The Diocese of Foligno () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Umbria, Italy. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve.
History Tradition has it that Christianity was introduced at Foligno in the first half of the second century. Felicianus, the patron saint of the city, though certainly not the first bishop, was consecrated by Pope Victor I and martyred under Decius (24 January); the exact dates of his history are uncertain.Acta Sanctorum Januarii, Tomus II (Antwerp: Joannes Meursius 1643), pp. 581–589; "Vita S. Feliciani martyris, Episcopi Fulginatis in Umbria," Analecta Bollandiana Tomus IX (Paris/Bruxelles 1890), pp. 379-392.
Until 471 no other bishop is known. Vincent of Laodicea in Syria was made bishop by Pope Hormisdas in 523.
In 740 the episcopal city of Forflamme was destroyed by the angry Lombard King Liutprand. It was not revived, and it is believed that the responsibility for the inhabitants passed to Foligno.Cappelletti, pp. 401, 445.
In February 1145, Pope Lucius II died of a wound received in street fighting in Rome, and his hastily elected successor Pope Eugene III was immediately driven out of the city and replaced with a republic. He settled in exile in Viterbo. On 10 March 1146, Cardinal Giulio Romano of S. Marcello, Legate of Eugenius III convoked a council in Foligno. The council was attended by the bishops of Narni, Amelia, Spoleto, Todi, Assisi, Perugia, Cagli, Gubbio, Urbino, Montefeltro, Rimini, Pesaro, Fossombrone, Senigallia, Ancona, Umana, Fermo, Ascoli, Escolano, Jesi, Osimo, Camerino, Nocera, and Bishop Benedetto of Foligno. Also present were numerous Provosts, Archdeacons, Archpriests, Abbots and Priors. On 10 March 1146, the assembled clergy participated in the consecration of the cathedral of Foligno, dedicated to S. John the Baptist, S. Feliciano, and S. Fiorenzio. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXI (Venice: A. Zatta 1776), p. 695-698.
Cathedral, churches, and monasteries Foligno Cathedral, of very early date, and possessing a beautiful crypt, was rebuilt beginning in 1133; in 1201 a wing, with a façade, was added, famous for its sculptures by Binello and Rodolfo (statues of Frederick Barbarossa and of Bishop Anselm), restored in 1903. No Provost or Canon of the cathedral Chapter could be installed without the consent of the bishop. The privileges of the Canons of the cathedral Chapter were confirmed by Pope Innocent II in 1138.Pope Innocent II, bull Incomprehensibilis et ineffabilis, in: Cappelletti, p. 408. The Canonica, residence of the Canons, already existed in 1078, when Bishop Bonfilius made extensive grants of property to the Prior and Canons, especially half of the cloister of the cathedral and two gardens.Cappelleti, pp. 403-405.
In 1684, the cathedral was administered and served by a Chapter consisting of three dignities and sixteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 205 note 1. The dignities were: the Prior, the Dean, and the Archpriest.Ughelli, p. 682. In 1777, there were still three dignities, but only twelve Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 220 note 1.
Other churches are: Santa Maria infra Portas, of the Lombard period, with Byzantine frescoes; San Claudio (1232); San Domenico (1251); San Giovanni Profiamma (1231), whose name recalls the ancient city of Forum Flaminii.
The Monastery of Sassovivo, founded c. 1080, eventually held control over 92 other monasteries and 41 churches, including the Church of Ss. Quatuor Coronatorum and the Church of Ss. Sergius and Bacchus in Rome.Kehr, IV, pp. 46-49. It had a remarkable cloister of 120 columns.Catholic Encyclopedia
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.
Among the notable bishops of Foligno was Isidoro Chiari (1547–1555), a Benedictine biblical scholar and theologian, who participated in the early sessions of Council of Trent (1545–1547). He did not attend the later sessions that resumed in 1551, but he submitted a memorandum urging the necessity of bishops being resident in their dioceses. At the beginning of his tenure, Bishop Isidoro Chiari summoned and presided over a diocesan synod, which met on 14 November 1547.First Synod: He held a second synod on 22 October 1548.Second Synod: Gussago, pp. 49-52. A third synod took place on 14 October 1549,Third Synod: Gussago, pp. 52-53. and a fourth on 15 October 1550.Fourth Synod: Gussago, pp. 54-59.
Bishop Tommaso Orsini (1568–1576) held a diocesan synod in Foligno on 17 January 1571, and had its constitutions published.Costituzioni sinodali della Città et Diocesi di Fuligno, Foligno: Vincenzio Cantagallo 1571.
Bishop Giulio Troili (1698–1712) held a diocesan synod on 21–22 May 1703. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Giosafatte Battistelli (1717–1735) on 21 June 1722.
Suffragan The diocese of Foligno had always been directly subject (a suffragan) of the Holy See (the Pope). In accordance with the decree Christus Dominus, chapter 40, of the Second Vatican Council, on 15 August 1972 Pope Paul VI issued the decree Animorum utilitate, in which he changed the status of the diocese of Perugia, from being directly dependent upon the Holy See to being a Metropolitan archdiocese. The ecclesiastical province of Perugia was to contain as suffragans the dioceses of Assisi, Citta di Castello, Citta della Pieve, Foligno, Nocera and Tadinum, and Gubbio. The diocese of Foligno ceased to be directly dependent upon the Holy See.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 64 (Citta del Vaticano: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1972), pp. 667-668.
Bishops of Foligno to 1200
Crispoldus of Jerusalem(San Crispoldo da Gerusalemme), died 58 AD, martyr and first bishop of Foligno according to Ludovico Jacobilli (1646). Ughelli (1717) places his martyrdom in 93, under the Emperor Domitian. Cappelletti, IV, p. 399, considers all the episcopal names down to Urban to be dubbi o favolosi. Cf. G. Henschen, in Acta Sanctorum Maii III (Antwerp 1680), pp. 22-25. Brictius (San Brizio) (also bishop of Spoleto and Foligno) Felicianus (193–249)Felicianus, a martyr, is claimed as the first historically attested bishop of Foligno, but also of Forum Flaminii, and of Spoleto. Lanzoni, pp. 446–449: "La lista episcopale di Foligno è largamente inquinata, come quelle di Todi, di Terni e di Spoleto. Lo Sbaraglia (« Archivio citato », an. 1913, p. 534) e il Cappelletti (IV, 399) dichiararono dubbi favolosi i primi nomi fino a Urbano, e il loro giudizio dev'essere confermato."
[Felicianus II (303)]A few references to Felicianus are found principally in late medieval hagiographic martyr acts. Ughelli, pp. 685–686, states that Bishop Felicianus II attended the synod of 300 bishops at Sinuessa in 303. That would have been at the height of the Diocletianic persecution. Severino Bini has pointed out that the acts of the alleged synod are spurious, and, except for the acts, there is no other evidence that such a synod took place. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus I (Florence: A. Zatta 1759), p. 1258. Lanzoni, p. 450. [Paul (Paolo) (350)]A Bishop Paulus is said to have been present at the synod of 324, but the synod is spurious. Lanzoni, p. 450: "E attribuito senza alcuna prova al tempo di Giulio I (337–52)." Urbanus (475–498)Urbanus is attested in 487, and, according to Lanzoni (p. 450) he was dead by 496. He is spoken of as deceased in a letter of Pope Gelasius I of 496: Kehr, IV, p. 44 no. 1. Fortunatus (attested 499, 501, 502)Fortunatus: Lanzoni, p. 450. Vincentius (523–551)Vincentius: Lanzoni, p. 450. [Candidus of Foligno (590–602)]Candididus was Bishop of Vulsiniae, not Fulginiae. Lanzoni, p. 450. ... Jacobus (Giacomo) (602–642)Information is lacking. ... Florus (676–700) ... Eusebius (740–760)Bishop Eusebius is said to have been favored by Pope Gregory III, who died in 741. After only a year in office, Eusebius was confronted by Liutprand, King of the Lombards, who was at war with two rebellious Lombard dukes, and who had already destroyed a number of Umbrian towns. Eusebius was able to persuade him to relent when he came to Foligno. Ughelli, I, p. 687-688. ... Dorotheus (attested 830)Dorotheus was elected bishop by the clergy of Foligno, but was not approved by the people. Pope Gregory IV (827–844) therefore approved him. Ughelli, p. 688. Cappelletti, p. 402. Dominicus (attested 850, 853)Bishop Dominicus (Domenico) attended the Roman synod of Pope Leo IV on 8 December 853. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020. Ughelli, p. 688, states that he was elected in 850. He was present at the Council of Pavia in 850: Cappelletti, p. 402. Argisius (attested 861)Bishop Argisius attended the Roman synod of 861, summoned by Pope Nicholas I against Bishop Giovanni of Ravenna. Mansi, Tomus XV, p. 602. Cappelletti, p. 402. Onuphrius (attested 870)Onuphrius was provided (appointed) by Pope Hadrian II in 870. Ughelli, p. 688. ... Benedictus (attested 967, 968)Bishop Benedictus (Benedetto) was present at the synod of Ravenna on 25 April 967. On 2 January 968 he subscribed a bull of Pope John XIII. Schwartz, p. 236. ... Longinus (Longino) (995–1024)Ughelli says Longinus was approved by Pope John XV in 995, but he also says that Longinus died in his monastery that he founded at Sora on 22 January 1031. Did he retire? A successor is mentioned in 1024. Ughelli, p. 688. Cappelletti, p. 457 (making Berardus succeed in 1029). Gams, p. 696 column 1 (making Berardus succeed in 1029). Berardus (Berardo) (attested 1024, 1029)Bishop Berardus subscribed the bull Si mortalibus of Pope John XIX in December 1024. He attended the Roman synod of 1029. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 496. Schwartz, p. 236. Henricus (Enrico) (attested 1031)Henricus made grants to the cathedral Chapter, which are mentioned in the bullof Innocent II of 1138. Cappelletti, p. 402. Schwartz, p. 236. Sigemannus (Sigemanno) (attested 1047)Bishop Sigemann was present at a judicial meeting of the Emperor Henry III in March 1047. Schwartz, pp. 236-237. Azzo degli Atti (1049–1059)Bishop Azzo attended the Roman synod of Pope Nicholas II on 1059.J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 911-912. Gams, p. 696 column 1. Schwartz, p. 237. Bonfilius (attested 1072, 1078–1094)Bishop Bonfilius is attested in documents in 1072 and 1078. He is said to have participated in the First Crusade, and to have spent ten years in the Holy Land. He resigned the diocese (1099? 1104?) and entered the monastery of S. Maria della Fara, where he died 27 September 1115. Gams, p. 696. Schwartz, p. 237. Andreas (1099– attested 1120)A native of Foligno, Andrea was elected in 1099 or 1100 (Jacobilli), on news (false, as it turned out, that Bishop Bonfilius was dead. Gams, p. 696. Schwartz, p. 237. Marcus (attested 1123)The facade of the cathedral was restored by Bishop Marcus during the reign of Pope Callistus II (1119–1124). Schwartz, p. 238. Benedictus (attested 1138, 1145)Bishop Benedictus was the recipient, at his own request, of a bull of Pope Innocent II, dated 11 June 1138, granting him and his successors all the rights and privileges they currently enjoyed. Cappelletti, pp. 407-412.