The Diocese of Ascoli Piceno () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the Marche in central Italy. It has existed since the fourth century. Historically immediately dependent on the Holy See, it is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Fermo."Diocese of Ascoli Piceno" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Ascoli Piceno" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016. There is, in 2015, one priest for every 1,074 Catholics.

History

The traces of this bishopric appear in the fourth century with St. Emidius, martyred under Diocletian, c. 303; and Claudius, who was allegedly present at the Synod of Rimini in 359, when the Arian heresy was rejected.Cf. Lanzoni, p. 399, who doubts that the Claudius at Rimini was a bishop of Ascoli: "Il vescovo piceno Claudio, di cui sopra, intervenuto al conciliabolo di Rimini, fu attribuito senza alcun fondamento alla diocesi di Ascoli." In the fifth century, Lucentius, who is said to have been present at the Synod of Milan, which sent its synodal letter to Pope Leo I (440-461), was bishop of Ascoli.The claim is made by Ernesto Buonaiuti, but neither the name Lucentius nor the bishopric of Ascoli is mentioned in the subscription list of the Synod of Milan of 451. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VI (Venice: A. Zatta 1759), pp. 142-144. One of its bishops, Giulio de' Medici, afterwards became Pope Clement VII (1523–1534).Ernesto Buonaiuti (1907), "Ascoli-Piceno," The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 1 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907); retrieved: 25 Apr. 2019.

On 11 March 2000, Pope John Paul II raised the bishopric of Pesaro to the rank of metropolitan archbishopric, and created the new ecclesiastical province of Picenum. Ascoli, which had always been directly subject to the Holy See, was assigned to the province of Picenum and placed under the supervision of the archbishop of Pesaro.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 92 (Città del Vaticano: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 2000), pp. 568-569.

Cathedral and Chapter The beginnings of the cathedral are attributed archaeologically to the 5th or 6th century.Carducci, p. 81-83. Furio Cappelli, "Le origini della cattedrale di Ascoli. Aspetti di urbanistica altomedievale in una città del Picenum", in:

The cathedral was administered by a corporate body called the Chapter. At Ascoli, the chapter originally consisted of twelve Canons, presided over by the Archdeacon. By 1179, there was also the Archpriest.The Archdeacon and the Archpriest and the Canonici are addressed by Pope Alexander III in a bull which grants them the protection of the Holy See, and confirms all their rights and privileges, as well as their corporate possessions. Cappelletti, p. 714. Subsequently there were three additional dignities (dignitates): the Provost, the Primicerius, and the Mansionarius. After the Council of Trent there was also a Penitentiarius and a Theologus. There were also six (later nine) mansionarii, who saw to the daily operations of the cathedral church, though they were not voting members of the Chapter.Ughelli, p. 438. In 1737, there were six dignities and fourteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 101 note 1. The Chapter had the right to elect the bishop, and, when a vacancy occurred in the Chapter, the right to elect a successor.Cappelletti, p. 789.

The election of 1284–1285 Bishop Raynaldus died in September 1284.Marcucci, p. 261. A meeting was summoned for all persons concerned. The Archdeacon and Chapter decided to proceed to an election by scrutiny.The other options, according to Canon Law, were acclamation, and the appointment of a compromise committee. Three scrutators were chosen, to collect, read, and make public the votes of the Canons. When the votes were announced, six of the twelve Canons had voted for Bonusjoannes, one (Bonusjoannes himself) had voted for Canon Azo, and four Canons had refused to cast a vote for anyone. One of the scrutators, in his own name and in the name of those who had voted for Bonusjoannes, proclaimed him Bishop of Ascoli, and Bonusjoannes accepted his election.

Bonusjoannes then proceeded to Rome to obtain papal approval for his election from Pope Martin IV. There one of the four Canons who had not voted, Abamons by name, contested the election. The Pope therefore handed the case over to Cardinal Giordano Orsini for examination. Orsini cited the persons concerned to appear in open court, and the issue was joined between Bonusjoannes and Abamons. In the event, nothing was produced by Abamons against Bonusjoannes personally or against the electoral proceedings, and therefore Cardinal Orsini, having followed all of the requirements of the law, found in favor of Bonusjoannes. Procurators of Abamons, specially appointed for the purpose, then withdrew his objections to the election. Bonusjoannes was then examined as to his character and qualifications by a committee of cardinals, Latino Malabranca Orsini (Bishop of Ostia), Comes Giusianus (Cardinal Priest of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus), and Cardinal Giordano Orsini (Cardinal Deacon of S. Eustachio), who found electionem ipsam ... de persona ydonea canonice celebratum. Pope Martin then, with the consent of the College of Cardinals, named Bonusjoannes Bishop of Ascoli, and instructed Cardinal Latino Malabranca Orsini to consecrate him a bishop.

Unfortunately, before the bulls of approval and consecration could be issued, Pope Martin died, on 28 March 1285. Pope Honorius IV (Giacomo Savelli) was elected on 2 April 1285. Finally, on 13 December 1285, new bulls were issued for the Bishop-elect, and Pope Honorius granted him the administration of his Church.

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.

Bishop Pietro Camaiani (1566–1579) presided over a diocesan synod in Ascoli on 22 April 1568.

A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Sigismondo Donati (1605–1641) on 19—21 November 1626.Synodus asculana 1626 (Roma: Facciotti 1626). Cardinal Giulio Gabrielli (1642–1668) held a diocesan synod in 1649.Constitutiones ed Decreta synodalia asculanae Dioecesis anno 1649 et Episcoporum Ecclesiae asculanae catalogus (Asculi: Salvioni 1649). Bishop Philippo Monti held a diocesan synod on 7—9 November 1677, and published its constitutions, as well as those of his predecessors Girolamo Berneri, Giulio Gabrielli, and Sigismondo Donati.Constitutiones | synodales | ab illustriss. et reverendiss. I d. d. Philippo Montio | episcopo et principe asculano, in sua prima dioecesana Synodo (Ascoli: Typis impressorum episcopalium 1678). A diocesan synod was held on 12—14 September 1688 by Bishop Giuseppe Sallustio Fadulfi (1685–1699).

Bishop Giovanni Gambi (1710–1726) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral on 15—17 May 1718. A diocesan synod was held in 1765 by Bishop Pietro Paolo Leonardi (1755–1792)

Bishop Bartolomeo Ortolani (1877–1910) presided over a diocesan synod held in the cathedral on 28—30 October 1903.Asculanae ecclesiae in Piceno synodus dioecesana ab illustrissimo ac reverendissimo Domino Bartholomaeo Ortolani episcopo et principe Asculano, habita in cathedrali basilica, diebus XXVIII, XXIX, XXX Octobris an. MCMIII (Asculi-Piceni: Cesari 1903).

Bishops of Ascoli Piceno to 1200

... EmidiusEmidius: Lanzoni, pp. 397-398. ... [Claudius (359)]There is no proof that Claudius was a bishop of Ascoli. Lanzoni, p. 398. Cappelletti, pp. 679-680. ... Lucentius (attested 451-452 ?)The statement that Bishop Lucentius of Ascoli was a legate of Pope Leo I to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 has been challenged. Some manuscripts list him as bishop of Heraclensis ecclesia, both in Latin and Greek; in one manuscript he is episcopus Arculanensis. Cappelletti, pp. 680-681. Lanzoni, p. 399. ... [Quintianus]Quintianus was present at a Council of Constantinople, but he was not bishop of Ascoli, episcopus Asculanorum, but episcopus Arculianorum, or perhaps episcopus Erculianorum (Syria). Cappelletti, p. 681. Lanzoni, p. 399. ... [Epiphanius]Epiphanius was a bishop in 535-536, not of Asculum, but of Aeclinum. Cappelletti, p. 681. Lanzoni, p. 399. ... Justolfus (attested 781, 798/799)Cappelletti, pp. 681-685. ... Picco (Ricco) (9th century)Picco (Riccone di Pico): Marcucci, p. 212, says he was French in origin, and consecrated by Pope Paschal I (817–824) in 822. Cappelletti, p. 685. Gams, p. 667 column 1. ... Teuderandus (attested 853)Teuderandus (sometimes called Wenderandus) was unable to attend the Roman synod of Pope Leo IV in 853, but sent his priest Walderanus to represent him. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1759), p. 1021. Marcucci, p. 213-214. Cappelletti, p. 685. ... Arpaldus (attested 879)Bishop Arpaldus was summoned to attend the Roman synod of Pope John VIII in 879. When he failed to attend, he received a letter of rebuke from the Pope, and was summoned to the Roman Curia. Cappelletti, pp. 685-686. Kehr, Italia pontificia IV, p. 149, nos. 2–3. ... Alperinus (attested 968)Alperinus: Schwartz, p. 225. ... Adam (attested 996)Adam had been Abbot of Farfa, temporarily in 983, and permanently in 985. Schwartz, p. 225. ... Hugo ? (attested 998)Hugo's bishopric depends upon a conjecture by Muratori. Schwartz, p. 225. Emmo (Emino, Emmone) (attested 1003, 1010, 1015, 1019)Emmo was consecrated in 1006 by Pope John XIX, according to Marcucci. Bishop Emino attended the Roman synod of Pope Benedict VIII in 1015. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1764), p. 363. Marcucci, p. 217-218. Cappelletti, p. 691. Schwartz, p. 226. ... Bernardus (attested 1033–1034)Ughelli, pp. 444-445. Bernardus secundus (attested 1045–1069)On 18 June 1052, Pope Leo IX confirmed to Bishop Bernardus the possessions of the Church of Ascoli. Ber(n)ard attended the Roman synod of Pope Nicholas II in 1059. Mansi, Tomus XIX, p. 911-912. Ughelli, pp. 445-451. Cappelletti, pp. 694-705. Kehr, IV, p. 149 no. 6. Schwartz, p. 226. Stephanus (attested 1069)Ughelli, p. 451. Schwartz, pp. 226-227. [Joannes]Schwartz, p. 227. Albericus (attested 1098–1125)Schwartz, p. 227. Presbyter (attested 1131–1165)Bishop Presbyter is recorded at the dedication of a church in Ascoli milleno (1000) centeno (100) quinto (5) bisque triceno (60). Ughelli, p. 451-455. Cappelletti, pp. 705-713. Trasmundus (attested 1177–1179)Trasmundus had been Archpriest of the cathedral Chapter of Ascoli. Ughelli, pp. 455-456. Cappelletti, pp. 713-716. Giso (1179–1183)Giso is mentioned as deceased in a document of 1192. Philippus Jaffé & S. Loewenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum editio secunda, Tomus secundus (Leipzig: Veit 1888), p. 594, no. 16942. Marcucci, p. 227. Cappelletti, p. 716. Raynaldus (attested 1185–1198)Cappelletti, pp. 716-728. Gams, p. 667 column 2. Sede vacante (attested 1203)Cappelletti, p. 728, notes that on 9 August 1203, the See of Ascoli was vacant.

1200 to 1500

Rainaldus (attested 1208)Rainaldus Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia VII, p. 728. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 111. Petrus (1209–1222)Petrus was a Canon of the cathedral Chapter. On 27 October 1209 the Emperor Otto IV confirmed his episcopal possessions. In 1214, Ascoli was subjected to an apostolic visitation by Cardinal Ugolino dei Conti. He died in 1222. Marcucci, p. 237. Cappelletti, pp. 728-732. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 111.