The Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Emilia-Romagna was created on September 30, 1986, after the Diocese of Sarsina was united with the historic Diocese of Cesena as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia."Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016. "Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016.

The current bishop of Cesena-Sarsina is Archbishop Antonio Giuseppe Caiazzo, who was formerly the archbishop of Matera-Irsina and retained the personal title of archbishop upon being transferred to this see. He was appointed January 7, 2025, after Bishop Douglas Regattieri, who is now bishop emeritus.

History

Cesena was the ancient Cæsena.

The very first catalog of the bishops of Cesena was drawn up by Antonio Casari of Cesena in the middle of the 16th century. The work is lost, but its contents, and a good deal more, were published by Fra Bernardino Manzoni, O.Min., of Cesena, the Inquisitor of Pisa, in his Caesenae chronologia (1643).Lanzoni, p. 715. The claim used to be made that the founder of Christianity in Cesena, and its first bishop, was Philemon, to whom Paul of Tarsus addressed an epistle.Manzoni, pp. 5-6. Kehr V, p. 127: "Primum antistitem Caesenates s. Phllemonem, b. Pauli apostoli discipulum, colunt; sed quis credulus hoc putet?" The name has been warped into "Silemone" by some authors: Lanzoni, pp. 716-717. Another 1st century bishop, Isidorus, is said to have lived in the time of Pope Anacletus (c.79–c.91) and to have been a martyr; his existence depends on a single document, which no one has seen, and Isidore is therefore generally rejected.Lanzoni, p. 717: "In conferma dell'episcopato e del martirio di questo preteso greco, che si disse essere stato ordinato nientemeno che da papa Anacleto, gli scrittori locali citavano « una memoria autentica dell'archivio dell'arcivescovado di Ravenna », memoria mai veduta e conosciuta da alcuno, e, per giunta, tanto incredibile." A bishop is posited in the second half of the 2nd century, since Pope Eleutherius (c. 174–189) consecrated his cathedral; but until the Edict of Milan, Christianity was an illegal assembly, and was not allowed to own property or build churches; the story is rightly rejected as an "impudent forgery".Kehr V, p. 128: "Antiqua Caesenatum ecclesia cathedralis, quam ab Eleutherio pp. a. 192 dedicatam esse Caesenates chronographi satis imprudenter fabulantur." Lanzoni, p. 717: "Basta enunciare codesto racconto per qualificarlo con il Kehr (o. e, 128) una « impudens fabula »."

After the overthrow of the Ostrogoths it became a part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. By the Donation of Pepin (752), it became a fief of the Holy See, which was confirmed in its possession by King Rudolph I of Germany (1275, 1278).Theiner, no. 345, pp. 194-196; no. 361, pp. 208-210; no. 368, pp. 213-215; no. 384, p. 227; no. 388, pp. 236-237. Métivier, pp. 75-77.

In medieval times Cesena was governed by various families, among them the Ordelaffi di Forli and the Malatesta, the latter being remembered for their justice and good government.

On 27 May 1357, a major fire destroyed many of the buildings in the episcopal compound.Coleti, Series episcoporum, p. 54.

On 1 February 1377, Cesena was the witness to, and the victim of, an assault by Breton mercenary troops in the service of Pope Gregory XI and the Papacy. The massacre was ordered by Cardinal Robert of Geneva, the papal legate in northern Italy. Cappelletti II, pp. 544-545. Léon Mirot (1898), "Sylvestre Budes et les Bretons en Italie (13??-1380)," in: Bibliothèque de l'école des chartes 59 (Paris 1898), pp. 262-303.

In 1500, Cesare Borgia, having resigned the cardinalate and been given the title of "Gonfaloniere of the Holy Roman Church" and Captain General of the papal armies, began the conquest of the Romagna.John Larner (1966), "Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli and the Romagnol Militia," Studi romagnoli 17 (1966), pp. 253–268. In late 1500 he seized Pesaro and Rimini, and, on 25 April 1501, Faenza as well. His father Pope Alexander VI awarded him the title of Duke of Romagna, and Cesena became his capital. The Borgia pope, however, died on 18 August 1503, and the new pope, Julius II (della Rovere) was not interested in maintaining a semi-independent duchy in the Romagna. After the surrender of his castles to Pope Julius II, Cesare Borgia, no longer Duke of Romagna, fled Rome, seeking refuge in Naples. Cesena, though loyal to Duke Cesare,Alvisi, pp. 419-420. with the rest of Romagna again acknowledged the immediate authority of the Holy See (1504).

Chapter and cathedral A new cathedral was built upon the petition of the Provost and Chapter and the citizens of Cesena, with the permission of Pope Urban VI, and named in honor of S. Giovanni Battista. Construction began in 1408.Urban VI's letter is dated 4 August 1378. The reason given for the petition was that the old cathedral, built in the citadel, was difficult of access. Cappelletti II, pp. 544-545. The cathedral was staffed and administered by a corporation called the Chapter, which consisted of two dignities (not dignitaries), the Provost and the Archdeacon, and fifteen Canons. In addition there was a Theological Prebend and a Penitential Prebend.Ughelli II, p. 442. In the mid-19th century, the Chapter was composed of three dignities (Provost, Archdeacon, Archpriest) and ten Canons.Cappelletti II, p. 553.

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 Odoardo Gualandi (1557–1588) presided over two diocesan synods, in 1565 and 1566.Coleti, Series episcoporum, p. 70, note 3. His nephew, Bishop Camillo Gualandi (1588 – 11 Feb 1609) held a diocesan synod on 15 October 1590.J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIbis (Paris: Hubert Welter 1913), p. 353.

Cardinal Jan Kazimierz Denhoff (1687–1697) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral of Cesena from 30 June to 2 July 1693.

On 16–18 June 1777, Bishop Francesco Agoselli (1763–1791) presided at a diocesan synod.

Consolidation of dioceses The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses.In its decree Christus Dominus, section 22, it stated: "Concerning diocesan boundaries, therefore, this sacred synod decrees that, to the extent required by the good of souls, a fitting revision of diocesan boundaries be undertaken prudently and as soon as possible. This can be done by dividing dismembering or uniting them, or by changing their boundaries, or by determining a better place for the episcopal see or, finally, especially in the case of dioceses having larger cities, by providing them with a new internal organization.... At the same time the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous." These considerations applied to Cesena and Sarsina. In 1980, Cesena claimed an estimated Catholic population of 152,000, with 201 priests. Sarsina, in 1980 had only 13,200 Catholics, and 34 priests.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. Bishop Luigi Amaducci had governed both Cesena and Sarsina since 1977.

Instead, the Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Cesena and Sarsina be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Caesenatensis-Sarsinatensis . The seat of the diocese was to be in Cesena, and the cathedral of Cesena was to serve as the cathedral of the merged dioceses. The cathedral in Sarsina was to become a co-cathedral, and the cathedral Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Cesena, and likewise one seminary, one College of Consultors, and one Priests' Council. The territory of the new diocese was to include the territory of the former diocese of Sarsina. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (1987), pp. 671-673. .

Bishops

Diocese of Cesena Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ravenna

to 1200

... Natalis (before 603)Pope Gregory I, letter to Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna: L. Hartmann (ed.), Gregorii I papae Registrum Epistolarum Tomi II, Pars I (Berlin: Weidmann 1893), p. 424 [Monumenta Germaniae Historica] Concordius (attested 603)Pope Gregory I wrote a letter in October 603 to Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna, instructing him to investigate the case of Abbot Fortunatus, whom Bishop Natalis had instituted in the monastery of S. Lawrence and Zeno in Cesena, but whom Bishop Concordius, Natalis' successor, had removed without apparent cause. Lanzoni, p. 721. Kehr V, p. 128, no. 1; 130, no. 1. ... Maurus (attested 649)Bishop Maurus attended the Lateran council of Pope Martin I on 5 October 649, as representative of Bishop Maurus of Ravenna. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus X (Florence: Zatta 1764), p. 866. Lanzoni, pp. 718-719. Ughelli II, p. 446. ... Florus (attested 679)Florus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Agatho in 679. He subscribed the synodal letter which was sent to the Council of Constantinople of 680. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florence: Zatta 1766), p. 315. Lanzoni, pp. 718-719. ... Romanus (attested 826)Bishop Romanus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Eugenius II on 15 November 826. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1759), p. 999. The subscription reads Romano episc. Cerense, which is an easy scribal error for Cesense. Ughelli II, p. 446. ... Florus (attested 858–861)Bishop Florus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Nicholas I on 18 November 861. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XV (Venice: A. Zatta 1770), p. 603. Coleti, Series episcoporum, p. 23. Cappelletti II, p. 532. Petrus (attested 877)Bishop Petrus was present at the synod held in Ravenna by Pope John VIII in August 877, after his meeting with the Emperor Charles the Bald, to deal with proper hierarchical subordination and plundering of church property. Ughelli II, p. 446. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XVII (Venice: A. Zatta 1772), p. 342. ...