Enrico (2013), "I vescovi dimenticati. Memoria e oblio dei vescovi fiorentini e fiesolani dell’età pre-gregoriana," in: Annali di Storia di Firenze VIII (2013), pp.11–49. (in Italian)
Raspini, Giuseppe (1989), "La Diocesi di Fiesole nell'invasione francese 1799," Fiesole e la rivoluzione (una pagina di storia durante l'invasione francese del 1799). special issue of Corrispondenza 9, 1989, no 2. [Corrispondenza, Periodico semestrale pubblicato nella diocesi di Fiesole, Edizioni del Servizio Editoriale Fiesolano]
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