The Diocese of Iglesias () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Sardinia. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Cagliari."Diocese of Iglesias", Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved April 24, 2017."Diocese of Iglesias", GCatholic.org. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
History
The town of Sulci (later called Sant'Antioco) was located in the extreme southwest of the island of Sardinia, where a natural causeway links the island of Sant'Antioco with the mainland of Sardinia. The area was inhabited from the neolithic period, then by the bronze age Nuragic civilization, by the Punic peoples (9th to 3rd centuries), and the Romans.Carlo Tronchetti, "Per la topogtafia di Sulci Romana," , in: Giorgio Spano (ed.), Materiali per una topografia urbana: status quaestionis e nuove acquisizioni. V Convegno sull'archeologia tardoromana e medievale in Sardegna (Cagliari-Cuglieri 24–26 giugno 1988) (Oristano 1995), pp. 103-115. The earliest Christians appear to have arrived in Sulci as a result of deportations ordered by Roman emperors in the second and third centuries.Roberto Lai & Marco Massa, S. Antioco, da primo evangelizzatore di Sulci a glorioso Protomartire, “Patrono della Sardegna”, (Milano: Hoepli-Edizioni Arciere 2011), pp. 21-24. The exile of S. Antioco (from Mauretania? or Galatia?) to Sulci is usually placed in the reign of Hadrian (117–138), though stories of his life are beset with many inconsistencies and uncertanties..Cappelletti, p. 85. Lanzoni, pp. 667-670. He is said to have been a martyr.Mattei, p. 125, col. 2. Martini, Storia ecclesiastica di Sardegna Volume 1, pp. 17-19; 242.
The Diocese of Sulci was an episcopal seat as early as the 5th century. On 1 February 464, the Vandal King Hunneric summoned to a meeting in Carthage the bishops of Sardinia, including Lucifer of Cagliari, Martinianus of Foro Traiano, Felix of Torres, Macarius of Elia delle Baleari, Boniface of Sanafer, and Vitalis of Sulci.Lai & Massa, p. 37.
In the early 7th century, more than sixty African bishops were deported to Sardinia by the Vandals.Turtas, pp. 148-150. After the city's decline, in the 13th century the bishop of Sulci took up his residence at the village of Tratalias.A.R. Giles, "Some Romanesque Churches of Sardinia,: in: Journal of the American Institute of Architects Vol. 8 (Harrisburg PA/Washington DC: 1920), pp. 358-360.Hundreds of churches scattered in the territory of Sulcis-Iglesiente – Sardinia churches, Sardegne.com. Accessed 8 March 2024.
Saracen invasions began in the first decade of the 8th century.Lai & Massa, pp. 43-44. Martini, Storia delle invasioni degli Arabi e delle piraterie dei Barbareschi in Sardegna, p. 68.
A dispute between Bishop Aimon of Sulci and Abbot Rainaldus of Montecassino erupted in the mid-12th century, over the possession of six churches in the diocese. Pope Eugenius III intervened in 1151/1152, ordering the two parties to appear before the archbishop of Cagliari and either come to an agreement or have a settlement imposed. Later in the year, the pope threatened Bishop Aimon with suspension if he did not come to a settlement in the presence either of the archbishop of Torres (Sassari) or the archbishop of Cagliari. Otherewise he would have to come to the papal court to answer for his actions.Kehr, p. 415-416, nos. 2-5. Turtas, pp. 169-170.
In the Liber censuum of the late 12th century, Sulcis is mentioned as a suffragan of the archbishop of Cagliari.Kehr X, p. 415.
The seat of the bishops of Sulci seems to have been transferred to Tratalias, where the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was founded in 1213, and completed in 1282.Kehr X, p. 415.
Schism In 1297, Pope Boniface VIII invested King James II of Aragon as king of Sardinia. The kings of Aragon, however, had to conquer their new kingdom. In 1355, Peter IV of Aragon held his first court in Cagliari. Archbishop Giovanni d'Aragona led the bishops of the island, including Raimundus of Sulci and five others.Martini II, pp. 177-178, with note 2. When the disputed papal election of April 1378 led to the Western Schism, King Peter IV of Aragon and Sardinia, having sent ambassadors to Rome to collect evidence, and having discussed the affair in his court, chose to side with the Obedience of Avignon. His son-in-law, King Juan of Castile did the same as did his daughter Joanna, Countess of Ampurias (Sardinia).Noël Valois, La France et Le Grand Schisme d'Occident Vol. 1 (Paris: A. Picard 1896), pp. 212-217.
Bishop Biagio of Sulci (Roman Obedience), Nicholas of Bosa,Cappelletti, p. 214. and Archbishop Bertrand of Arborea (Oristano) (Roman Obedience),Bertrand was removed from office by John XXIII in 1414. Eubel I, p. 102. attended the Council of Pisa in 1409, at which both Benedict XIII and Gregory XII were deposed for heresy and schism; but Benedict managed to retain control of Sardinia.Martini II, p. 179.
Sulci at Iglesias Bishop Simon Vargiu(s), O.P. (1487–1503) moved his residence from Sulci to Iglesias, in consideration of the fact that Sulci was almost deserted.Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica (in Italian) Vol. 71 (Venezia: Tip. Emiliana 1855), p. 34 col. 1. Cappelletti, p. 90: "Sotto questo vescovo riusci necessario di trasferire la residenza episcopale ed il capitolo dei canonici e la cattedrale sulcitana al villaggio di Iglesias, perchè l'antica città era ridotta con pochi abitatori, e quasi deserta." Julius II, bull "Aequum reputamus", 8 December 1503, in: A. Gazano, Storia della Sardegna , Vol. 2 (Cagliari: Stamperia reale 1777), pp. 155-160: "...necnon Ampurien, et Sulcitanen ecclesiarum Regni Sardiniae, seu illarum mensarum Episcopalium fructus, redditus, et proventus adeo tenues et exiles erant.... quodque Sulcitanen, et Ottanen, et Ampurien Ecclesiae praefatae in locis desertis consistebant...." Joannes Pilares was appointed bishop of Sulci, or Iglesias, on 7 July 1503.Eubel II, p. 244 with note 4. On 8 December 1503, the seat was officially moved to Iglesias by Pope Julius II.Julius II, bull "Aequum reputamus", 8 December 1503, in: A. Gazano, Storia della Sardegna Vol. 2, p. 155: "... et Sulcitanen ad Ecclesien, et Ottanen ad Algueren, necnon Ampurien Ecclesiae praefatae ad Castel Genovien locorum Sulcitanen, Turritanen, et Ampurien dioecesum Ecclesias transferantur...." The name of the diocese was not changed.
In 1514, the Bishop of Sulci, Joannes Pilares, was promoted to the archbishopric of Cagliari, and allowed to retain the diocese of Sulci This arrangement, in which one bishop held two dioceses at the same time, was continued until 1763.
Iglesias On 18 May 1763, Pope Clement XIII issued the bull "Universi Christiani Populi" , restoring the diocese of Sulcis as independent of the archdiocese of Cagliari with its own bishop, with the diocesan name of Iglesias (Ecclesiensis).Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. 71 (Venezia: Emiliana 1855), p. 34 column 2. Bullarii Romani Continuatio Vol. 3 (Prati: typ. Aldina 1842), pp. 767-768. The date given in the margin is incorrect. The bull was signed "quinto decimo Kalendas Junii." Martini III, pp. 116-118. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 204, note 1. Luigi Satta was appointed bishop on 26 September 1763.Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 204 with notes 1 and 2.
The cathedral of Iglesias (in the town then called "Villa Ecclesias or "Villa di Chiesa"), dedicated to Santa Chiara, was erected by the Pisans in 1285, though it has been restored in later times.U. Benigni, "Iglesias, diocese of", in: The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 7 (New York: Robert Appleton 1910), pp. 638-639. The cathedral was staffed and administered by a corporation called the Chapter,C.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. which was composed of two dignities (the Archpriest and the Archdeacon) and sixteen canons. One of the canons was the Theologus, another the Penitentiarius, and a third the Parocco (parish priest of the cathedral).Martini III, p. 392. The previous cathedral located in Tratalias was built in a Pisan Romanesque style between 1213 and 1282.
The diocese of Iglesias in 1841 consisted of: one parish in the city, nine in other towns, and seven in the countryside.Martini III, p. 406.
The parish church of Saint Antiochus on the island of Sulci, which was more than 11 centuries old, and which had once been the cathedral of the diocese of Sulci, was granted the title and privileges of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on 3 September 1991.Acta Apostolicae Sedis , Vol. 84 (Città del Vaticano 1992), pp. 9-10.
Bishops To 1364
Vitalis (484)Bishop Vitalis attended a meeting in Carthage of five bishops of Sardinia, summoned by the Vandal King Hunneric, in an attempt to find an accommodation between orthodox and Arian Christians. Turtas, p. 147. ... Petrus (mid VI)Petrus: Lanzoni, p. 671, no. 2. Turtas, pp. 154 note 26; 157. ... Eutalius (between 649 and 680)Turtas, pp. 159-161. Raimondo Zucca, Insulae Sardiniae et Corsicae: le isole della Sardegna e della Corsica nell'antichità (Roma: Carocci 2003), p. 225: "... Eutalio, vescovo della ἁγιωτάτη ἐκκλησία Σούλκης...." Lai & Massa, pp. 37-38. ... Raimundus (1090)Raimundus: Mattei, p. 133. Cappelletti, p. 87. Gregorius (1102)Gregorius: Andrea Pala, "Sant’Antioco sulcitano: il culto, il santuario, le immagini dal tardoantico al barocco," in: ArcheoArte. Rivista elettronica di Archeologia e Arte (Cagliari 2010), p. 184. ... Arnaldus (1112)Arnaldus: Mattei, p. 133. Cappelletti, p. 87. ... Aimon ( 1151–after 1163)Aimon: Cappelletti, p. 87. ... Marianus (1215)Marianus: Cappelletti, p. 87. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 468 with note 2. Turtas, p. 168. Bandinus Arzottus Gregorius (1263) Mordasicius Sismondi (1281) Comes ( 1300–1324) Angelus Portasole, O.P. (1325–1330)Following the death of Bishop Comes, the cathedral Chapter elected Bonifacius O.F.M., who was illegitimate, but who was confirmed by the archbishop of Cagliari and then died. His election was voided, since the papacy had placed a reservation on the appointment, and Pope John XXII appointed Fr. Angelus on 21 April 1325. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. 5 (Paris: Fontemoing 1909), p. 353, no. 22064. Eubel I, p. 468 with note 5. He was transferred to the diocese of Grosseto on 12 February 1330, and died in February 1339. Eubel I, p. 269. Bartholomeus, O.Carm (1330–1332)Bartholomeus had been an apostolic penitentiary, and was appointed bishop of Sulcis by Pope John XXII on 12 February 1330. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. 9 (Paris: E. De Boccard 1929), p. 201, no. 48434. Eubel I, p. 468. Guilelmus Jorneti, O.F.M. (1332–1334) Guillelmus Jaffer (1334–1342?) Marianus Raimundus Gileti (1349–1359)Raimundus was appointed by Pope Clement VI on 18 May 1349. He died in 1359. Eubel I, p. 469. Francesco Alegre, O.P. (1359–1364)
From 1364 to 1514
Leonardo, O.F.M. (1364– ? ) Franciscus, Roman ObedienceFranciscus was appointed by Urban VI. Eubel I, p. 469. Leonardus, O.F.M., Roman Obedience Franciscus, Roman Obedience Andreas, Roman Obedience Conradus de Cloaco, Roman Obedience (1387–1389)Conradus (Corrado) was transferred to the diocese of Amelia by Pope Boniface IX on 23 August 1390. On 18 November 1390, he was appointed papal nuncio to Corsica and Sardinia with the mandate to publish indulgences to anyone who would fight against Pope Clement VII. On 5 December 1392, he was appointed archbishop of Arborea (Oristano), and on 13 September 1396 was transferred to the diocese of Nola. Cappelletti, p. 89. Eubel I, p. 86 with note 4; 102; 358. Cf. Pietro Martini, Storia ecclesiastica di Sardegna Vol. 2 (Cagliari 1840), pp. 178-179. Philippus, Roman Obedience Biagio, Roman Obedience (1398?– ? )Blasius (Biagio) was elected on 21 November 1396, and approved by Boniface IX on 4 April 1398. Eubel I, p. 469.