Mgr Martino Firmani † Archevêque de Durrës (Durazzo) , Albanie. The Archdiocese of Fermo () is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy, with its seat in the city of Fermo, Marche. It was established as the Diocese of Fermo in the 3rd century,Cappelletti, III, p. 586. and elevated to an archdiocese by Pope Sixtus V on 24 May 1589.The bull Universi orbis, in: David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Archdiocese of Fermo"; retrieved October 7, 2016. The archiepiscopal seat is Fermo Cathedral. The current archbishop is Rocco Pennacchio.

History

Mgr Martino Firmani † Archevêque de Durrës (Durazzo) , Albanie Firmo was the site of a Roman colony, established in 264 B.C. The diocese of Fermo was immediately subject to the Holy See (the Papacy) down to 1589.Kehr, IV, p. 135. In the 8th century, Fermo, along with the Duchy of the Pentapolis, came under the temporal authority of the Holy See. In the 10th century it became the capital of the separate Marchia Firmana. Under the predecessors of Pope Honorius III (1216–1227) the bishops of the city became prince-bishops, first with the secular rights of counts, and later styled princes of Fermo. In 1199 it became a free city, and remained independent until 1550, when it was annexed to the Papal States.

Local legend attributes the first preaching of the Gospel at Fermo to Saint Apollinarius and Saint Maro.

Pope Boniface VIII entertained the idea of founding a university in Fermo, to rival that of Bologna, and actually issued the bull In supremae dignitatis on 16 January 1303. The notion that Pope Boniface IX established a university in Fermo in 1398, is an error, the authorities citing the bull of Boniface VIII. See: Nothing, however, came of the idea. It was actually Pope Sixtus V, a former bishop of Fermo, who established the university, in his bull Muneris nostri of 13 September 1585. Grendler, pp. 225-227. The loss of Jesuit support when the Society of Jesus was disbanded in 1773, dealt the university a serious blow both in quality and prestige, and it closed permanently in 1826, due to lack of funding.

In 1457, Cardinal Domenico Capranica (Bishop of Fermo 1425–1458) founded a college in Rome for the benefit of poor scholars of Fermo. Flavia Cantatore, "I collegi universitari romani e la prima sede della Sapienza", in:

The Diocese of Macerata was established by Pope John XXII on 18 November 1320, in the Bull Sicut ex debito, which also suppressed the diocese of Recanati, which was in the hands of the Ghibellines. The castrum Maceratae was raised to the status of a city, and its territory, which was partly in the diocese of Camerino and partly in the diocese of Fermo, was detached from those two dioceses and included in the new diocese of Macerata.Cappelletti, III, pp. 672-678.

The castle at Ripatransone was erected in the early Middle Ages, and enlarged later by the bishops of Fermo, who had several conflicts with the people. In 1571 Pope Pius V made it an episcopal see, and included in its jurisdiction a small portion of the diocese of Fermo. The oppidum (town) of Ripatransone was promoted to the status of civitas (city), and the parish church of S. Benigno was made a cathedral. The diocese of Fermo lost some of its territory.Pius V, bull Illius fulciti, 10 July 1571, in: Cappelletti, III, pp. 708-715. The first bishop of Ripatransone was appointed on 3 October 1571.

The diocesan seminary was founded by Cardinal Felice Peretti in 1574.Curi, p. 43.

In 1586, Pope Sixtus established the Diocese of Montalto on territory split off from the Diocese of Fermo. It was the territory in which the Pope had been born.Sixtus V, bull Super universas, 24 November 1586, in: Cappelletti, III, pp. 721-724. Gams, pp. 704-705. Umberto Benigni (1909), "Archdiocese of Fermo." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909; retrieved: 22 December 2017.

The (archi)episcopal palace was built by Bishop Antonio de Vetulis (1374–1386 ?). It was completed in 1391.Stefani, Dizionario corografico, p. 559.

The archdiocese had a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in December 1988.

Cathedral and Chapter

The foundation stone of the present cathedral was laid by Archbishop Andrea Minucci (1779–1803), and the completed edifice was consecrated by him on 27 September 1797.Cappelletti, pp. 643-644.

In 1764, the Chapter of the cathedral, dedicated to the assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, was composed of four dignities and sixteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 216, note 1. The dignities (dignitates) were: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Dean, and the Primicerius.Ughelli, II, p. 681.

Diocesan synods A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, 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.

Cardinal Domenico Capranica, Bishop of Fermo (1425–1458), presided over a diocesan synod on 24 July 1450.Tractatus sive Manipulus Episcopatus Firmi per Rev. Dominum Dominicum Capranicam tit. S. Crucis in Hierusalem presbiterum Cardinalem Firmanum compilatus et editus.

In 1650 Archbishop Giovanni Battista Rinuccini (1625–1653) held a diocesan synod. On 6—8 June 1660, the Archbishop of Fermo, Cardinal Carlo Gualterio (1654–1668), held a diocesan synod.

Archbishop Alessandro Borgia held a diocesan synod in 1733.J.-D. Mansi, J.B. Martin, L. Petit(edd.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVII (Paris: H. Welter 1905), p. 993. He held a second diocesan synod in 1738. Cardinal Urbano Paracciani (1764–1777) held a synod on 23—25 May 1773.Synodus dioecesana Firmana diebus 23, 24 et 25 majia. A. D. 1773 celebrata (Fermo 1773) Archbishop Andrea Minucci (1779–1803) presided over a diocesan synod held in Fermo on 15—17 September 1793.

Archbishop Filippo de Angelis (1842–1877) presided over a diocesan synod in 1845; in particular it legislated on the proper attitude of clergy toward children. Archbishop Roberto Papiri (Pageri) (1895–1906) held a diocesan synod in 1900.

Ecclesiastical province In 1589 the diocese of Fermo was raised to the status of a metropolitan archdiocese.Cappelletti, pp. 631-637. The Metropolitan currently has the following suffragan sees: Diocese of Ascoli Piceno Diocese of Camerino-San Severino Marche Diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia Diocese of San Benedetto del Tronto-Ripatransone-Montalto

Provincial synods

The first synod held in the new province of which Fermo was the metropolitan was held in Fermo by Archbishop Sigismondo Zanettini (1584–1594) in 1590.

Archbishop Alessandro Borgia presided over a provincial synod held in Fermo from 28 April to 5 May 1726. Present were the Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino, the Bishop of Montalto, the Bishop of Ripatransone, and the Bishop of San Severino.

Bishops and Archbishops

Bishops of Fermo to 1200

Saint Alexander (attested 250)]He suffered martyrdom, with seventy companions, in the persecution of Decius (250). There is no evidence that he was a bishop. Lanzoni, p. 396. ... Saint Philip (3rd century)]His martyrdom is placed under Aurelian (270–275). There is no evidence that he was a bishop. Lanzoni, p. 396, 397: "Lo Harnack (o. e, II, p. 265) fa risalire la chiesa di Fermo al 325; e non è punto improbabile che rimonti al iv secolo. Ma le arbitrarie affermazioni di scrittori recentissimi su l'episcopato e sul martirio dei ss. Alessandro e Filippo in Fermo, nel III secolo, non hanno alcun peso nella nostra questione." ... Fabius (before 598)Fabius: Catalani, pp. 97-99. Kehr, IV, p. 135 no. 2. Lanzoni, p. 397. Passivus (attested 598, 601, 602)Passivus was the recipient of seven letters from Pope Gregory I. Catalani, pp. 99-104. Kehr, IV, pp. 135-136, nos. 1–7. Lanzoni, p. 397. ... Jovianus (attested 649)Bishop Jovianus attended the Roman council of Pope Martin I on 13 October 649. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus X (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 867. Catalani, p. 104. Gams, p. 692 column 1. ... Marcianus (7th century)]Marcianus is known only as a name in a martyrology of Thomas and companions, found in a manuscript of the Abbey of Farfa. Catalani, pp. 104-105. Gams, p. 692, places him c. 675, on no evidence whatever. ... Gualterius (attested 776)Catalani, pp. 105-106. ... Lupus (attested 826)Bishop Lupus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Eugene II on 15 November 826. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 1000. ... Giso (attested 844)Bishop Giso was present at the coronation of Louis II, son of the Emperor Lothair I, in Rome on 15 June 844. Catalani, p. 108. ... Heodicius (Theodicius) (attested 879)On 20 November 879, Pope John VIII assigned a case to be judged by three bishops, including Heodicius of Fermo. Kehr, p. 136, no. 8. ... Amico (attested 940)Bishop Amico participated in a legal hearing in April 940. Schwartz, p. 232. Gaidulfus (attested 960, 962, 977)Gaidulfus: Schwartz, p. 232. Ubertus (attested 996–1040)Ubertus: Ughelli, pp. 687-689. Cappelletti, p. 594. Schwartz, p. 232. Erimannus (attested 1046–1056)Erimannus: Schwartz, p. 233. Udalricus (attested 1057, 1074)Udalricus: Schwartz, pp. 233-234. Sede vacante (1074–1075)On 22 December 1074, Pope Gregory VII announced that because of necessity during the episcopal vacancy he was placing the entire diocese in the procuratorship of Archdeacon Adalbertus. In 1075 the Emperor Henry IV tried to place a bishop on the seat of Fermo, for which he was rebuked by Gregory VII. Kehr, pp. 136-137, no. 9. Gulfarangus (attested 1079)Bishop Gulfarangus (Wolfarango) was excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII in the Lateran synod of 1179. Kehr, p. 137 no. 10. Hugo (attested 1080, 1089)Hugo 'Candidus': Schwartz speculates that the papalist bishop "W" mentioned in 1082 is the same as "Ulcandinus" (not 'Candidus'), or perhaps "Guldegangus". Schwartz, p. 235. Attended the Synod of Brixen on 25 June 1080. Azo (attested 1094, 1096, 1116)Azo was an imperialist, who supported the schism of Wibert of Ravenna, who called himself Clement III. Schwartz, p. 234. Catalani, pp. 128-133. ... Grimoaldus (?)Grimoaldus: Catalani, pp. 134-135. Schwartz, p. 236 note 2, who speculates that Grimoaldus is the same as Guldegangus, who is named by Bishop Balignanus in a list of his predecessors: "Ubertus, Herimundus, Oldericus, Guldegandus, Libertus". ... Alexander (attested 1126, 1127)Alexander: Schwartz, p. 235. Libertus (1127–1145)In a document of 1133, Bishop Libertus mentions a predecessor named Grimoaldus (Catalani, p. 134). Libertus died on 28 August 1145. Catalani, pp. 136-141. Balignanus (1145–1167)In 1160 Bishop Balignanus attended Frederick Barbarossa's council at Pavia. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXI (Venice: A. Zatta 1776), p. 1119. Catalani, pp. 141-145. Petrus (attested 1170)Petrus is bishop-elect in a document of October 1170. Catalani, pp. 145-146, 341-342. Albericus (attested 1174)Albericus was bishop-elect in a document of 10 September 1174. Catalani, pp. 147-148, 342. Petrus (attested 1179)Bishop Petrus was present at the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciloiorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXII (Venice: A. Zatta 1778), p. 459. Catalani, pp. 148-149.