The Diocese of Vigevano () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church which lies almost entirely in the Province of Pavia, Lombardy. It has existed since 1530. The diocese is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milan,"Diocese of Vigevano" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016. "Diocese of Vigevano" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 9 March 2016. having been suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vercelli until 9 April 1578.Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 334, note 1.

History

The earliest notices of Vigevano date from the tenth century, when it was favoured as a residence by King Arduin of Ivrea (1002–1014) for hunting.G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. C (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1860), p. 100, column 2. In the next period it was a Ghibelline commune, and was accordingly besieged and taken by the Milanese in 1201 and again in 1275.Cesare Nubilonio, "Cronaca di Vigevano.... Opera pubblicata di Carlo Negroni," in: Miscellanea di storia Italiana Tomo XXIX (Torino: Bocca 1892), pp. 205-392, at pp. 222-223 and 233. In 1328 it surrendered to Azzone Visconti, and thereafter shared the political fortunes of Milan. In the last years of the Visconti domination it sustained a siege by Francesco Sforza.

At the end of September 1418, Pope Martin V visited Vigevano and a number of other cities of Lombardy during his trip from Konstanz to Rome.Nubilonio, "Cronaca di Vigevano.... Opera pubblicata di Carlo Negroni," p. 228.

Until 1530 the town belonged to the Diocese of Novara, and its principal church, San Ambrogio, was staffed by a Chapter composed of a Provost and seven Canons.Ughelli IV, p. 817. Duke Francesco II Sforza of Milan procured the erection of the see and provided its revenues. The diocese was created by Pope Clement VII in the bull "Ex eminenti" of 17 March 1529.Ughelli IV, pp. 816-819, quotes the bull in its entirety.

The first bishop was Galeazzo Pietra, succeeded by his nephew Maurizio Pietra (1552); both of these promoted the Tridentine reforms, and the work was continued by their successors. Marsilio Landriani (1594) distinguished himself in various nunciatures and founded a Barnabite college for the education of young men. Giorgio Odescalchi (1610) was a very zealous pastor; the process of his beatification has been commenced. Giovanni Caramuel Lobkowitz (1675) was an example of pastoral activity and the author of many works, philosophical, theological, ascetical etc., though his Theologia fundamentalis was censured.Cf. Pier Marino Sonnani (1688), a Franciscan, who enlarged the seminary and maintained a struggle against the spread of the doctrines of Miguel Molinos.

With the Treaty of Worms (1743) the diocese became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.Article IX of the treaty states: "On the same account, Her Hungarian Majesty (Maria Theresa) yields to the King of Sardinia (Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia) the district of Vigevano, with all that part of the Duchy of Pavia, lying between the Tessino and the Po, as far as the Lago-Maggiore, as also Bobbio, with its territory and the city of Placentia...."

All cathedral chapters and collegiate church chapters were abolished by the French Occupation government on 28 March 1801. It was restored by N. Bonaparte, Emperor of the French and King of Italy (1805–1814) in 1805.Mazzini Lorenzo, p. 171.

From 1802 until May 1805, Vigevano was a constituent element of the Italian Republic, of which Napoleon was the president. It was a District in the Department of Agogna, with its capital at Novara. A concordat with the papacy was signed on 16 September 1803. In Article II, §4 of the Concordat, Vigevano was assigned to the metropolitanate of Milan. In Article XV, §17, the suppression of ecclesiastical foundations without the consent of the Holy See was forbidden.

Bishop Nicola Saverio Gamboni of the diocese of Capri was appointed to the see by Napoleon in 1805, but he was refused his bulls of transfer and institution by Pope Pius VII. He was therefore only the Administrator of the temporalities of the diocese.

In 1817, after the agreements at the Congress of Vienna, which returned the Kingdom of Sardinia to the House of Savoy after French occupation, the diocese of Vigevano received an addition to its territory.Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 183–188. Cappelletti XIV, p. 645. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. C (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1860), p. 114. The additions came from the dioceses of Milan, Pavia, and Novara.

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. Andrea Tilatti, "Sinodi diocesane e concili provinciali in italia nord-orientale fra Due e Trecento. Qualche riflessione," Mélanges de l'Ecole française de Rome. Moyen-Age, Temps modernes T. 112, N°1. 2000, pp. 273-304.

Bishop Maurizio Pietra (1552–1576) presided over a diocesan synod in 1572.J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIbis (Paris: Hubert Welter 1913), p. 97. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Alessandro Casale (1577–1582) in 1578.Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 151. In 1587, Bishop Bernardino Bricennio (1582–1588) held a diocesan synod.Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 339. Bishop Marsilio Landriani (1593–1609) held a diocesan synod in 1608.Mansi, Tomus XXXVIbis, p. 977.

A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Giuseppe Maria Scarampi (1757–1801) on 13–15 June 1768, noting in his letter of summons that it had been a century since the last synod. Bishop Giovanni Francesco Toppia (1818–1828) held a diocesan synod on 14–16 September 1823, to repair the damage done during the French occupation.Mazzini Lorenzo, pp. 206-207. Bishop Pietro Giuseppe de Gaudenzi (1871–1891) presided over a diocesan synod on 23–25 August 1876. De Gaudenzi held his third diocesan synod on 16–17 September 1886.Acta Synodi Dioecesanae tertiae sanctae Viglevanensis Ecclesiae, quam Illmus ac Revñus DD. Episcopus Petrus loseph de Gaudenzi habuit diebus 16 et 17 septem. 1886. Mortariae: A. Costellezzi 1886.

Chapter and cathedral

The church which became the Cathedral of Vigevano was initially built in 1100, and then rebuilt in the sixteenth century through a commission by Duke Francesco II Sforza. It was dedicated to S. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan in the 4th century. The facade of the second and current structure was re-designed by Bishop Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz in 1673 (completed c. 1680).

The original bull of erection of the diocese instituted a cathedral ChapterC.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. with four dignities, the Provost, the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Dean. The number of Canons was fixed at twelve. The cathedral continued to function as a parish church.Ughelli IV, p. 817. Shortly thereafter, two more dignities were added: the Cantor and the Primicerius.Ughelli IV, p. 819. In 1671, the cathedral Chapter, the corporation responsible for the operation and administration of the cathedral, its liturgical life, and its property, was composed of six dignities and twelve Canons.Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415, note 1.

The Chapter was abolished by the French Occupation government on 28 March 1801. It was restored by First Consul N. Bonaparte in 1805. Following the restoration, it had three dignities (Provost, Archdeacon, and Archpriest) and eleven Canons. In addition there were four chaplains appointed by the King of Sardinia, five chaplains called Marini after Bishop Pier Marino Sormani, and seven chaplains with various other patrons.Cappelletti XIV, p. 646.

The Church of S. Pietro Martiere was built, with the adjacent Dominican convent, by Filippo Maria Visconti in 1445; the convent is now used for government offices and courts. Among the civil edifices is the castle, once a fortress, built by Bramante in 1492, by order of Ludovico il Moro, which became a royal palace.

Bishops

1530 to 1700

Galeazzo Pietra (14 Mar 1530 – 27 Oct 1552)Galeazzo Pietra: Biffignandi, pp. 178–193. Eubel, III, p. 334. Maurizio Pietra (27 Oct 1552 – 20 May 1576)Maurizio Pietra was present at the Council of Trent in 1562 and 1563. Biffignandi, pp. 193–203. Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 4. Alessandro Casale (1 Jul 1577 – 16 Feb 1582)A priest of Bologna, Casale was a protonotary apostolic, and practiced in the Roman Curia. Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 5. Bernardino Bricennio (Brisseno) (5 Nov 1582 – 11 Aug 1588)Bricennio: Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 6. Pietro Fauno Costacciaro (12 Jun 1589 – 9 Sep 1592)Costacciaro: Eubel, III, p. 334, with note 7. Marsilio Landriani (10 Nov 1593 – 27 Aug 1609)Landriani was consecrated in Rome on 14 November 1593 by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 369, with note 2. Pietro Giorgio Odescalchi (26 May 1610 – 7 May 1620) Francisco Romero, O. Carm. (11 Jan 1621 – 16 Jul 1635)"Archbishop Francisco Romero, O. Carm." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 9, 2019. Sede vacante (1635–1648) Juan Gutiérrez (18 May 1648 – 20 Mar 1649)"Bishop Juan Gutiérrez" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 9, 2019. Sede vacante (1649–1654) Gabriel Adarzo de Santander y Martínez de Viaín, O. de M. (9 Mar 1654 –1657)On 24 September 1657 Bishop Adarzo was confirmed as Archbishop of Otranto, having been nominated by the King of Spain on 17 April 1657. He died in 1674. Gauchat IV, pp. 205 with note 5; 369 with note 6. Attilio Pietrasanta, O. Cist. (1659–1666)Pietrasanta was a native of Milan. He was nominated to the See of Vigevano by the King of Spain on 2 February 1659, and approved (preconised) by Pope Alexander VII on 28 July 1659. He died on 7 November (or 23 December) 1666 in Rome. Gauchat IV, p. 369 with note 7. Gerolamo Visconti (3 Oct 1667 – 26 Oct 1670)Visconti: Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 2. Giovanni Rasino (1 Jul 1671 – 18 Nov 1672)Born in Milan, Rasino was a Doctor of Civil and Canon Law (Bologna 1652). He was Archdeacon of Milan when named Bishop of Vigevano. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Federigo Borromeo on 5 July 1671. He died on 18 November 1672. Ritzler and Sefrin, V, p. 415, with note 3. Cappelletti, pp. 630–631. Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz, O.S.B. (25 Sep 1673 – 7 Sep 1682)Biffignandi, pp. 220–222. Cappelletti, pp. 631–636. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 4. Ferdinando de Rojas (1683–1685)Rojas (Roxas) was born in Curiel in the diocese of Palencia (Spain). He held the degree of doctor of theology from the University of Salamanca. He was presented to the diocese of Viglevano by the King of Spain on 7 April 1683, and was approved (preconised) by Pope Innocent XI on 20 December 1683. He died on 30 December 1685. "Bishop Ferdinando de Rojas (Roxas)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 21, 2016. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 5. Pier Marino Sormani, O.F.M. (1688–1702)Sormani was born in Niguardae (diocese of Milan) in 1632. He was Minister General of the Franciscan Order. He was appointed to the diocese of Viglevano by Pope Alexander VIII on 11 October 1688. He died on 12 August 1702. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 415 with note 6.

since 1700