The Diocese of Bergamo (; ; ) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy, and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milan."Diocese of Bergamo" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. retrieved March 24, 2016"Diocese of Bergamo" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 24, 2016 Geographically, Bergamo stood between the mainland interests of the Republic of Venice, and the territory of the Duchy of Milan. The duchy was regularly contested by the French and the Holy Roman Empire, which brought about repeated military operations. Internally, from the 12th to the 15th century, there was the usual party strife between the Guelphs, who generally supported the political and religious policies of the Papacy; and the Ghibellines, who generally supported the Emperors. As Kings of Italy, the emperors were feudal overlords of Lombardy.
The diocese was founded in the fourth century AD. Its first bishop was Narno, who was succeeded by Viator.
History
August 26 is the feast day of Bergamo's patron, Saint Alexander, who is believed to have been a Roman centurion of the Theban legion imprisoned for his Christian beliefs. According to the fictional narrative, he escaped, was recaptured, and was executed as a martyr around 297 AD. There is a church, San Alessandro da Bergamo, currently administered by Benedictine priests.
On 25 March 901, the Emperor Louis III issued a charter in which he confirmed Bishop Adelbertus and his successors in all their rights and possessions as bishops of Bergamo. The diploma specially mentions the church of S. Alessandro in Fara, which Bishop John converted from the Arian heresy to the Catholic faith.Lupi, Codex Diplomaticus II, pp. 7-10. ecclesia S. Alexanddri sita in Fara, quam quondam Joannes ejusdem Ecclesiae venerabilis Episcopus ab Ariana heresi ad fidem catholicam convertit.... Lupi notes dating problems in the document, which leads some to suggest the document is interpolated or falsified. There are two possibilities with Bishop Joannes: one died in 556, the other served between 668 and 690. On 23 June 904 King Berengar I of Italy ordered Bishop Adelbertus and the citizens of Bergamo to rebuild the walls which had been destroyed during the incursion of the Hungarians. In return for this service, the King confirmed and strengthened the Bishop's civil control over the city and area, even against his officials and feudal vassals.Lupi, II, pp. 23-34. The invasions of the pagan Hungarians took place in 901, 902, and 903, according to Sigonius, De regno Italiae.
In 974, the Emperor Otto II granted the Bishops of Bergamo civil jurisdiction over not only the city of Bergamo, and the suburbs to a distance of three miles, but also the Valle Seriate and other lands.Ronchetti, II, pp. 69-70.
Bishop Arnulfus
Arnulfus, the successor of Bishop Atto, was the son of Vido (Guido) of the area called Landriano, in the territory of Milan. He was elected Bishop of Bergamo at some point between 19 October and 30 December 1077.Lupi, Codex diplomaticus II, pp. 701-702. His election was apparently quiet and canonical, since Pope Gregory VII refers to him in a letter of 21 June 1079 as having been reported to be receptive to papal counsel and obedient to his teaching: Arnulfum Berganebsus Ecclesiae electum, nostro libenter et consilio credere et praecepto oboedire. The Pope had been the recipient of several complaints against Bishop-elect Arnulfus, from several sources. He had apparently dispossessed a knight from his fief, and had sold the Archdiaconate of Bergamo for 50 pounds. Gregory ordered the Bishop of Como to look into the charges, and, if necessary, to apply the appropriate canonical penalties.Gregory VII, Epistolae VI, no. 39. Kehr, p. 358. Arnulfus appears to have escaped censure, though he still had not been consecrated by the end of the year 1079.His Metropolitan, Archbishop Theodaldus of Milan, had been anathematized by the Fourth Roman Synod of Pope Gregory VII on 3 March 1078. P. Jaffé and S. Lowenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I, editio secunda (Leipzig: G. Veit 1885), p. 625.
In 1098 Bishop Arnulfus again found himself in difficulties. He had chosen to support the schism of Archbishop Wibert of Ravenna, instigated by the Emperor Henry IV, and some German and north Italian bishops.Kehr, p. 358 no. 3. Ronchetti, II, pp. 198–199, places his adherence to the schism perhaps as early as 1080. On 8 April 1098, he was arraigned before the Council of Milan, presided over by Archbishop Anselm with the participation of bishops and archbishops from both southern France and Lombardy. It confirmed the sentence of anathema which had been leveled by Pope Urban II against Wibert (Guibertus), Obertus of Brescia, Arnulfus of Bergamo, Gregory of Vercelli, and Anselm of Novara.Ronchetti, II, pp. 236-237. Arnulfus was deposed, and is said to have died in the same year.Ronchetti, II, pp. 235-236. Quite the contrary, Arnulfus was able to maintain his seat, with the support of the Emperor Henry and his Antipope Celestine, all three of them schismatics. The situation inside the diocese became contentious. In 1101, the Canons of the Cathedral, led by the Archpriest Albertus de Zurlasco (Sorlasco)Albertus seems to have been functioning as a sort of Vicar Capitular, with the consent of the Chapter and Clergy. Lupi, II, p. 832, 834. (there being no Archdeacon in office), appealed to the new pope Paschal II, for protection.Lupi, Codex diplomaticus II, pp. 829-836.
In a bull of 15 May 1101,Kehr makes the date 15 March 1101: Kehr, p. 365 no.1. countersigned by five cardinals, Pope Paschal replied positively to the Archdeacon Albertus and his brothers of the Bergamasque Church of S. Vincenzo living canonically, granting the request of the college of Canons and through them the Church of S. Vincenzo. For the present, the Pope announced, he decided that whatever they possessed from Catholic bishops and religious kings they should continue to hold, and so long as they remained in canonical discipline no one might disturb them in their possessions. No bishop or archpriest might have the faculty to redirect their property into another benefice or otherwise redirect their income, respecting (of course) the canonical rights of a Catholic bishop of Bergamo. The double reference to Catholic bishops highlights the fact that the incumbent was schismatic and intrusive, and had no canonical rights.Lupi, p. 829-832.
On 2 February 1106, another bull was received from Pope Paschal II, excommunicating Bishop Arnulfus and all the usurpers of the property of the Church of Bergamo. The decree was read from the pulpit of the Cathedral by the Archpriest Albertus.Ronchetti, III, p. 10.
Arnulf was succeeded by the monk Ambrosius de Mosso (Muzo),Ambrosius is said to have ruled for 30 years, 6 months, and 14 days, dying on 21 October 1128. This is a mere calculation, based on a supposed death date, which happens to be incorrect. Lupi, Codex diplomaticus II, p. 809-812. Cf. Ronchetti, II, pp. 236–237, who argues the rejection of the report. who was elected between November 1110 and before January 1112, when he signs himself Ambrosius Pergamensus electus. He was a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter, and was residing in Paris at the time of his election. It was said that he was elected by the Archpriest Albertus, with no other electors participating.Lupi, II, p. 876-878. Lupi concludes that either the electors were not summoned, or that they refused their consent. Ambrosius' successor, Bishop Gregorius, was chosen by a compromise committee, composed of electors from the Cathedral Chapter of S. Alessandro, from the Cathedral Chapter of S. Vincenzo, and from city and suburban parish priests.Lupi, Codex diplomaticus II, pp. 978-980.
Election of 1309–1310 Bishop Joannes Scanzo (1295–1309) died on 2 November 1309.Ronchetti, V, p. 6: per obitum bone memorie Domini Johannis quondam Episcopi Bergamensis qui die dominico secondo presentis mensis Novembris rebus cessit humanis. The Chapter met and appointed two Vicars Capitular instead of the customary one: Alessandro de' Clementi and Cipriano degli Alessandri. The meeting to elect a new bishop was held on 21 November, and four scrutators were appointed: the Provost Alessandro de' Clementi, the Archpriest Lanfranco de' Colleoni, Canon Cipriano degli Alessandri, and Canon Manfredo de' Longhi. Canon Guglielmo de' Longhi was elected "by inspiration", and was proclaimed by the Provost in the Church of S. Vincenzo. Canon Guglielmo was not present, however, but on duty at Avignon. Four Canons were sent to Avignon to present the election certificate to the Electus, and to obtain his confirmation, investiture, and consecration.Ronchetti, p. 7.
The delegation presented the electoral certificate to Canon Guglielmo in Avignon on 30 December 1309, who requested time to examine the situation and to consult with God. On 17 January 1310, the delegates repeated their visitation, but were put off again. Finally, on 25 January 1310, Canon Guglielmo announced his decision to refuse the election.Ronchetti, V, pp. 7-8: considerata juventute sua sibi expedire videbatur adhuc subesse potius quam praeesse. Cappelletti, pp. 504-505. Since the refusal took place at the Papal Court, Canon Law would seem to place the right to elect a new bishop in the hands of Pope Clement V, and that is exactly what the Bergamasque historians argue. They make the next bishop, Canon Cipriano degli Alessandri, a papal appointment. Giuseppe Ronchetti, however, argues that signatures of Bishop-elect Cipriani, which read, Venerab. vir D. Ciprianus Pergomensis electus et confirmatus (29 July 1310), point to a second election by the Cathedral Chapter and then papal confirmation. Ciprianus was still Bishop-elect on 31 December 1310.Ronchetti, p. 8.
On 11 February 1347, Bishop Bernardus Trigardi consecrated the new Church of S. Agostino for the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine.Ronchetti, p. 90.
In 1400 the plague struck the territory of Bergamo, killing an estimated 20,000 people.Ronchetti, VI, p. 5.
The Case of Bishop Soranzo
Bishop Pietro Lippomano was transferred to the diocese of Verona on 18 February 1544. In his place Pope Paul III appointed Cardinal Pietro Bembo.Eubel, III, p. 132, Bembo, however, was only in priestly orders, having been ordained only four years earlier, at the age of 69. He was not in episcopal orders, and did not intend to reside in the diocese of Bergamo; he never resided in any of the dioceses to which he was appointed. To address this problem, on 18 July 1544 Pope Paul appointed Bishop Vincenzo Sorzano to be Bembo's Coadjutor Bishop in the diocese of Bergamo. Soranzo was created titular Bishop of Nicea (Turkey) to qualify him for the episcopal post.Eubel, III, pp. 132 note 7; 257. Sorzano was a long-standing friend of Bembo, ever since their days when Sorzano was a student in Padua and Bembo was resident there. When Bembo died in Rome on 19 January 1547, Sorzano succeeded to the bishopric.Eubel, III, pp. 26 no. 27; 132.
In Rome Sorzano was acquainted not only with Cardinal Bembo, but also with Cardinal Reginald Pole and Vittoria Colonna, members of the circle of spirituali at Viterbo. All of these people were suspected of heresy and were being watched by the Roman Inquisition, whose head was Cardinal Gian Pietro Carafa.William V. Hudon, "The Papacy in the Age of Reform," in: In the 1540s, the Inquisitor of Como and Bergamo was Fra Michele Ghislieri, O.P., whose attention was drawn to Sorzano by complaints from both civil and religious authorities. He was accused of possessing heretical literature. Though Ghislieri conducted an investigation, no charges were lodged.C. Cristellon and S. Menchi, in: To the contrary, one of the members of the Roman Inquisition, Cardinal Marcello Cervini, employed Sorzano in 1550 for monastic visitations.Hudon, p. 54.