The Diocese of Belcastro (Latin: Dioecesis Bellicastrensis) in the town of Belcastro in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. In 1828, it was suppressed to the Archdiocese of Santa Severina."Diocese of Belcastro" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016"Titular Episcopal See of Belcastro" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved August 26, 2016

History The diocese of Belcastro has existed from at least 1122, suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Severina, but the earliest bishop whose name is known is of the early 13th century.

By the papal bull De utiliori of Pope Pius VII of 27 June 1828, the diocese was suppressed, its territory being incorporated (without its title) into its Metropolitan's archdiocese of Santa Severina.Bolla De utiliori, in Bullarii romani continuatio, Vol. XV, Rome 1853, pp. 56-61Giuseppe Cappelletti, Le Chiese d'Italia della loro origine sino ai nostri giorni, vol. XIX, Venezia 1864, pp. 44-83Taccone-Gallucci, Vescovi di Cal. in Regesti dei Pontefici, Roma 1902Giovanni Minasi, Le chiese di Calabria dal quinto al duodecimo secolo: cenni storici. Napoli : Lanciano e Pinto, 1896, Cap. XVI, ad indicem; Ristampa anastatica: Oppido Mamertina : Barbaro, 1987

Ordinaries Diocese of Belcastro Erected: 1122 Latin Name: Bellicastrensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santa Severina (all Roman Rite)

Gregorio (1333 – death 1348) Nicola da Offida, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (1349.06.15 – 1358.12.10), previously Bishop of Butrinto (Epirus, ? – 1349.06.15); later Bishop of Argos (Greece, 1358.12.10 – ?) Venturino (1358.12.10 – ?) Giovanni (1370.08.19 – death 1399) Riccardo de Olibano (1400.03.13 – 1402.11.06), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Acerenza (Italy) (1402.11.06 – 1407), Archbishop of Matera (Italy) (1402.11.06 – 1407) Luca (1403.02.07 – death 1413), previously Bishop of Policastro (Italy) (1392 – 1403.02.07) Roberto de Basilio (1413.02.13 – ?), previously Bishop of Squillace (Italy) (1402.08.18 – 1413.02.13) Giovanni Opizzoni (1418.04.24 – death 1474)"Bishop Giovanni Opizzoni" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Raimondo Poerio, O.P. (1474.09 – resigned 1518.08.09)"Bishop Raimondo Poerio, O.P." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Leonardo Levato (1518.08.23 – death 1533)"Bishop Leonardo Levato" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Girolamo Fornari, O.P. (1533.08.04 – death 1542)"Bishop Girolamo Fornari, O.P." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Giacomo de' Giacomelli (1542.05.05 – resigned 1552.12.14)"Bishop Giacomo de' Giacomelli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Cesare de' Giacomelli (1553.01.23 – death 1577)"Bishop Cesare de' Giacomelli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Giovanni Antonio de Paola (1577.05.10 – death 1591)"Bishop Giovanni Antonio de Paola" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Orazio Schipano (1591.11.13 – death 1596)"Bishop Orazio Schipano" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Alessandro Papatodoro (1596.08.12 – death 1597)"Bishop Alessandro Papatodoro" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Giovanni Francesco Zagordo (1598.02.23 – death 1599), previously Bishop of Città Ducale (1593.04.07 – death 1598.02.23)"Bishop Giovanni Francesco Zagordo" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Antonio Lauro (bishop) (1599.09.13 – death 1609)"Bishop Antonio Lauro" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Pedro de Mata y Haro, Theatines (C.R.) (1609.08.03 – 1611.02.28), later Bishop of Capaccio (Italy) (1611.02.28 – death 1627)"Bishop Pedro de Mata y Haro, C.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 4, 2016 Gregorio de Sanctis (Giorgio Santi), C.R. (1611.10.24 – death 1612.10.02), previously Titular Bishop of Salamis postea Constantia (1606.07.31 – 1611.10.24) Fulvio Tesorieri (Fulvio Thesauro) (1612.12.03 – death 1616))."Bishop Fulvio Tesorieri" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016 Girolamo Ricciulli (1616.12.05 – death 1626.08.07)"Bishop Girolamo Ricciulli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016 Antonio Ricciulli (1626.11.16 – 1629), later Bishop of Umbriatico (1632.02.16 – 1639.02.07), Bishop of Caserta (Italy) (1639.02.07 – 1641.11.27), Metropolitan Archbishop of Cosenza (Italy) (1641.11.27 – death 1643.05) Filippo Crino (Zurio) (1629.11.19 – death 1633)"Bishop Filippo Crino (Zurio)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 26, 2016 Bartolomeo Gessi (1633.01.10 – 1639.05.02), later Bishop of Vulturara e Montecorvino (1639.05.02 – death 1642.08) Francesco Clerico, C.R. (1639.08.08 – death 1652) Carlo Sgombrino (1652.12.11 – 1672.02.08), previously Bishop of Squillace (Italy) (1652.12.11 – 1672.02.08); later Bishop of Catanzaro (Italy) (1672.02.08 – 1686.10) Carlo Galgano (1672.02.22 – 1683) Benedetto Bartolo (1684.09.18 – death 1685), previously Bishop of Lacedonia (Italy) (1672.09.12 – 1684.09.18) Giovanni Alfonso Petrucci (1685.07.15 – death 1688)"Bishop Giovanni Alfonso Petrucci" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 27, 2016 Giovanni Emblaviti (1688.05.06 – death 1722)"Bishop Giovanni Emblaviti" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 271, 2016 Michelangelo Gentili (1722.07.06 – death 1729) Giovanni Battista Capuani (1729.12.23 – death 1752) Giacomo Guacci (1752.11.27 – death 1754.08) Tommaso Fabiani (1755.03.17 – death 1778.12.03) Vincenzo Greco (1792.03.26 – death 1806.05.17)

1818: Suppressed to the Archdiocese of Santa Severina

Titular see No longer a residential bishopric, the diocese, known in Latin as Bellicastrum, is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular seeAnnuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ), p. 848 since its nominal restoration as a titular bishopric in 1968.

It has had the following incumbents of the lowest (episcopal) and intermediary (archiepiscopal) ranks : Titular Archbishop Felicissimo Stefano Tinivella, Friars Minor O.F.M. (1968.07.06 – 1970.12.12) Titular Bishop José Gottardi Cristelli, Salesians (S.D.B.) (1972.03.01 – 1985.06.05) Titular Archbishop Pietro Sambi (1985.10.10 – 2011.07.27) Titular Archbishop Julien Ries (2012.01.23 – 2012.02.18) (later Cardinal) Titular Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo (2013.04.06 – ...), O.F.M., Secretary of the Roman Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life

See also Catholic Church in Italy

References