Roman Catholic Diocese of Susa

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Susa (Latin: Dioecesis Segusiensis), in Piedmont (Italy), was established in 1772.[1] It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Turin.[2] The diocese and the city of Susa lie on the main route that leads to Italy from the Mont Cenis Pass and the Col de Montgenèvre.

Diocese of Susa

Dioecesis Segusiensis
Susa Cathedral
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical provinceTurin
Statistics
Area1,062 km2 (410 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2017)
79,843
73,400 (guess)
Parishes71
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established3 August 1772
CathedralCathedral of Saint Justus
Secular priests34 (diocesan)
6 (Religious Orders)
0 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopCesare Nosiglia
Bishops emeritusAlfonso Badini Confalonieri
Map
Website
http://www.diocesidisusa.it/

History

In early medieval days, Susa seems to have belonged to the Diocese of Maurienne, and was not separated from it until after the conquest of Italy by Charlemagne in 784.[3] The Abbey of St. Justus having been erected in 1029,[4] the abbot had quasi-episcopal jurisdiction.[5] The Benedictines were succeeded by the Canons Regular, and under Pope Benedict XIV the Canons Regular were replaced by secular canons. He ordered that they form a Collegiate Chapter, consisting of four dignities (Archdeacon, Archpriest, Provost, and Treasurer) and fourteen Canons.[6]

On 3 August 1772 a diocese was created by Pope Clement XIV in the bull Quod nobis out of this prelacy nullius, ex monasterio abbatia nuncupato Sancti Justi oppidi civitatis nuncupati Secusii nullius dioecesis provinciae Taurensis, and the territory of Novalesa Abbey was added to that of Susa.[7] The Pope also ordered his representative, Cardinal Carlo Vittorio Amedeo delle Lanze, to acquire properties which had belonged to the Canons of S. Giusto to be used for a new diocesan seminary, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent.[8] The first bishop was Giuseppe Francesco Ferraris. Napoleon suppressed the see in 1803, but it was restored in 1817, and its territory increased by the inclusion of the Abbey of S. Michele della Chiusa.[9]

The most famous native son of the province of Susa is Cardinal Enrico de Seguso, known as '(H)Ostiensis', the most distinguished canonist of his age. He had been a professor of law at Bologna and then at Paris. He was Bishop of Sisteron (1244), Archbishop of Embrun (1250), and then Cardinal Bishop of Ostia (1261). Though mortally ill, he participated in the longest papal election in history, that of 1268–1271. He was the author of the great commentary on Canon Law, the Aurea Summa Hostiensis,[10] whose influence lasted into the 16th century and beyond.[11]

A number of popes have visited Susa, including: Paschal II (1106); Calixtus II, who was travelling to Rome from his election following the death of Gelasius II at Cluny; Eugene III (7 March 1147); Innocent IV (12 November 1244); and John Paul II (July 1991).[12]

French occupation

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 (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, including the diocese of Susa, became part of the Department of Mont-Blanc. King Victor Amadeus died on 18 October 1796, and his son and successor, Carlo Emanuele was forced to abdicate on 6 December 1798. The King retreated to the Island of Sardinia.

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. Monasteries, convents, and Chapters were suppressed.[13] Following the Concordat of 1801 between Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, the Pope issued a bull, Gravissimis causis (1 June 1803),[14] in which the number of dioceses in Piedmont was reduced to eight: Turin, Vercelli, Ivrea, Acqui, Asti, Mondovi, Alessandria and Saluzzo. The vacant diocese of Susa was suppressed and united with the diocese of Turin. Bishop Ferraris, the first bishop of Susa had been transferred to the diocese of Saluzzo on 11 August 1800.

Restoration

When the duchy of Savoy was restored to the kings of Sardinia by the Congress of Vienna, the confused situation of the dioceses in Piedmont was addressed by Pope Pius VII in his bull, Beati Petri (17 July 1817),[15] restoring the diocese of Susa. The Chapter of the cathedral was restored as well, and in 1858 it had two dignities (Archdeacon and Provost) and eleven Canons.[16]

Bishops
  • Giuseppe Francesco Maria Ferraris (1778–1800)[17]
Sede vacante (1800–1817)
  • Giuseppe Prin (1817–1822)[18]
  • Francesco Lombardi (1824–1830)[19]
Sede vacante (1830–1832)
  • Pietro Cirio (1832–1838)[20]
  • Pio Forzani (1839–1844)[21]
  • Giovanni Antonio Odone (1845–1866)[22]
Sede vacante (1866–1872)
  • Federico Mascaretti, O.Carm. (1872–1877)[23]
  • Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz (31 Dec 1877 - 3 May 1903)[24]
  • Carlo Marozio (1903–1910)[25]
  • Giuseppe Castelli (1911–1921)[26]
  • Umberto Rossi (1921–1932)[27]
  • Umberto Ugliengo (1932–1953)[28]
  • Giuseppe Garneri (1954–1976)[29]
  • Vittorio Bernardetto (1978–2000)[30]
  • Alfonso Badini Confalonieri (2000–2019)[31]
  • Cesare Nosiglia (2019-)

Parishes

The diocese contains 61 parishes covering an area of 1,062 km2,[32] all of which fall within the Province of Turin.[33] In 2014, there was one priest for every 1,690 Catholics.

References
  1. Gams, p. 823.
  2. Catholic Hierarchy page.
  3. B. Haureau, Gallia christiana XVI (Paris: Didot 1865), pp. 611-612. Cappelletti, XIV, pp. 327-328. Savio, p.l 583.
  4. Fedele Savio, "S. Giusto di Beauvais e non S. Giusto d'Oulx," Rivista storica benedettina (in Italian). Vol. III. Roma: Santa Maria Nuova. 1908. pp. 504–532, at pp. 528–529.
  5. List of the abbots of S. Giusto: Dizionario corografico, pp. 1079-1080.
  6. Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia XIV, p. 328, 330.
  7. Luigi Mezzadri; Maurizio Tagliaferri; Elio Guerriero (2008). Le diocesi d'Italia (in Italian). Volume 3. Cinisello Balsamo (Milano): San Paolo. p. 1219. ISBN 978-88-215-6172-6.
  8. Cappelletti, p. 337.
  9. Umberto Benigni. "Diocese of Susa." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Retrieved: 2016-10-02.
  10. Henricus de Segusia (1612). Henricus a Segusio cardinalis Hostiensis Aurea summa (in Latin). Cologne: Lazarus Zetzner.
  11. Joseph Hyacinthe Albanès; Ulysse Chevalier. Gallia christiana novissima: Aix, Apt, Fréjus, Gap, Riez et Sisteron (in French and Latin). Monttbéliard: Soc. anonyme d'imprimerie montbéliardasie. pp. 712–714.
  12. Gaetano Moroni, ed. (1855). Dizionario di erudizione Storico-Ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. LXXI. Venice: Tipografia Emiliana. p. 84. Jaffe-Loewenfeld, II, p. 39. Potthast, II, p. 974. Diocesi di Susa.
  13. Cappelletti, p. 342.
  14. Bullarii Romani continuatio, Summorum Pontificum Benedicti XIV, Clementis XIII, Clementis XIV, Pii VI, Pii VII, Leonis XII, Pii VIII constitutiones (in Latin). Tomus septimus. Prati: Typographia Aldina. 1850. pp. 443–447, no. CCVIII.
  15. Bullarii Romani continuatio, VII, pp. 1490-1503, § 11.
  16. Cappelletti, p. 344.
  17. Ferraris was born in Turin in 1745, and was a doctor of theology of the University of Turin (1768). Bishop Ferraris was nominated by the King of Sardinia to the diocese of Susa on 1 April 1778, and was preconised (approved) on 20 July 1778 by Pope Pius VI. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Hyacinthe Gerdil on 26 July 1778. He was transferred to the diocese of Saluzzo on 11 August 1800 by Pope Pius VII, and died on 19 October 1800. Gams, p. 823. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 372 with note 2.
  18. Born in 1763 at Sauze de Cesena, a village on the road from Pinerolo to Briançon, Prin was nominated by the King on 8 August 1817, and confirmed by Pope Pius VII on 1 October 1817. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca on 5 October 1817. He died on 18 November 1822. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 339.
  19. Lombardi died on 9 February 1830. Cappelletti, p. 343. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 339.
  20. A native of Canelli (diocese of Acqui), Cirio had been a Canon in the Cathedral Chapter of Turin, and was a Protonotary Apostolic and Papal Chamberlain. He was elected Vicar Capitular on the death of the archbishop in 1831. The new archbishop, Luigi Franzoni, made him his Vicar General and Rector of the seminary. He was nominated bishop of Susa on 29 October 1831, and preconised by Pope Gregory XVI on 24 February 1832. He died on 3 April 1838. J. F. Mevranesio (1863). Pedemontium Sacrum (in Italian). Volumen secundum. Turin: Typograhia regia. p. 841. Calendario generale pe' Regii Stati pubblicato con autorità del Governo e con privilegio di S.S.R.M (in Italian). Ottavo anno. Torino: Pomba. 1838. p. 58. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 339.
  21. Forzani was appointed on 23 December 1839, and was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 23 February 1840. On 25 January 1844 he was transferred to the diocese of Vigevano. Cappelletti, p. 354. Diario di Roma (in Italian). no. 17 (Sabato, 29 febbraio 1840). Roma: s.n.!. 1840. p. 109.
  22. Born in the village of Uville (Oviglio, Diocese of Vercelli) in 1794, Odone was confirmed as Bishop of Susa by Pope Gregory XVI on 24 April 1845. He was consecrated in Rome on 4 April 1845 by Cardinal Giacomo Fransoni, Prefect of the S.C. de propaganda fide. He died on 9 November 1866. Notizie per l'anno M.D.CCC.XLVII (Annuario pontificio) (in Italian). Roma: Nella Stamparia del Chracas. 1847. p. 164. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 339.
  23. Mascaretti was born in Pianello (diocese of Piacenza). He was elected Prior in the house of his Order at Concesa several times, and had been Father Provincial. He was appointed Bishop of Susa on 23 February 1872. He resigned the diocese of Susa in 1877, and was named titular Bishop of Zama. He died in Piacenza in the house of his Order on 11 November 1894. Bollettino storico piacentino (in Italian). Vol. 57-59. Piacenza: Scuola Artigiana del Libro. 1962. p. 154. Ritzler-Sefrin, VIII, p. 508, 601.
  24. Felice Rossetti (1991). Vita di monsignor Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz: vescovo di Susa e fondatore delle Suore francescane missionarie di Susa (in Italian).
  25. Ritzler-Sefrin, VIII, p. 508.
  26. Castelli was transferred to the diocese of Cuneo in 1921.
  27. Rossi was born in Casorzo (Monferrato) in 1879. He obtained a degree in philosophy and theology. He was named Bishop of Susa on 13 June 1921, and was consecrated by Bishop Albino Pella of Casale. He was transferred to the diocese of Asti on 14 May 1932. Franco Betteto (1998). Lettere pastorali dei vescovi delle diocesi di Alessandria, Asti, Pinerolo, Saluzzo. Quaderni del Centro studi "C. Trabucco", 24. (in Italian). Torino: Fondazione Carlo Donat-Cattin. p. 140. Walter E. Crivellin (2008). Cattolici, politica e società in Piemonte tra '800 e '900 (in Italian). Cantalupa (Torino): Effata Editrice IT. p. 127. ISBN 978-88-7402-424-7.
  28. Ugliengo was born in Valdengo (diocese of Biella) in 1883. He was appointed Bishop of Susa on 24 June 1932, and consecrated on 14 August 1932. He presided over a diocesan synod in 1952. Annuario pontificio (Città del Vaticano 1943), p. 296.
  29. Garneri was born at Cavallermaggiore (Cuneo) on 16 September 1899. He attended the diocesan seminaries of Bra, Chieri and Torino, and held a degree in theology (1922) and a doctorate in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) (1926), both from the diocesan seminary in Turin. He had been a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter, and curate of the Cathedral.
  30. Bernardetto was born in Castellamonte (diocese of Ivrea) in 1925. He was appointed bishop of Susa on 31 May 1978 by Pope Paul VI, and consecrated a bishop on 7 July 1978. Annuario pontificio (in Italian). Citta del Vaticano. 1999. p. 692.
  31. Confalonieri was born at Valenza (diocese of Alessandria) in 1944. He was named Bishop of Susa on 13 December 2000, and consecrated in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica on 31 January 2001 by Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Diocesi di Susa, Vescovo Sua Eccellenza Monsignor Alfonso Badini Confalonieri; retrieved: 2018-02-16. (in Italian)
  32. Diocesi di CASALE MONFERRATO - Chiesa Cattolica Italiana
  33. Chiesa Cattolica Italiana - CCI - Parrocchie

Books

References

Studies

acknowledgment
 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Susa". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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