The Diocese of Rieti () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. It is immediately exempt to the Holy See.Umberto Benigni (1912). "Rieti." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Retrieved: 22 April 2020."Diocese of Rieti (-S. Salvatore Maggiore)"Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Rieti" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016. Its cathedra is in St. Mary Cathedral in the episcopal see of Rieti.

History

The diocese was established in the fifth century.

In 1148, the city of Rieti was attacked and destroyed by King Roger of Sicily. On 10 August 1201, the city was totally destroyed by fire.Desanctis, p. 13.

Pope Innocent III visited Rieti for a month, in July and August 1198.A. Pressuti, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Vol. I (Berlin: De Decker 1874), pp. 31-33. He is said to have consecrated the churches of S. Giovanni Evangelista and S. Eleuterio.Desanctis, p. 34.

In March 1074, Pope Gregory VII gave the Benedictine monastery of Ss. Quiricus and Giulitta to Bishop Rainerius (1074–1084), and ordered all its monks and laypersons to obey him in all things. In 1215, when the monks had murdered their abbot and dissipated their income, Pope Innocent III had them expelled, and introduced the Premonstratensians in their place.Kehr IV, p. 23, nos. 4 and 5; 26.

In 1228, Pope Gregory IX (dei Conti di Segni) was driven out of Rome by the supporters of the Emperor Frederick II; he spent a month in April and May in exile in Rieti, before moving to other places of refuge.August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Vol. I (Berlin: De Decker 1874), pp 705-706. He was driven from Rome a second time on 1 June 1231, and sought refuge again in Rieti, where he remained for more than a year.Ferdinand Gregorovius, History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages Vol. V, part 1 (London: Bell 1906), p. 163.

Pope Nicholas IV (Masci) spent part of 1188, from 13 May to 15 October, in Rieti; in 1289, he was there from 18 May to 7 October. On 29 May 1289, in the cathedral of Reate, Pope Nicholas IV crowned Charles II of Sicily as King of Sicily.August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Vol. II (Berlin: De Decker 1875), pp. 1834-1842; 1852-1861. Cappelletti V, p. 325.

Pope Boniface VIII (Caetani) visited Rieti from 28 August to 5 December 1298.Potthast, pp. 1978-1980. Desanctis, p. 35. On 28 November 1298, a major earthquake struck Rieti, Spoleto and Città di Pieve, causing considerable loss of life and destruction of buildings.Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: Bocca 1901), p. 42, no. 97. Desanctis, p. 35.

The diocese of Rieti would have lost territory on 24 June 1502, when Pope Alexander VI established the Diocese of Città Ducale, but Cardinal Giovanni Colonna, the Bishop of Rieti (1480–1508) objected, and the plan was dropped, the territory being returned to Rieti on 8 November 1505, as a diocese under the Administratorship of the cardinal. However, after Cardinal Colonna died on 26 September 1508, Pope Julius II reactivated the diocese of Città Ducale on 16 October 1508. The diocese was suppressed on 27 June 1818, but its territory did not return to the diocese of Rieti; it was given instead to the diocese of L'Aquila.Ughelli I, p. 604. Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. XIII, p. 297. Gams, p. 876 column 2. Eubel III, p. 169Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 167, note 1. On 3 June 1925 Pope Pius XI added S. Salvatore Maggiore to the name of the diocese, upon the suppression of the monastery of S. Salvatore Maggiore.

Newly returned from the Council of Trent, and under the influence of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, Cardinal Marco Antonio Amulio (1562–1572) began, in 1564, a plan to establish a seminary in Rieti. His plan was modest, a student body of twenty-six, with an appropriate number of teachers of the humanities, philosophy, and theology. The original location of the institution was the former Palace of the Podestà. Financing was, and always remained the difficulty. Vacant benefices were appropriated for the faculty, and the income from other benefices was used to pay for free tuition for the students. But payments that supported the benefices were always in arrears.Giovanni de Vita, Regole del seminario Reatino (Roma: stamperia del Reverenda Camera Apostolica 1769), p. 2.

Chapter and cathedral

The original cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and was in existence by 598. In that year, a deacon of the church wrote to Pope Gregory I, requesting that he order the relics of Ss. Hermas, Hyacinth and Maximus be enshrined in the cathedral, a task which the Pope entrusted to Bishop Chrysanthus of Spoleto, presumably because the See of Rieti was vacant.Gregory I, Epistolae IX, 49: "Paulus ecclesiae Reatinae diaconus petitoria nobis insinuatione poposcit, ut ad fontes in basilica" beatae Mariae semper virginis genetricis Dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi, quae est intra civitatem Reatinam posita, reliquiae beatorum martyrum Hermae et Hyacinthii et Maximi debeant collocari." Desanctis, p. 8. This cathedral was subject to the unwelcome attentions of the Goths, the Lombards, and the Saracens, leaving it in a dilapidated condition. The influx of population into the town made its size inadequate.

A new cathedral was begun by Bishop Benincasa, a patrician of Rieti, who laid the cornerstone on 27 April 1109. The design included a lower church (or crypt) and an upper church.Desanctis, p. 9. The lower church was consecrated in 1137, and was the site of the election of Bishop Dodo.Desanctis, p. 11. There was a long intermission in building due to the attacks of King Roger of Sicily, a supporter of Pope Anacletus II against Pope Innocent II; Roger was an enemy of Pope Innocent, defeated him in battle, and dominated central Italy. In 1148, the city of Rieti was destroyed by King Roger, and its people fled to the hills and dispersed. In 1201, the city was destroyed again, this time by fire. Another fire took place in 1214.Desanctis, pp. 13-14. The upper church was consecrated by Pope Honorius III, who had been driven out of Rome and was living in exile in Rieti, on 9 September 1225.Desanctis, p. 14. Kehr IV, p. 24. Bishop Antonino Camarda (1724–1754) renewed the pavement of the cathedral in 1735, and Bishop Marini rebuilt the tribune, presbytery, and the high altar, which was reconsecrated in 1806.Desanctis, p. 14. The cathedral was given the title of basilica by Pope Gregory XVI in 1841.Cappelletti V, p. 347. Desanctis, p. 17.

The bishop's palace, next to the cathedral, suffered repeated injuries from fires and earthquakes, until, in 1283, Bishop Pietro Guerra (1278–1286) began a complete reconstruction, along with the addition of a grand salon for large meetings.Desanctis, pp. 43-44.

The Chapter of the cathedral is a corporate body, which is responsible for the administration and serving of the cathedral and the maintenance of its liturgical events. At Rieti it was composed of sixteen Canons, headed by the Archdeacon. The Canons had a common treasury, rather than individual prebends. There were also twelve beneficed priests, called clerici beneficiati. Cardinal Benedetto Cappelletti (1833–1834) established an additional twelve beneficed priests, called beneficiati Cappelletti.Ughelli I, p. 1195. Cappelletti V, p. 348.

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. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-727.

Bishop Giorgio Bolognetti summoned and presided over a diocesan synod in Rieti on 24–25 September 1645, and had the decrees published.Constitutiones Synodales editae et promulgatae in dioecesana Synodo Reatina ab lllustriss. et Reverendìss. D. Georgia Bologneto Episcopo Reatino. Diebus 24. et 25. Septembris 1645. Ex Typographia Manelphi Manelphij, Romae 1647. On 27 September 1678, Bishop Ippolito Vicentini (1670–1702) held a diocesan synod, and had the constitutions published. Bishop Bernardino Guinigi (1711–1723) presided over a diocesan synod in Rieti on 13 September 1716. In 1766, Bishop Giovanni de Vita (1764–1774) held a diocesan synod.Synodus diocesana Reatina anni 1766. Rieti: 1767.

Bishops

to 1200

[Prosdocimus (1st cent.)]Kehr, p. 21. Gams, p. 720, column 1. Lanzoni, p. 356: "Ma questa missione di s. Prosdocimo in Rieti non ha alcun serio fondamento...." ... Ursus (attested 499, 501)Bishop Ursus attended the Roman synods of Pope Symmachus. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VIII (Florence: A. Zatta 1762), pp. 252, 263, and cf. p. 269: "Felix Nepsinus pro Urso". Kehr IV, p. 21. Lanzoni, p. 358. ... Probus (mid-6th cent.)Probus is mentioned by Pope Gregory I in his Dialogues, Book IV, chapter 12. Ughelli I, p. 1196. Gams, p. 720. Lanzoni, p. 358, no. 2. Albinus (6th century)Bishop Albinus of Reate is mentioned by Pope Gregory in his Dialogues, Book I, chapter 4 [Migne, Patrologiae Latinae LXXVII p. 169. Ughelli I, p. 1196. ... Gaudiosus (attested 649)Gaudiosus was present at the Lateran synod of Pope Martin I. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus X (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 866. Ughelli I, p. 1196. ... Adrianus (attested 680)Bishop Adrianus subscribed to the synodical letter of Pope Agatho, sent to the Council of Constantinople in 680. Ughelli Italia sacra I, p. 1196. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima editio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florence: A. Zatta 1765), p. 310. ... Teuto (attested 753–764)Teuto: Cappelletti V, pp. 299-300. Gams, p. 720, column 1. Guicpertus (attested c. 770–773)He is also called Guribertus, Gumbertus, Guibertus, all apparently paleographical corruptions. Cappelletti V, pp. 300-301. Gams p. 720, column 1. Isermundus (attested 773)Isermundus: Ughelli I, p. 1196. Cappelletti V, pp. 301-302. Agio (attested 776)Agio is referred to as Agio electus, the predecessor of Bishop Sinualdus, who was engaged in a suit over land with the abbot and monks of Farfa. The date of the trial is December 777. Sinualdus (attested 777)Sinualdus: Galletti, pp. 92-95. Cappelletti V, p. 302-304. Chronicon Farfense (ed. Balzani) Vol. 1, pp. 159-160. Guicpertus (attested 778)Guicpertus (Wicpertus, Guibertus): Cappelletti V, p. 304-305. Petrus (attested 779)Petrus: A document is dated April 779, Year 5 of Charlemagne as King of Italy, when Hildeprandus was Duke of Spoleto, and Rimonis was castaldus of Rieti. Cappelletti V, p. 305. Guicpertus (attested 780)Cappelletti V, p. 305. The swift succession of bishops in the 770s is unusual, and some of the documents, derived from the monastery of Farfa, may be forgeries: Gams, p. 720, suggests that this Guipertus may be the same as the Guipertus of 778, in which case Bishop Petrus needs an explanation. Alfredus (Arnefredus) (attested 782–794)Cappelletti V, p. 306. Gams, p. 720. Desanctis, p. 72. Isermundus (attested 803–814)Cappelletti V, p. 306. Desanctis, p. 72. ... Sede vacante ( ? 852)Kehr IV, p. 22, no. 1: "Reatinam eccl. per tot annorum spatia pastoralibus curis destitutam...." Pope Leo IV asked the emperors Lotharius and Ludovicus to allow Deacon Colo to assume the episcopacy; otherwise, would they please place the Church of Rieti in the hands of the bishop of Ascolano Piceno.