The Diocese of Parma () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church. It has properly been called Diocese of Parma-Fontevivo since 1892."Diocese of Parma (-Fontevivo)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016"Diocese of Parma" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016. In 1892 the diocese absorbed the spiritualities of Fontevivo Abbey, a former territorial abbey. The Bishop of Parma has since also had the title of Abbot of Fontevivo. The bishop's seat is in Parma Cathedral. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Modena-Nonantola.

Originally the diocese of Parma was in the ecclesiastical province of Milan, but it subsequently became a suffragan of the Archbishop of Ravenna. In 1106, Pope Paschal II removed Parma from the supervision of Ravenna, but in 1119 Pope Gelasius II restored the dioceses of Emilia to the jurisdiction of Ravenna. With the creation of the new archdiocese of Bologna in 1593, Parma became subject to Bologna. In 1875, the diocese of Parma became immediately subject to the Holy See (papacy).Kehr, p. 414.

History

At Easter 967, Bishop Uberto of Parma attended a council at Ravenna, presided over by Pope John XIII and the Emperor Otto I. The council deposed Archbishop Herold of Salzburg for heresy. The emperor confirmed the pope in the possession of all of the territories of the Roman church, including the exarchate of Ravenna. The pope raised the diocese of Magdeburg to the status of an archbishopric at the emperor's request. He also confirmed the privileges of the Church of Ferrara.Allodi, I, p. 58. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus octavus (18) (Venice: A. Zatta 1773), pp. 499–506. Carl (Charles) Joseph Hefele, Histoire des conciles Tome sixième (Paris:Adrien le Clere 1871), pp. 204–205.

In 987, Archbishop Honestus (Onesto) of Ravenna summoned a provincial synod, to meet in the village of Marzaglia, in the diocese of Parma. The bishops who attended included Giovanni of Imola, Gerardo of Faenza, Odone of Cesena, Ulberto of Bologna, Sigolfo of Piacenza, and Uberto of Parma. The assembly dealt with complaints made by the bishop of Bologna against the bishop of Parma, claiming that Bishop Uberto was holding properties close to Bologna which ought to belong to Bologna, which was a poor diocese and unable to staff all of its churches. Archbishop Onesto was able to effect a reconciliation through the mutual exchange of disputed properties.Allodi, I, p. 58. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus nonus (19) (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), pp. 41–42.

On 24 April 1046, Cadalo, the new bishop of Parma, and his family, who were established in the diocese of Verona, created and endowed a new monastery, that of S. Giorgio, in Breida, near Verona.Kehr, Italia pontificia Vol. VI, part 1, pp. 259–260. Bishop Cadalo held a diocesan synod in 1061. He was in schism with Pope Alexander II, and counted all of Lombardy in his camp except for territories belonging to Countess Matilda of Tuscany.Allodi, I, p. 225. Vittorio Cavallari, "Cadalo e gli Erzoni," Studi storici veronesi 15 (1965), pp. 95–158.

In 1410 the plague struck Parma with particular virulence. It is claimed that one-quarter of the population died.Allodi, I, pp. 681–682.

Apostolic visitation In accordance with a bull of Pope Gregory XIII of 14 September 1578, Archbishop Giambattista Castelli of Rimini began an apostolic visitation of the diocese of Parma. His first investigation was of the cathedral chapter, where he discovered that four of the priests whose duty it was to celebrate Mass in the cathedral were not able to recite the prayer from the canon of the Mass. Then the archbishop turned to an inspection of the canons of the cathedral chapter. He cited the decree of the Council of Trent (chapter 12), approved in the 24th Session, which granted their daily stipend from the chapter's income only to those who had attended at each of the canonical hours. The canons replied that their observances had to be modified because the great plague of 1348 had been responsible for a scarcity of clergy, necessitating only attendance at the daily Mass and at the Vespers on the eve of a great feast day. Touching as it did both on local tradition and the canons' income, the archbishop's ruling set off a legal firestorm.Allodi, II, pp. 98–105. Cappelletti, pp. 184–191.

The canons lodged an appeal in Rome with the prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Council, Cardinal Marcantonio Maffei. They sent Cesare Picolello and Francesco Ballestrieri, armed with a testimonial letter of the elders of the Commune of 9 January 1579, stating that the people of Parma were content with the celebration of the canonical hours in the cathedral. Cardinal Alessandro Sforza was induced to speak with Maffei, and the congregation took up the appeal on 29 January 1579, in the presence of twelve cardinals, nine of whom voted in favor of the canons of Parma, ruling that the canons' service was not in violation of the decrees of the Council of Trent. The pope was informed of the decision and gave his approval.Allodi, II, pp. 101–102.

In 1580, on the initiative of Duke Ottavio, the Jesuits were introduced into Parma, and given the church of San Benedetto, which had belonged to the abbey of S. Giovanni Evangelista. They continued to use the church until the reign of Pope Clement IX. They also acquired the Oratory of S. Rocco.Allodi, II, p. 105. By 1618, the Jesuits had a college for high school students, and one-third of the twenty-six professors at the University of Parma were Jesuits.

Cathedral and chapter

The residence of the canons of the chapter of the cathedral of Parma () was established on 29 December 877 by Bishop Wibodus and King Carloman.Cappelletti, p. 98.

The cathedral of Parma, which had been constructed with substantial aid from the countess Matilda of Tuscany, was consecrated by Pope Paschal II on 31 October 1106.Chronicon Parmense, p. 325. eodem anno MCVI de mense novembris consecrata fuit ecclesia major sanctae Mariae de Parma a praedicto Paschali Papae. nam celebrato concilio in Guastalla immediate Papa et d. comitissa Matildis venerunt Parmam, et ibi ad preces dictae d. comitissae consecravit praedictam ecclesiam quam ipse construxerat. Cappelletti, p. 158.

On 3 January 1116 began a series of earthquakes in the neighborhood of Parma, which lasted for thirty days. In 1117 another major earthquake destroyed the cathedral of Parma.Chronicon Parmense, p. 325. Fuit unus maximus terraemotus et tunc magna pars ecclesiae majoris de Parma corruit.... Cappelletti, p. 159. Mario Baratta, I terramoti d'Italia (Torino: Bocca 1901), pp. 21; 22–24; 715–717.

The baptistry of the cathedral was dedicated on 25 May 1270 by Bishop Opizzo de Sancto Vitale.Ordinarium, p. 155, note 3.

The largest bell of the cathedral, named "Bajonus", was given by Cardinal Gerardo Bianchi in 1291.Ordinarium, p. 10, with note 1. It was tolled at the funerals of the magistrates of Parma, and of the members of the most noble families: the Rossi, the Sanvitale, the Corrigia and the Pallavicini; the Marchesi di Lupi, and the lords of Cornazzano and Conignaco.

On 8 January 1584, the high altar of the cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Ferrante Farnese.Allodi, II, p. 111.

In 1691, the cathedral was staffed by a chapter composed of three dignities (the archdeacon, archpriest, and provost) and fourteen canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 302, note 1. In 1579, the residence of the canons was at the monastery of S. Giovanni Evangelista in Parma, directly behind the apse of the cathedral.Allodi, I, p. 187.

The cathedral was awarded the status of a minor basilica by Pope Gregory XVI in a bull of 13 June 1834.Vitale Loschi (1834). Esecuzione del breve di Sua Santità Gregorio XVI che dichiara Basilica Minore la Catte drale di Parma. Parma. Rossi-Ubaldi 1834.

Synods

On 28–30 September 1466, a diocesan synod took place, presided over by the vicar general Avinatri, with a special mandate from Bishop Giovanni (Giacomo) Antonio della Torre (1463–1476). The opening Mass was celebrated by della Torre's auxiliary bishop, Agostino. The statutes of the earlier synods of Bishops Obizzo Sanvitale (1257–1295), Papiniano della Rovere (1300–1316), and Delfino della Pergola (1425–1463), were read out.Allodi, II, p. 772-774. Bishop della Torre held a second synod in March 1470.Pezzana, pp. 319–320.

In 1564 Bishop Alessandro Sforza (1560–1573) presided over the first diocesan synod following the close of the Council of Trent. In 1568 he took part in the provincial synod of the ecclesiastical province of Ravenna, presided over by Cardinal Giulio della Rovere. Bishop Ferrante Farnese (1573–1606) held a diocesan synod in 1575, another on 11 May 1581, and a third in 1583.Constitutiones a synodo Dicecesana Parmens. An. MDLXXV (Parma: ex Typis Seth Vioti 1576). Constitutiones quaw a Synodo diocesana parmen., in ea presidente Rev.mo domino D. Ferdinando Farnesio conditae sunt Anno MDLXXXI, V. id. maij. Parma, apud Heredes Sethi Viotti, 1582. Constitutiones quae a Synodo diocesana parmen., in ea presidente Ferdinando Farnesio editae, sunt alijs antea conditis Constitutionibus Synodalibus infierendo, illasque innovando et continuando, Anno MDLXXXIII (Parma,: typis Erasmi Viotti, 1584).

A diocesan synod was held in September 1602 under the presidency of Giovanni Mozanega, protonotary apostolic and vicar general of the diocese of Parma.Constitutiones Parmae in synodo Diocesana promulgatae, in ea presidente R. D. Joh. Mozanega Protonotario Apostolico, ed in episcopatu Parmae Vicario Generali, mense septembris MDCII. (Parma: apud Erasmum Viothum 1602). Bishop Pompeo Cornazzano, O.Cist. (1615–1647) held a diocesan synod in November 1621.Decreta synodalia in Parmensi synodo anno MDCXXI mense novembris ab ill. Rev. Pompejo Cornazzano episcopo Parmae et comite edita (Parma: ex typ. Anthai Viothi 1622). Bishop Carlo Nembrini (1652–1677) presided over his first diocesan synod on 5–7 June 1659; he held his second diocesan synod on 26–27 April 1674. Constitutiones synodales ab Ill.ma et Rev.m° d. Carolo Nembrino episc. Parmae, promulgatae in Synodo Dioecesana Parmensi Anno 1659 die 5, 6, 7, mense junii (Parma: apud Erasmo Viotti 1660). A synod was held on 7 May 1691 by Bishop Tommaso Saladino (1681–1694).Synodus diocesana habita A. D. 1691 nonis maij ineunte mense quarto interregni pontificij ab obitu Alexandri Octavi, pubblicata vero 18 Kal. septembris elapso jam mense a die creationis sanctissimi D. N. Innocentii XII (Parma: apud Gal. Rosatum 1691).

Bishop Domenico Maria Villa (1872–1882) presided over a diocesan synod on 1–3 October 1878.Constitutiones ab illustr.m° et rev.m° d.d. Dominico Maria Villa Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia episcopo parmensi praelato domestico et pontificio solio adsistente, promulgatae in synodo dicecesana habita diebus I, II, ac III octobris anno MDCCCLXXVIII (Parma: ex officina episc. Fiaccadoriana 1879).

Bishops

to 1100

Urbanus (attested 378)Urbanus was a partisan of the antipope Ursicinus, and was deposed by Pope Damasus in the Roman synod of 378. Umberto Benigni, "Diocese of Parma." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Retrieved: 2016-10-02. Lanzoni, pp. 807–809, no. 1. Gratiosus (680)Gratiosus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Agatho, against the Monotheletists. Allodi, I, pp. 23–24. ... Alboin (attested 744)Alboin: Allodi, I, pp. 24–25. Gerolamo (attested c. 775) Pietro (attested 781)Pietro (Rusco) : Allodi, I, pp. 25–26. ...