The Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, central Italy. It was known as Diocese of Massa Marittima before 1978. Up until 1458, it was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Pisa; since 1458, it has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Siena."Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 11, 2016. The territory of the diocese includes the islands of Elba and Pianosa, and (up to 1817) Capraia.

History

Massa Marittima was first mentioned in the eighth century. It grew at the expense of Populonia, an ancient city of the Etruscans. Populonia was besieged by Sulla, and in Strabo's time was already declining; later it suffered at the hands of Totila, King of the Lombards, and in 817 of a Byzantine fleet. After this, the bishops of Populonia abandoned the town, which was destroyed in the 9th century, and moved their seat to Castrum Corniae.Kehr Italia pontificia III, p. 268. In the eleventh century, the bishops established their residence at Massa, though continuing to call themselves bishops of Populonia. Bishop Martinus (1181–1196) is the first to be called Bishop of Populonia e Massa.Cesaretti, p. 33. Galli, p. 346.

On 22 April 1138, Populonia was made a suffragan of Pisa by Pope Innocent II, who had once been living in exile in Pisa; the bull stated that the grant was a compensation for Pisa's loss of the overlordship of the bishops of Corsica earlier in the century.J. von Pflugk-Harttung, Acta pontificum romanorum inedita Vol. II (Stuttgart 1884), pp. 294-295, no. 332. Before 1138, Populonia had been directly subject to the Holy See (Papacy), and attended the Roman synods.Kehr, pp. 268, 271 no. 10.

In 1226 Massa became a commune under the protection of Pisa. In 1307 it made an alliance with Siena, which was the cause of many wars between the two republics.

On 22 April 1459, Pope Pius II issued the bull "Triumphans Pastor", in which he raised the diocese of Siena to metropolitan status, and assigned to it as suffragans the dioceses of Soano, Chiusi, Massa, and Grosseto.: "Necnon filias nostras praedictas Suanensem, Clusinensem et Grossetanensem et Massanensem Ecclesias, cum suis civitatibus et dioecesibus, iuribus el pertinentiis universis, Ecclesiae Seuensi et arcbiepiscopis praefatis, tamquam illorum metropolitanis et de eorum provincia...."

The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), 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. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures.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." This applied to Populonia, which had a tiny population but was part of the name of the diocese, while the much larger city of Piombino, which was a civil administrative center, had no recognition."Cum vero civitas Populonia, olim opibus copiosa, nunc ad paucos incolas redacta sit dum e contra urbs Plumbinum in praesens incolarum, magistratuum ac publicorum munerum habentium, negotiorum et religionis operum prospera incrementa susceperit...." On 14 May 1978, at the instruction of Pope Paul VI, the name "Populonia" was removed from the name of the diocese, and the name "Piombino" substituted. The name "Populonia", however, was preserved as the name of a new titular diocese.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 70 (Citta del Vaticano 1978), p. 434. "...titulus Ecclesiae Populoniensis in indicem sedium titularium inseratur atque Episcopis conferatur qui titulares nuncupantur."

The first known Bishop of Populonia was Atellus, or Asellus (about 495). Among the bishops of Massa were Antonio da Massa Marittima (1430), a former minister general of the Franciscans, and legate of Pope Boniface IX; Leonardo Dati (1467), author of poetic satires. Massa Marittima's most famous native son was Saint Bernardino (of Siena) (1380–1444), whose father was the governor of Massa at the time of Bernardino's birth.

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral of Massa, begun in the first years of the 11th century, is dedicated to Saint Cerbonius, one of its earliest bishops, who was named protector of the city. The cathedral is also a parish church. Its earliest construction is Romanesque, but, beginning in 1287, it was extended under the supervision of Giovanni Pisano. The present cathedral structure was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585– 1587) on 23 March 1586.

The cathedral is served and administered by a Chapter, composed of two dignities (the Archpriest and the Provost) and ten Canons.Ughelli, p. 702. In 1679, there were only six Canons. In 1770 there were eight Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 260, note 1; VI, p. 280, note 1. Since the cathedral has parishioners, the Archpriest is responsible for their spiritual care.In 1679, the city had only 150 inhabitants; in 1770, the population was around 400.

The co-cathedral in Piombino, once the convent of the Augustinian monks, was built through the generosity of the Lord of Piombino, Jacopo d'Appiano, between 1374 and 1377.Cappelletti, pp. 711-712. The Augustinians were ejected in 1806, under the regulations of the French occupation, and S. Antimo was severely damaged. The co-cathedral is dedicated to Saint Antimo.Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. LXXVIII (Venezia: Emiliana 1856), p. 33.

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 Nicolaus Beruti, O.P. (1394–1404) held a diocesan synod on 20 May 1396, at which, having considered the effects of the wars and famine, it was decided to reduce the decima (tithe).Cesaretti, p. 155. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585–1587) on 10–11 April 1586.Constitutiones et Decreta synodalia D. Vincentii Casalii Massae et Populoniae Episcopi anno 1586. habita. Bononiae: Io. Rossium 1586.

On 18–20 April 1723, Bishop Eusebio Ciani (1719–1770) presided over a diocesan synod, held in the cathedral at Massa. He held another synod in 1746, at which the parish priest of the island of Capraia was raised to the dignity of archpriest.The title of archpriest lasted from 1746 to 1817, when Capraia was incorporated into the diocese of Genoa. Arturo Ferretto, "I Primordi e lo sviluppo del Cristianesmo nel in Liguria ed in particolare a Genova,"

Bishop Giovanni Battista Boracchia (1892–1924) held a diocesan synod in Massa on 11–13 October 1921.

Bishops of Massa Marittima Bishops of Populonia to 1200

... Asellus (attested 495, 501)Asellus: Lanzoni, p. 554, no. 1. ... [Florentius (6th cent.)]Florentius is known only through the hagiographical life of Saint Cerbonius. The life of Saint Cerbonius is based on the hagiographical life of Saint Regulus. Both are filled with anachronisms and unlikely events. Lanzoni, pp. 554-557. Garzella, pp. 1-21. Cerbonius (attested 546-547)Cerbonius: Lanzoni, pp. 554-555, no. 3. ... [Maximinus]Lanzoni, p. 558: "L'Ughelli (III, 703) mette in Populonia un Maximinus, su la fede di Gregorio Magno; ma il pontefice non ne parla." ('Ughelli places a Maximinus in Populonia, on the authority of Pope Gregory I, bit the Pope does not speak of him.') ... Sede vacante (591)Pope Gregory I (Epistles I. 15) appointed Bishop Balbinus of Rosellae as Apostolic Visitor of the Church of Populonia. Kehr III, p. 269, no. 1. ... Wido (Guido) (attested 979)Wido: Schwartz, p. 260: "Wahrscheinlich gleich darauf zum Bischof von Lucca erhoben." ... Henricus (attested 1015, 1036, 1050)Enrico: Schwartz, p. 260. Tegrino (attested 1057–1061)Tegrino: Schwartz, p. 261. Bernardus (attested 1065, 1068)Bernardus: Schwartz, p. 261. Wilelmus (attested 1074, 1080)Guglielmo was consecrated by Pope Gregory VII in 1073 or 1074. Schwartz, p. 261. Wilelmus (attested 1082)This Guglielmo was a supporter of Emperor Henry IV, and is spoken of as bishop-elect. Schwartz, p. 261. Joannes (attested 1099)Joannes: Schwartz, p. 261. Laurentius (attested 1103)Laurentius: Cappelletti, p. 693. Schwartz, p. 261. Rolandus (attested 1112, 1126, 1138)Bishop Rolandus of Populonia was present at the Roman council of the Lateran of March 1112. A bill of Pope Honorius II mentions him as "Illandus Massanus". In 1138 he subscribes as "R. Populoniensis episcopus" in a document of Archbishop Baldwin of Pisa; Populonia-Massa is apparently a suffragan of Pisa by 1138. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXI (Venice: A. Zatta 1776), pp. 51 and 70. Ughelli, pp. 711-712. Cappelletti, p. 693. Schwartz, p. 262. ... Albertus (attested 1149)Ughelli III, p. 712. ... Martinus (1181–1196)Martinus: Cesaretti, p. 33. Galli, pp. 346-351. Cappelletti, p. 685. Gams, p. 756, column 1. ...

1200 to 1500

... Marsuccus Gaetani (attested 1211–1213)In 1213 Bishop Marsuccus was transferred to the diocese of Luni by Pope Innocent III. Eubel Hierarchia catholica I, pp. 317, 329. Albertus (attested 1217) [Guglielmo (1231)]Guglielmus was elected, but by laymen, and therefore his irregular election was quashed by Pope Gregory IX. Eubel I, p. 329, note 1. Hldebrandus (attested 1231–1236)Ildebrando had been a Canon of Siena and Prior of Monterio. Cesaretti, p. 32. Cappelletti, p. 698. Eubel I, p. 329. Nicolaus (attested 1254)Ughelli III, p. 716, refers to a census receipt signed by Bishop Nicolaus in 1254 (not 1244, as printed in Cesaretti, p. 40. Ruggierus Ugurgeri (attested 1256–1268)Cesaretti, pp. 41-43. Philippus (1268–1278?)Philippus was a Canon and Archpriest of the cathedral of Massa. His election was confirmed by Pope Clement IV on 8 August 1268. Cesaretti, p. 43. Rotlandus Ugurgeri (attested 1278–1300)Rotlandus (Orlando): Cesaretti, pp. 43-44. Lando (attested 1307)Lando, a Canon of Pistoia, was appointed on 24 December 1307, after Accurso Orlandi, who had been elected by the cathedral Chapter, refused the election. Pope Clement V ordered Cardinal Leonardo Patrasso, Bishop of Albano, to carry out his consecration. Cappelletti, p. 699. Eubel I, p. 329 with note 3. Christophorus Tolomei, O.P. (1310–1313?)Cristoforo Tolomei was a native of Siena. Cappelletti, p. 699. Joannes (1313–1332)In 1322, Bishop Joannes wrote a letter to Pope John XXII, signing himself "Bishop of Populonia and Massa". Cappelletti, pp. 699-700. Galganus de Pagliarecci, O.P. (1332–1348?)Galgano was a member of the nobility of Siena. Cappelletti, p. 700. Eubel I, p. 329.