The Diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Fermo."Diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Macerata–Tolentino–Recanati–Cingoli–Treia" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016.

History

In the 13th century the territory and city of Recanati became heavily involved in the struggles between Guelphs and Ghibbelines. On 27 July 1263 the diocese was completely suppressed by Pope Urban IV in the Bull Cives Recanatensis, due to its support of Manfred, who claimed the Kingdom of Sicily.Pope Urban IV, "Cives Recanatenses", in Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum Romanorum pontificum Taurinensis editio, Tomus III (Turin 1858), pp. 697–698 (in Latin). It was not restored until 1289. By the beginning of the 14th century the anti-papalist Ghibbelines were in control, and rejected papal control through the Rector of the Marches. In order to bring Recanati into submission, Pope John XXII embarked upon a program of punishment which included the reduction of Recanati's civil status and the removal of the bishopric.Cappelletti, III, pp. 671-672; VII, pp. 212-216. The Diocese of Recanati suppressed in 1320, and did not regain its episcopal status until 1356.Leopardi, p. 116.

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. 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. The parish church of S. Giuliano in Macerata was elevated to the status of a cathedral, and the seat of the bishop of Macerata installed in it. Bishop Fridericus of Recanati was transferred to the new See of Macerata, with all the powers, rights, and privileges which he had enjoyed when Bishop of Recanati. The cathedral Chapter of Recanata was also transferred to the Cathedral of S. Giuliano in Macerata, with the same dignities, grades, numbers, and income as they had enjoyed at Recanati.Cappelletti, III, pp. 672-678.

In 1698, the cathedral Chapter of Macerata had one dignity, the Archdeacon, and seventeen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 251 note 1.

On 17 March 1586, Pope Sixtus V, in the Bull Pro excellenti, raised the town of Loreto to the status of a bishopric. To provide territory to support the apparatus of a diocese, the already existing diocese of Recanati was suppressed, and its territory was transferred to the new diocese of Loreto. The cathedral of Recanati was demoted to the status of collegiate church. Bishop Galeazzo Moroni, the Bishop of Recanati who was also Bishop of Macerata, was released from his connection to the diocese of Recanati. To compensate the diocese of Macerata for the loss of Recanati, it was united with the newly (re-)created Diocese of Tolentino on 10 December 1586.Sixtus V, Bull Super universas. in: Cf. Gams, p. 703.

The diocese, in its current configuration, was established in order to conform to Italian civil law which was embodied in the Concordat between the Vatican and the Italian Republic of 18 February 1984. After extensive consultations, Pope John Paul II decreed that the status of the bishop governing several dioceses aeque personaliter was abolished, and that the Diocese of Macerata-Tolentino was merged with the Diocese of Osimo e Cingoli, the Diocese of Recanati and the Diocese of San Severino (Treia) to form a single diocese, albeit with a long name. The changes were embodied in a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops in the Roman Curia, promulgated on 30 September 1986.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (1987), pp. 729-732. The seat of the merged dioceses was to be in Macerata.AAS, p. 731, no. 1: All of the cathedrals except Macerata were to have the status of co-cathedral.AAS, p. 731, no. 3: Hodiernae Ecclesiae Cathedrales urbium Tolentinae, Recinetensis, Cingulanae et Treiensis titulum sument Concathedralium, in memoriam earum inclitarum et veterum traditionum. The diocesan offices (curia) was to be in Macerata, as was the diocesan tribunal, the diocesan seminary, the College of Consultors, the Priests' Council, unless otherwise directed by the bishop.AAS, p. 731, no. 5

On 17 April 1772, the city of Macerata witnessed the marriage of Charles Edward Stuart (the Young Pretender) and Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, performed by Bishop Carlo Augusto Peruzzini (1756–1777) of Macerata.

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 Papirio Silvestri (1642–1659) held a diocesan synod in Macerata on 12 September 1651.Synodus dioecesana Maceratensis, habita anno domini 1651 (Macerata: Augustinus Griseius 1651). In 1663, Bishop Francesco Cini (1660–1684) presided over a diocesan synod in Macerata.Constitutiones editae in synodo habita ab illustrissimo et reverendissimo d. d. Francisco Cino, episcopo Maceratae et Tolen., anno Domini M.DC.LXIII, atque olim in synodis praedecessorum, eiusdem iussu simul collectae et in summam redactae (Macerata: Heredes Augustini Grisei & Iosephi Picelmi 1663). In 1687 Bishop Fabrizio Paolucci (1685–1698) had his Synodial Constitutions published, but it is uncertain when he held his synod.Constitutiones synodales ab illustriss. et reverendiss. d. d. Fabritio Paulucci, episcopo Maceraten. et Toletinati, aeditae anno M.DC.LXXXVII (Macerata: Muti & Sassi 1687).

In 1728, Bishop Alessandro Carlo Gaetano Varano (1698–1735) held a diocesan synod.One of its decrees is referred to in Francesco Ansaldo Teloni, Dioecesana synodus, p. 54: Præsbyteri vero poenam suspensionis ipso facto incurrent, si choreas ducere cum fæminis, aut larvati ausi fuerint incedere. Bishop Domenico Spinucci (1777–1796) held a diocesan synod in Macerata on 9–11 May 1784, and another at Tolentino on 23–25 May. Bishop Francesco Ansaldo Teloni (1824–1846) held a diocesan synod in Macerata from 8 to 10 August 1830, and another in Tolentino from 22 to 24 August 1830. The decisions were published in 1832. The publication includes a list of the bishops of Macerata and Tolentino, pp. 139-146.

Bishops

Diocese of Macerata

Federico (18 November 1320 – 6 June 1323)Fridericus had been a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Recanati. He was elected by the Chapter and approved by Pope Boniface VIII on 13 November 1301. From 20 November 1320 he was Bishop of Macerata. Federico was transferred to the diocese of Senigallia on 6 June 1323 by Pope John XXII. Leopardi, pp. 112-116. Eubel, I, pp. 120, 410, 447. Pietro Mulucci, O.Min. (1323–1347)Bishop Pietro was appointed by Pope John XXII on 6 June 1323. He died on 29 October 1347. Stefani, Dizionario corografico-universale, p. 475. Eubel, I, p. 410. Guido da Riparia (1347–1349)Bishop Guido had previously been Archpriest of Vercelli. He was named Bishop of Macerata on 5 November 1347 by Pope Clement VI. He was transferred to the diocese of Massa Marittima by Pope Clement on 21 October 1349. He died in 1351. Eubel, I, pp. 310, 410. Nicolò da San Martino, O.P. (21 October 1349 – 8 January 1356)Bishop Nicolò was appointed bishop of the united Sees of Recanati e Macerata.

Diocese of Recanati e Macerata

Nicolò da San Martino, O.P. (1356–1369)Nicolò (Nicola) da San Martino had been Vicar General of his Order, and had already been Bishop of Macerata since 1348; he therefore governed the territory which had once been the diocese of Recanati. On 22 April 1357, the Papal Legate of the Marches, Cardinal Egidio (Gil) Álvarez de Albornoz, acting on authority granted him by Pope Innocent VI restored the diocese of Recanati, making Nicolò da San Martino Bishop of Macerata e Recanati. He died in January 1369. Leopardi, pp. 123-126. Eubel, I, p. 10. Oliviero (1369–1374)Oliviero was a native of Verona, and Dean of Negroponte and a papal chaplain. While Bishop Nicolò was still alive, Pope Urban V reserved to himself the right to appoint the next bishop. When Oliviero was elected by the Chapter, Urban immediately quashed the election, but on 19 February 1369, Urban exercised his option and appointed Oliviero Bishop of Macerata e Recanati. He renounced the bishopric in 1374, and was transferred to the diocese of Ceneda on 29 April 1374 by Pope Gregory XI. He died in 1377. Leopardi, pp. 126-128. Eubel, I, pp. 180, 447. Giovanni di Bartolomeo (1374–1383)Leopardi, pp. 128-129. Eubel, I, p. 410. Paolo (19 September 1382 – ?) (Avignon Obedience)Paolo was appointed on 19 September 1382 by Clement VII. Eubel, I, p. 411. Niccolò Vanni (1383–?) (Roman Obedience)Vanni was appointed by Urban VI. Eubel, I, p. 411. Angelo Cino (1385–1409 deposed)(Roman Obedience)Cino was appointed by Urban VI on 20 July 1385. On 9 September 1409, he was deposed as a schismatic adherent of Gregory XII, who had been deposed by the Council of Pisa. Eubel, I, p. 411. Angelo Baglioni (1409–1412) (Pisan Obedience)Baglioni was appointed by Pope Alexander V on 9 September 1409. Eubel, I, p. 411. Nicolaus, O.E.S.A. (1412–1418) (Pisan Obedience)Nicolas had been Prior General of the Augustinian Hermits. He was appointed Bishop of Recanate e Macerata by John XXIII, but was never able to take possession of the diocese. He was opposed by Cardinal Angelo Correr, the former Pope Gregory XII, who had been made Legate of the Marches by the Council of Constance, until his death in 1415. He was then obstructed by Marino de Tocco, Bishop of Teramo, who had been made Administrator of Recanate by Gregory XII. Leopardi, pp. 135-145. Eubel, I, p. 411, with note 7. Marinus de Tocco (1418–1428)A native of Chieti, Marinus de Tocco had been an Auditor of the Roman Rota. He was appointed Bishop of Teramo by Pope Gregory XII on 14 February 1407. Marinus attended the Council of Constance as an Auditor. He was transferred to the diocese of Recanati e Macerata by Pope Martin V on 6 July 1418. He was transferred to the diocese of Chieti on 7 January 1429. He died in 1438. Leopardi, pp. 145-150. Eubel, I, pp. 95, 411, 481. Benedetto Guidalotti (1429)Benedetto had previously been Bishop of Teramo (1427-1429). He was appointed Bishop of Recanati e Macerata on 7 January 1429. He took possession by proxy, appointing his brother (or nephew) Francesco Guidalotti, Provost of Compostela. He died on 9 August 1429, and was taken for burial in his native Perugia. Leopardi, pp. 150-151. Eubel, I, pp. 95, 411. Giovanni Vitelleschi (1431–1435)Vitelleschi was appointed titular Patriarch of Alexandria. Eubel, II, p. 220 with note 1. Thomas Tomasini, O.P. (1435–1440)Tomasini was a native of Venice. He was Bishop of Emona (Istria) from 1409, and participated in the Council of Constance. He was then Bishop of Pola (Istria) from 1420 to 1423, then Bishop of Urbino (1423–1424). He had been Bishop of Trau in Dalmatia (1424–1435), and was named Governor of Forlì by Pope Eugene IV in 1431. He was one of the presidents of the Council of Basel in 1433. He was transferred to Recanati on 24 October 1435, and then to the diocese of Belluno e Feltri on 10 October 1440. He died on 24 March 1446. Vogel, pp. 186-196. Eubel, I, pp. 74, 404, 411, 490, 509; II, pp. 103, 220.