Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferentino

It is said, by Ferdinand Ughelli, that in the time of Emperor Constantine, in the 1st third of the fourth century, Ferentino had its own bishop;Ughelli, I, 672, makes the assertion without providing evidence, or even a reference to other literature. Francesco Lanzoni, p. 168, questions the assertion: "Non saprei donde l'Ughelli

(I, 672) lo abbia desunto. E senza prove." but the first bishop known by name is Bassus, at the end of the 5th century. Bishop Redemptus (about 570) is mentioned in the Dialogues of Gregory the Great, but Redemptus was bishop of Ferentum in Tuscany, not Ferentinum in Latium.Gregory, Dialogues III. 38. Lanzoni, p. 168. Pope Gregory also refers to a Bishop Boniface, but he was a bishop of Ferentum in Tuscany.Gregory, Dialogues I. 9. Gams, p. 677.

The Second Vatican Council, 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 particular those with financial and personnel problems.In its decree [https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_christus-dominus_en.html 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." It also decreed that 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.

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. This applied to the dioceses of Veroli and Frosinone. The Vatican therefore continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of dioceses. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Veroli, Frosinone, and Ferentino be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Frusinatensis-Verulana-Ferentina. The seat of the diocese was to be in Frosinone, whose cathedral was to serve as the cathedral of the merged dioceses. The cathedrals in Veroli and Ferentino were to become co-cathedrals, and the cathedral Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Frosinone, 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 dioceses of Veroli, Frosinone, and Ferentino.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 825-828.

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• Bassus (attested 487–499)Bishop Bassus was present at Roman synods of 487 and 492-493. Lanzoni, p. 168.
• Innocentius (attested 501)

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• Bonus (attested 556)

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• Luminosus (attested 595)

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:[Agnellus]Agnellus is placed in 595, on the basis of a forged bull of Pope Gregory I: Lanzoni, p. 168. Ughelli I, p. 674, places the bull in 601.

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• Bonitus (attested 649)Bishop Bonitus was present at the Lateran council of Pope Martin I in 649. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20vs/200_Mansi/1692-1769,_Mansi_JD,_Sacrorum_Conciliorum_Nova_Amplissima_Collectio_Vol_010,_LT.pdf Tomus XI] (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 866. Ughelli I, p. 674.

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• Agnellus (attested 721)Bishop Agnellus was present at the Roman synod of Pope Gregory II on 5 April 721. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20vs/200_Mansi/1692-1769,_Mansi_JD,_Sacrorum_Conciliorum_Nova_Amplissima_Collectio_Vol_012,_LT.pdf Tomus XII] (Florence: A. Zatta 1766), p. 264. Ughelli I, p. 674.

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• Stephanus (attested 761)Pope Paul I held a synod in Rome in 761. At the synod he issued a bull in favor of the monastery of S. Stefano, to which Bishop Stephanus subscribed. {{cite book|author=Cesare Baronio|editor=Augustino Theiner|title=Annales ecclesiastici|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qhTnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP7|volume=Tomus duodecimus (12)|year=1867|publisher=L. Guerin|location=Bar-le-Duc|language=Latin|page=648}}
• Sergius (attested 769)Bishop Sergius was present at the Roman synod of Pope Stephen III on 12 April 769. Mansi, [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20vs/200_Mansi/1692-1769,_Mansi_JD,_Sacrorum_Conciliorum_Nova_Amplissima_Collectio_Vol_012,_LT.pdf Tomus XII], p. 715.

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:[Joannes (9th cent.?)]Joannes is known only to Cappelletti, p. 401, who found his name in a Ferentine manuscript: "E qui, poichè io non trovo alcuna ragione di escluderlo, ammettero quel Giovanni, che tra 796 e l'826 vedo signato nel manoscritto ferentinate." Cappelletti gives no reason for his dating.

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• Adrianus (attested 853)Bishop Adrianus took part in the Roman synod of Pope Leo IV on 8 December 853. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20vs/200_Mansi/1692-1769,_Mansi_JD,_Sacrorum_Conciliorum_Nova_Amplissima_Collectio_Vol_014,_LT.pdf Tomus XIV] (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020.
• Petrus (attested 861)

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• Romanus (attested 973–974)Bishop Romanus was present at the synod of 963, at which Pope John XII was deposed. He was also present at the Roman synod of 26 February 964, at which John XII was rehabilitated and his opponent Leo anathematized. Mansi, [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/20vs/200_Mansi/1692-1769,_Mansi_JD,_Sacrorum_Conciliorum_Nova_Amplissima_Collectio_Vol_018,_LT.pdf Tomus XVIII], pp. 465, 471. Ughelli I, p. 674. Schwartz, p. 270.

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• Dominicus (attested 993)
• Aifredus (attested 998–999)
• Benedictus (attested 1015)

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• Augustinus (attested 1106–1113)
• Placidus (d. 1130)

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• Trasmondo Sognino (1150), who died in prison;
• Ubaldus (1150)Bishop Ubaldus was legate of Pope Adrian IV to the princes of Christendom in favor of a crusade. He was later the consecrator of the antipope Victor IV at the abbey of Farfa, for which he was deposed by Pope Alexander III.
• Rodulfus (1160–1191)Rodulfus was appointed by Pope Alexander III, and consecrated by him on 5 October 1161. Rodulfus took part in the Third Lateran Council of March 1179. He died on 25 February 1191 Ughelli I, p. 675.
• Berardus (1191–1203)Berardus died on 22 January 1203. Ughelli I, p. 675–677.

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• Albert Longhi (1203 – ? )Albert had been a Canon of Anagni. He was consecrated at Ferentino by Pope Innocent III on 22 June 1203. Cappelletti VI, p. 409. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 246 with note 1.
• Donatus
• Jacobus de Velletri, O.Min. (after 1252)Giacomo was sent, in 1252 before becoming bishop, to Poland for the canonization of S. Stanislaus. He was a legate of Pope John XXI to Emperor Michael Palaeologus. Eubel I, p. 246 with note 2.
• Jacobus, O.P.Jacobus: Eubel I, p. 246 with note 3.
• Landolfo Rossi (1298–1303)Landulfus was a Canon of the cathedral Chapter and a papal chaplain. He was preferred (appointed) bishop of Ferentino on 29 March 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII, in succession to the deceased Bishop Jacobus. He was assigned the task of reconciling the cities of Gubbio, Cagli, Fossombrone, and Senogallia to the Papacy. He also brokered a peace between Orvieto and Todi. He died in 1303. Ughelli I, p. 678. Eubel I, p. 246.
• Berardus (1304– ? )Berardus: Eubel I, p. 246.
• Philippus (1318–1348)Filippo: Eubel I, p. 246.
• Pietro Ruggeri (1348–1374?)Pietro: Cappelletti VI, p. 417. Eubel I, p. 246.
• Albertus de Carreto, O.E.S.A. (1374–c. 1392) Roman ObedienceAlberto: Cappelletti VI, p. 417. Eubel I, p. 246.
• Gilbertus da Ferentino, O.Min. (1379– ? ) Avignon ObedienceGilberto: Eubel I, p. 246.
• Giovanni Bonifacio Panella (1392–1395) Roman ObedienceA native of Naples, Panella was a Canon of the Vatican Basilica and a chamberlain of Pope Boniface IX; he also held the post of Abbreviator and Scriptor of papal documents. He administered several cardinalatial titular churches, which had not been assigned to any cardinal. He was appointed Bishop of Ferentino on 8 March 1392, but kept in the papal court. On 15 May 1395 Panella was appointed Archbishop of Durrës in Albania by Boniface IX; on 8 August 1398, a papal letter advised the Greek and Latin clergy of Durazzo to obey Panella. On 16 May 1399, he was transferred to the diocese of Capaccio. In 1407, he was transferred by Gregory XII to the diocese of Muro Lucano in Basilicata. He died c. 1417. Cappelletti XX, p. 573. Eubel I, pp. 165, 232, 246 with note 5; 352.
• Angelo Vecchio, O.Min. (1395– ? ) Avignon Obedience
• Niccolò Vincioni (1395–1410) Roman ObedienceNicolaus de Vincione was an Auditor of the Rota (judge). He was Bishop of Potenza (1393–1395). He was appointed Bishop of Ferentino by Boniface IX on 21 May 1395. In 1408, he was regent of the papal chancery of Gregory XII, continuing in office at least until 25 June 1413. In the Council of Pisa, he supported the cause of Gregory XII, but, after Gregory was deposed on 5 June 1409, he was deprived of his bishopric by Pope Alexander V. In 1410, Bishop Nicolaus was transferred to the diocese of Spoleto by Gregory XII, and Angelo de Vivianis was appointed in his place, but Angelo never obtained possession of the diocese. Nicolaus, it seems, never obtained Spoleto until 1417 with the death of Jacobus Palladini (1410–1417), the appointee of John XXIII. Ughelli I, p. 678. Eubel I, pp. 247, 407 with note 7. Gams, p. 728, and Eubel give the name of the Bishop of Spoleto as Nicolaus Vivari, and he may not be the same person as Nicolaus de Vincione.
• Sixtus da Ferentino, O.Min. (1409–1433)Sixtus was appointed by Pope Alexander V on 9 August 1409. He died in 1433. Ughelli I, p. 678. Cappelletti VI, p. 418. Eubel I, p. 247 with note 7.
• Antonio Boccabella, O.F.M. (23 Dec 1435 – 24 Jan 1445)Boccabella was a native of Rome. Ughelli I, pp. 678-679. Cappelletti VI, p. 418. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica II, p. 153.
• Giovanni Tricarico, O.S.A. (12 Feb 1445 – 1453)Tricarico had been Preceptor of the Ospedale di Santo Spirito di Sassia in Rome. Cappelletti VI, p. 418. Eubel II, p. 153.
• Antonio Laurenti (28 Sep 1453 – 1498)Laurenti (Lorenzi): Cappelletti VI, pp. 418-419. Eubel II, p. 153.
• Pietro de Fenestrosa (1498–1499)Pietro was a native of Spain. He was appointed Bishop of Ferentino by Pope Alexander VI on 4 July 1498, and served for less than fifteen months. He died in Ferentino on 22 September 1499, according to his tombstone. Cappelletti VI, pp. 419-420. Eubel II, p. 153.
• Francesco Filipperi (1499–1510)Filipperi had been pro-Legate in Picenum for many years. He was named Bishop of Ferentino by Pope Alexander VI on 11 October 1499. Under Julius II, he was papal ambassador to the Emperor Maximilian, and was outside his diocese during most of his administration. He died in Rome on 15 March 1510, and was buried in Rome, in the church of S. Maria del Popolo. Ughelli I, p. 679. Cappelletti VI, p. 420. Eubel II, p. 153.

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• Tranquillo de Macarazzi (1510–1548)Tranquillo de' Macarazzi dei Leoni was a native of Rome, and a Canon of S. Maria Maggiore. He was the nephew of Bishop Francesco Filipperi, and was in service to Cardinal Sesto Franciotti della Rovere. He was appointed by Pope Julius II on 16 December 1510. He attended most of the sessions of the Fifth Lateran Council. On 6 February 1535, he was appointed governor of Campania e Marittima. He died on 6 April 1548. Ughelli I, p. 679. Cappelletti VI, p. 420. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 195 with note 3.
• Sebastiano Antonio Pighini (4 Jun 1548 – 1550)On 30 May 1550, Pighini was appointed Archbishop of Manfredonia. Eubel III, p. 195 with note 4.
• Dionisio de Robertis, O.S.M. (30 May 1550 –1554)On 30 March 1554, de Robertis was appointed Archbishop of Manfredonia.
• Aurelio Tibaldeschi, O.S.Io.Hieros. (30 Apr 1554 – 1584)Tibaldeschi was the son of a sister of Pope Julius III. Morosini, p. 39.
• Silvio Galassi (3 Jun 1585 – 1591)
• Orazio Ciceroni (31 Jul 1591 – 1603)Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, pp. 185–186.
• Fabrizio Campani (7 Apr 1603 – 15 Jun 1605)
• Dionigi Morelli (5 Aug 1605 – 13 Oct 1612)
• Ennio Filonardi (19 Nov 1612 – 1644)
• Enea di Cesare Spennazzi (23 May 1644 – 1658)
• Ottavio Roncioni (8 Jul 1658 –1676)Roncioni died on 2 July 1676. Gauchat, p. 186. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 199, note 2.
• Giovanni Carlo Antonelli (1677–1694)Antonelli was born in Velletri, and held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was a Canon of the cathedral of Velletri, and served as Vicar General of Velletri, then of Albano, then of Gubbio. He was named Bishop of Ferentino on 11 January 1677 by Pope Innocent XI. He made several pastoral visitations, held a diocesan synod, and opened the episcopal seminary. He died on 20 April 1694. Cappelletti VI, p. 422. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 199 with note 3.
• Valeriano Cierchielli (1694–1718 Resigned)Cierchielli (not Chierichelli) was born in Amerino, and held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was governor of Monte S. Giovanni in Campania (1693–1694). He was appointed Bishop of Ferentino on 21 June 1694 by Pope Innocent XII. He resigned on 14 May 1718, and died in Rome on 13 August 1722. Cappelletti VI, pp. 422-423. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 199 with note 4.
• Simone Gritti (1718–1729)Born in Prolosio (diocese of Macarsa) in 1686, though sometimes called a Venetian, Gritti had doctoral degrees in philosophy and theology (1715); he also held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He had been a Canon with prebend of the Collegiate Church of S. Girolamo degli Illyrici. He was named Bishop of Ferentino on 8 June 1718, following the resignation of Bishop Cierchielli, who had been the victim of harassment. On 23 December 1729, Gritti was appointed Bishop of Acquapendente. On 19 October 1740, Gritti was summoned to Rome because of non-residence, and a Vicar Apostolic was appointed to administer the diocese of Acquapendente; on 25 November 1743, he resigned the diocese. He died in Rome on 16 September 1761. Cappelletti VI, p. 423. Ritzler and Sefrin V, pp. 92 with note 11; 151 with note 4; 199 with note 5.
• Fabrizio Borgia (1729–1754)Borgia was born in Velletri in 1689. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Macerata, 1721). He was a Canon of Velletri, and an Assessor at the Office of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition at the Vatican. He was appointed Bishop of Ferentino on 23 December 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. He died in Ferentino on 2 September 1754. Cappelletti VI, p. 423. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 199 with note 6.
• Pietro Paolo Tosi (16 Sep 1754 – 31 Mar 1798)Born in Belvedere (diocese of Senigallia) in 1714, Tosi held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Macerata (1742). For twelve years he was Vicar General of the diocese of Orvieto. On 16 September 1754, he was appointed Bishop of Ferentino by Pope Benedict XIV. He held a diocesan synod in 1767. Cappelletti states that he died on 31 March 1798, and that a sede vacante followed, lasting 2 years, 4 months, and 11 days. Cappelletti VI, pp. 423-424. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 214 with note 2.

:Sede vacante (1798–1800)Cappelletti states that he died on 31 March 1798, and that a sede vacante followed, lasting 2 years, 4 months, and 11 days. Cappelletti VI, p. 424.

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• Nicola Buschi (11 Aug 1800 – 23 Sep 1813 Died)
• Luca Amici (15 Mar 1815 – 8 Feb 1818 Died)
• Gaudenzio Patrignani, O.F.M. Obs. (25 May 1818 – 15 Feb 1823 Died)
• Giuseppe-Maria Lais (10 Mar 1823 – 18 Jan 1836 Died)
• Vincenzo Macioti (1 Feb 1836 – 5 Aug 1840 Died)
• Giovanni Giuseppe Canali (14 Dec 1840 – 24 Jan 1842 Resigned)
• Antonio Benedetto Antonucci (22 Jul 1842 – 25 Jul 1844 Appointed, Titular Archbishop of Tarsus)
• Bernardo-Maria Tirabassi (20 Jan 1845 – 2 Jan 1865 Died)
• Gesualdo Vitali (27 Mar 1865 – 31 Dec 1879 Died)
• Pietro Facciotti (27 Jan 1880 – 19 Apr 1897 Resigned)
• Domenico Bianconi (19 Apr 1897 – 12 Jun 1922 Died)
• Alessandro Fontana (11 Dec 1922 – 21 Dec 1941 Died)
• Tommaso Leonetti (14 Apr 1942 – 10 Jul 1962 Appointed, Archbishop of Capua)
• Costantino Caminada (21 Jul 1962 – 6 Nov 1972 Died)
• Umberto Florenzani (27 Jan 1973 – 21 Dec 1973 Appointed, Bishop of Anagni)
• Michele Federici (21 Dec 1973 – 23 Nov 1980 Died)
• Angelo Cella, M.S.C. (6 Jun 1981 –1986)

:The diocese of Veroli-Frosinone was vacant from 1980 to 1986; on 30 September 1986 Cella was appointed bishop of the newly united diocese of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|editor-last1=Eubel|editor-first1=Conradus |title=Hierarchia catholica|volume= Tomus 1|date=1913|publisher=Libreria Regensbergiana|location=Münster|edition=second|url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol01eubeuoft|language=Latin}}
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• Schwartz, Gerhard (1907). [https://archive.org/details/MN42020ucmf_1 Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122]. Leipzig: B.G. Teubner. (in lang|de)
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Ferentino