Diocese of Volterra

The Diocese of Volterra () is a Latin church diocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, central Italy. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pisa."Diocese of Volterra" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016"Diocese of Volterra" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016

History

Volterra was an ancient Etruscan town, later conquered by the Romans.

According to the Liber Pontificalis, Volterra was the birthplace of St. Linus,This is the claim of Umberto Benigni in the Catholic Encyclopedia, though the Liber Pontificalis actually says only that Linus was a Tuscan. the immediate successor of St. Peter.Lanzoni, p. 559, discounts the story: "Il Lib. Pontificalis chiama Linus, successore di s. Pietro, « natione italiis, regionis Tusciae ». Tali notizie del famoso documento, come altre volte si è detto, hanno assai poco credito." Nothing is known of its Christian origins. Justus (560), along with his brother Clement and Ottaviano, is one of the three patrons of the diocese of Volterra, and was involved in the Schism of the Three Chapters.Ughelli I, p. 1427, places Justus second in his list of bishops, before Elpidius, and therefore before 496. Leoncini, p. 235, gives Justus the date of 530, and connects his flight from Africa with the persecution of orthodox Christians by Arians. Lanzoni, pp. 559-562. See J. Stilting's critical comments on the chronology, in: See also:

In the Carolingian period it belonged to the Marquisate of Tuscany; with the approval of Henry, son of Frederick Barbarossa, its governance passed into the hands of the bishop, until his temporal authority was suspended by the commune. In the wars or factions of the 13th century, Volterra, being Ghibelline, was continually embroiled with the Florentines, who captured it in 1254, but won permanent control only in 1361.

The diocese of Volterra was immediately subject to the Holy See until 1856, when it became a suffragan of Pisa.

Diocesan synods A diocesan synod was an irregularly held but important meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purposes were to proclaim the various decrees already issued by the bishop, to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy, and 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 Guido Servidio (1574–1598) presided over a diocesan synod in the cathedral of Volterra on 8–10 May 1590, and had the constitutions of the meeting published. Bishop Orazio degli Albizzi (1655–1676) held a diocesan synod on 2 October 1657, and published the acts; he held another synod on 11 November 1674.Orazio degli Albizzi, Constitutiones et decreta edita in synodo Volterrana, die 11 mensis septembris 1674, Illustriss. et rev(erendissi)mo in Christo pat. et d.d. Horatio de Albizis ...episcopo Volaterrano... Senis: ex typographia Publici MDCLXXV. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Ottavio del Rosso (1681–1714) in the cathedral on 14–15 June 1684, the acts of which were published. He held his second synod in the cathedral of Volterra on 26–27 April 1690; its decrees were also published.

Bishops of Volterra to 800

... Eumantius (before 496)Eumantius is mentioned in a letter of Pope Gelasius I of 496. Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 213-215. Lanzoni, p. 563. Opilio (before 496)Opilio is mentioned in a letter of Pope Gelasius I of 496. Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 213-215. Lanzoni, p. 563. Eucharistius (494-496)In 495, Bishop Eucharistius was summoned to Rome by Pope Gelasius I to answer charges laid by Faustus; having failed to appear in the allotted time, he was suspended from office. Bishop Eucharistius was deposed in the Roman synod of 496, due to simony. Kehr III, pp. 280-281, nos. 1-3. Lanzoni, p. 563, no. 3. Elpidius (attested 496, 501, 502)In 496, Pope Gelasius criticized Elpidius for planning a trip to Ravenna without proper canonical consultation. He was present at the Roman synods of 501 and 502. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 215. Kehr, p. 281-282, no. 4-6. Lanzoni, p. 563, no. 4. Gaudentius (attested 556)Lanzoni, p. 563-564, no. 5. Leo (566?)Bishop Leo is mentioned by Ughelli, p.. 1427, but he provides no documentation. Lanzoni, p. 564. Geminianus (attested 649)Bishop Geminianus attended the Lateran council of Pope Martin I in 649. Ughelli X, p. 18. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus (10) (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 866. ... Marcianus (attested 680) ... Tommaso (attested 752)Bishop Tommaso is mentioned in a bull of Pope Stephen II of 20 June 1752 (according to Cappelletti) or 19 May 1752 (according to Kehr), in favor of the Church of Arezzo. Thomas was one of three local bishops appointed by Pope Zacharias to settle a dispute between the bishops of Arezzo and Siena. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 217. Kehr Italia pontificia III, p. 147, nos. 4-5. ...

800 to 1200

... [Andreas (820 or 822)]The name of Bishop Andreas occurs only in connection with the transfer of the remains of S. Octavianus the Hermit to the cathedral of Volterra. It is found in the sixth reading in the special Office approved by Pope Leo X in 1519: "Dicitur ibi Andreas episcopus Volaterranus supra Sancti corpus, in cathedralem Volaterranum translatum, aram erexisse." Joannes Limpinus remarks that the year was 822, and points out that the text is full of anachronisms. Cf. Lanzoni, p. 562. Scipione Ammirato claims that Bishop Andrea began his forty year reign in 760, that he transferred the remains of S. Ottaviano, and that he instituted those Canons of the cathedral Chapter called the "Canons of S. Ottaviano", all without reference to proof; his dates would make a transfer of the remains in 822 impossible: Grippo (attested 821)Bishop Grippo was granted privileges by the Emperor Louis I, in a charter dated 21 October 821. He confirms privileges granted by Charlemagne. A. Fanta, "Unedierte diplome, II," in: Petrus (attested 826, 833)Bishop Petrus "Bolaterrense" was present at the Roman synod of Pope Eugenius II on 15 November 826. Cappelletti believed that he served until c. 845. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus quartus (14) (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1000. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 217. Andreas (attested 845, 851, 853)Andreas: Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 217-219. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 2-3, nos. 6-7. ... Gauginus (attested 874, 882)Gauginus: Ughelli I, pp. 1428-1429. Cappelletti, pp. 219-222. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, p. 3, nos. 8-9. Petrus (attested 886)Pope Stephen V prohibited neighboring bishops from receiving into their dioceses or consecrating clerics of Volterra without commendatory letters from Bishop Petrus. Kehr III, p. 282, nos. 8-9. ... Alboinus (attested 904–908)Alboinus: Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 4-5, nos. 12-15. ... Adelardus (attested 918–929)Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 5-7, nos. 16-22. ... Boso (attested 943–959)Boso: Schwartz, p. 223. Petrus (attested 966–991)Cappelletti, p. 222, divides Petrus into two persons, with Benedictus in between, based on a document of Benedictus allegedly dated 983. That document is misdated. Schwartz, p. 223. Benedictus (attested 997–1015)Benedictus: Schwartz, p. 223. Gunfredus (attested 1017–1039)Gunfredus ruled the Church of Volterra for 23 years, indicating that he became bishop in 1015 or 1016. He died on 26 August 1039. Cappelletti, pp. 222-224. Schwartz, p. 224. Ughelli mistakenly presents Bishop Guido in 1034. Guido (Wido) (attested 1042–1061)Wido: Schwartz, p. 224. Herimannus (attested 1064–1073)Herimannus (Ermanno): Schwartz, p. 224. A letter of Pope Gregory VII indicates that there was a vacancy in the diocese of Volterra in 1077. Petrus (attested 1018–1099)Petrus: Schwartz, p. 224. Ruggero Gisalbertini (1103–1132)His family, of Lombard origins, were originally county officials from Bergamo. Rogerius was the son of Heinrich (Errico), the son of Heinrich, Count of Crema. In 1123 Gisalbertini was named Archbishop of Pisa, which he held concurrently with Volterra. He died in 1132. Schwartz, p. 224. M. L. Ceccarelli Lemut, "Ruggero, vescovo di Volterra e arcivescovo di Pisaall’inizio del XII secolo,", pp. 53-71. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), "«Episcopus vulterranus est dominus»," pp. 96-115. Crescentius (attested 1133–1136)Crescentius: Leoncini, pp. 250-251. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 57-58, nos. 163-164. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 116-123. Adimarus (Odimarus, Odalmarus) (attested 1137–1147)Odimarus: Leoncini, p. 251. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, p. 58, no. 165. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 124-127. Galganus (attested 1150–1168)Galganus: Leoncini, pp. 251-252. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 128-152. Hugo Saladini (attested 1171–1184)Jacopo Paganelli(2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 153-167. Hildebrandus (attested 1185–1211)Lorenzo Fabbri (2004), "Un principe dell’Impero alla guida della Lega Toscana: il vescovo Ildebrando di Volterra e la guerra di Semifonte," In: P. Pirillo (ed.), Semifonte in Val d’Elsa e i centri di nuova fondazione dell’Italia medievale. Atti del convegno nazionale organizzato dal Comune di Barberino Val d’Elsa (Barberino Val d’Elsa, 12-13 ottobre 2002), (Firenze: Olschki), pp. 155-166. Leoncini, pp. 254-255. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 536.

1200 to 1500

Paganus de Ardenghesca (1212–1239)Paganus died after 27 August 1239. Eubel I, p. 536 with note 1. Galganus (1244–1251)Galganus: Eubel I, p. 536. Rainerius Ubertini (1251–1260)Rainerius was still bishop-elect in 1253. He resigned the diocese in 1260. Eubel I, p. 536. Albertus Scolari (1261–1269)Jacopo Paganelli, "«Et fuit de Scolaribus de Florentia».Un profilo di Alberto vescovo di Volterra (1261-69)," Rassegna volterrana 93 (2016), pp. 109-156. Sede vacante (1269–1273)The papal throne was also vacant from 1268 to 1272, and thus no bishop of Volterra could be appointed or confirmed. Rainerius Ubertini (attested 1273–1301)Rainerius was Provost of the cathedral Chapter of Arezzo when appointed. Eubel I, p. 536. The latest document of Bishop Rainerius is dated 18 May 1301: Jacopo Paganelli, "«Appellatur et nominatur Casula sive Casule episcopi Vulterrani». Qualche appunto sulla signoria dei vescovi di Volterra a Casole (XIII-inizi del XIV sec.)," in: Miscellanea Storica della Valdelsa, p. 5, note 9. Rainerius Belforti (1301–1320)Belforti had been a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Volterra. He was named Bishop of Volterra by Pope Boniface VIII on 22 December 1301. He died on 26 November 1320. R. S. Maffei (1923), La cacciata di Ranieri Belforti, Vescovo di Volterra, dalla terra di Casole d’Elsa (31 Marzo 1314), Caserta, Tip. Marino Fu S. . Eubel I, p. 536. Rainuccius Allegretti (1321–1348)Allegretti had been parish priest of Morba. He was elected, and provided by Pope John XXII on 9 February 1321. He was consecrated a bishop on 21 February by Gaillard, Bishop of Arles. In 1329, the antipope Nicholas V attempted to depose him and appoint a successor. He died in 1348. Eubel I, p. 536 with note 5. Filippo Belforti (1348–1358)Belforti was a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Volterra. On 10 July 1348 (Leoncini says it was 1349), Belforti was appointed Bishop of Volterra by Pope Clement VI, though he was still only in minor orders. He held a diocesan synod on 10 November 1356. He died on 20 August 1358. Leoncini, p. 264-265. Eubel I, p. 536.