The Diocese of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. It has existed since 1986. In that year, the Diocese of Ferentino was united into the Diocese of Veroli-Frosinone, which was the name of the historic Diocese of Veroli from 1956. It is immediately exempt to the Holy See and not part of an ecclesiastical province.

History

Veroli was only from Rome, and therefore an excellent benefice for a prelate who was employed in the Roman Curia.Ughelli, p. 1386.

In a bull of 18 June 1081 Pope Gregory VII confirmed the extent of the territory of the diocese of Veroli for Bishop Albert.Kehr, II, p. 156, no. 1. Pope Urban II confirmed the possessions of the Church of Veroli in a bull of 2 July 1097,Kehr, II, p. 156, no. 2. and the provisions of the bull were repeated by Pope Paschal II in a bull of 4 September 1108, written for the benefit of Bishop Albert.Kehr, II, p. 156, no. 4.

Pope Alexander III, in exile from Rome, lived with his Court at Veroli from 16 March 1170 to 10 September 1170. At some point during his reign, Pope Alexander determined that the number of Canons in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Veroli should be sixteen.Kehr, II, p. 161, no. 1.

Pope Lucius III left Anagni and sought refuge in Veroli, from 27 March 1184 to 28 May 1184.Jaffe II, pp. 463-465.

On 8 September 1351, Veroli was shaken by a major earthquake, while the clergy were singing Vespers in the cathedral. The co-cathedral of S. Salome was completely ruined, and the saint's remains were buried in the rubble for more than six weeks. The entire city of Veroli was heavily damaged.Ughelli I, p. 1396. Cappelletti VI, p. 498.

The first steps toward the foundation of an episcopal seminary in the diocese of Veroli were taken by Bishop Girolamo Asteo (1608–1626), forty-eight years after the Council of Trent had decreed that every diocese ought to have a seminary for the education of the clergy. The first students did not enter the institution until 1652.Caperna, Storia di Veroli, p. 439.

On 15 May 1863, Pope Pius IX paid a formal visit to Veroli, "to raise the morale of the inhabitants of the area."Caperna, Storia di Veroli, pp. 510-514.

In 1818, when the diocese of Fondi was suppressed and its territory handed over to the diocese of Gaeta, immediate protest were lodged by the town of Vallecorsa, who wished to belong to the Papal States and the civil province of Rome, a protest which was entered again and again over the following century. Finally, on 21 March 1921, Pope Benedict XV issued the bull "Sedis Apostolicae", removing Vallecorsa from the archdiocese of Gaeta and annexing it to the diocese of Veroli.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 13 (Rome 1921), pp. 255-256.

Diocesan synods Bishop Ortensio Battisti (1567–1594) presided over two diocesan synods between 1568 and 1593. Bishop Eugenio Fucci (1594–1608) held a diocesan synod. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Eugenio Fucchi between 1596 and 1608.J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIbis (Paris: H. Welter 1913), p. 1013, 1021, 1023. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Fortunato Maurizi (1856–1868) on 28–30 June 1863.Prima dioecesana synodus verulana ab illustrissimo et reverendissimo D. D. Fortunato Maurizi, episcopo, in cathedrali ecclesia habita diebus 28. 29. 30 iunii anno MDCCCLXIII. Velitris, ex typographia Cella, .

Name change By 1956, the Vatican had become aware of changing settlement and employment patterns in cities and towns throughout Italy. In central Lazio, Frosinone had long since become the largest city, as well as the regional capital and seat of magistrates and public services (from the early 19th century). Pope Pius XII, therefore, authorized the Consistorial Congregation in the papal government to issue a decree, adding the name of Frosinone to that of the diocese of Veroli. The decree of 29 February 1956 ordered that the title of the diocese and the title of the bishop should be Verulanus-Frusinatensis.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 48 (Città del Vaticano 1956), pp. 218–219.

Diocesan reorganization

The Second Vatican Council, in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses, in particular those with financial and personnel problems.In its decree Christus Dominus, section 22, it stated: "Concerning diocesan boundaries, therefore, this sacred synod decrees that, to the extent required by the good of souls, a fitting revision of diocesan boundaries be undertaken prudently and as soon as possible. This can be done by dividing dismembering or uniting them, or by changing their boundaries, or by determining a better place for the episcopal see or, finally, especially in the case of dioceses having larger cities, by providing them with a new internal organization.... At the same time the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous." It also decreed that the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. This applied to the dioceses of Veroli and Frosinone. The Vatican therefore continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of dioceses. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Veroli, Frosinone, and Ferentino be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Frusinatensis-Verulana-Ferentina. The seat of the diocese was to be in Frosinone, whose cathedral was to serve as the cathedral of the merged dioceses. The cathedrals in Veroli and Ferentino were to become co-cathedrals, and the cathedral Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Frosinone, and likewise one seminary, one College of Consultors, and one Priests' Council. The territory of the new diocese was to include the territory of the former dioceses of Veroli, Frosinone, and Ferentino.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 825-828.

Bishops Diocese of Veroli Erected: 8th century

to 1200

Martinus (743)No bishop of Veroli is known before Martinus. He subscribed to the decrees of the Roman Council of Pope Zacharias. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XII (Florence: A. Zatta 1766), p. 384c. Ughelli, p. 1388. Cappelletti, p. 474. ... Arnaldus (attested in 853)Bishop Arnaldus participated in the Roman synod of Pope Leo IV in December 853. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XII (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020. Cappelletti, p. 474. ... Ildebrandus (c. 868)Hildeprandus is said to have attended the Roman synod of 868 or 869. Ughelli I, p. 1388. ... Joannes (attested 959–964)Joannes: V. Caperna, Storia di Veroli, p. 132. Gerhard Schwartz (1913), Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122, p. 277. [Aufredus]Aufredus subscribed a bull of Pope John XIII for Hersfeld as Aufredus ep. Verlecensis, or Verdecensis. The name of the diocese has been emended into Verdunensis (Verdun). He becomes Bishop of Veroli only be further emendation. Schwartz, p. 277. ... Sergius (attested 1024)Sergius: Cappelletti, p. 479. Gams, p. 738. Schwartz, p. 277. ... Girardus (attested 1036)Girardus: Schwartz, p. 277. ... Benedictus (attested 1050)Benedictus was present at the Roman synod of 2 May 1050. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 771. Schwartz, p. 277. Placidus (attested 1059)Bishop Placidus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Nicholas II. He was buried on 15 August (between 1061 and 1066). Mansi XIX, p. 912 (Placitus episcopus Berolanensis). Schwartz, p. 277. Honestus (attested 1071–1075)Honestus died on 10 August, between 1076 and 1080. Caperna, p. 144. Schwartz, p. 278. ... Albertus (attested 1081–1108)Albertus: Ughelli, p. 1386. Cappelletti, p. 481. Schwartz, p. 278. Agostino (1108?–1111);Augustinus had been abbot of Casamari. Ughelli, p. 1391. Cappelletti, p. 483. Gams, p. 738. Schwartz, p. 278, calls him Rodulfus, the brother of Pope Paschal II. Letus (1111–after 1125).In 1114, Pope Paschal II settled a legal dispute in which Bishop Letus was involved with Abbot Girardus of Montecassino. He was twice suspended from office by Pope Paschal, but restored by Pope Gelasius II (1118). Bishop Letus's possessions were confirmed by Pope Calixtus II in a bull of 15 June 1121 and by Pope Honorius II on 28 November 1125. Kehr, II, p. 156-157, nos. 5-10. Cappelletti, p. 485. Leo (by 1140–after 1159).On 22 January 1144, in the presence of legates of Pope Anastasius IV, Bishop Leo handed over the church of S. Julianus to the Abbot of Montecassino. On 9 March 1144 the same Pope confirmed for Bishop Leo the diocese's possessions. On 15 March 1155 Bishop Leo leased to Pope Adrian IV a house in Castello Monte S. Giovanni. On 18 January 1159 Pope Adrian imposed an oath on a local noble to submit to Bishop Leo's justice. On 18 June 1159, Pope Adrian entered a judgment in favor of Bishop Leo. Caperna, pp. 204-208. Kehr, II, p. 157, no. 10; p. 158, no. 14-15; p. 159, no. 18-19. Cappelletti, p. 485. Faramondo (1160–1181);Fromundus had been abbot of Casamari. Ughelli, p. 1392. Gams, p. 738. Ambrosius (1181–1188)Ambrosius: Gams, p. 738. Robertus (1188–1189Robertus: Ughelli, p. 1394. Gams, p. 738. Oddo (1190–1212)Oddo: Ughelli, p. 1394. Gams, p. 739.

1200 to 1500

Letus (attested 1217)Letus: Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 523. Joannes (1223–1250)Bishop Giovanni was consecrated by Pope Honorius III personally. Eubel I, p. 523. Sede vacante (1250–1252)On the death of Bishop Joannes, there was a struggle between the Chapter of the cathedral and the clergy of the city of Veroli, who claimed to have the right to participate in the election of a new bishop. The matter was taken to Pope Innocent IV, who appointed the Bishop of Anagni to undertake an investigation. The suit was decided in favor of the cathedral Chapter; and the Canons of S. Erasmo, the Canons of S. Maria de' Franconi, and the Canons of S. Paolo were barred from having any part in the election. Ughelli, p. 1395. Cappelletti VI, p. 494. Joannes (1252–1253)When the matter of who had the right to vote in the episcopal election was decided, the Canons of the cathedral of Veroli met, and assigned the task of electing his successor to a committee of 5 members of the Chapter. They selected one of the Canons, Joannes, who was approved on 11 May 1252 by Pope Innocent IV. He died in 1253. E. Berger, Registres d'Innocent III Vol. III (Paris: Fontemoing 1897), p. 47, no. 5679 . Eubel I, p. 523. Joannes (1253–1258)Joannes: Gams, p. 739, column 1. Eubel I, p. 523. Andreas (attested 1259)Andreas: Gams, p. 739, column 1. Eubel I, p. 523. Gregorius (1261–1278)Gregorius: Gams, p. 739, column 1. Eubel I, p. 523. Lotherius (1280–1314) Sede vacante (1314–1317)