The Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino (Latin: Dioecesis Massana-Plumbinensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, central Italy. It was known as Diocese of Massa Marittima before 1978. Up until 1458, it was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Pisa; since 1458, it has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Siena. The territory of the diocese includes the islands of Elba and Pianosa, and (up to 1817) Capraia.
History
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Massa Marittima was first mentioned in the eighth century. It grew at the expense of Populonia, an ancient city of the Etruscans. Populonia was besieged by Sulla, and in Strabo's time was already declining; later it suffered at the hands of Totila, King of the Lombards, and in 817 of a Byzantine fleet. After this, the bishops of Populonia abandoned the town, which was destroyed in the 9th century, and moved their seat to Castrum Corniae. In the eleventh century, the bishops established their residence at Massa, though continuing to call themselves bishops of Populonia. Bishop Martinus (1181–1196) is the first to be called Bishop of Populonia e Massa.
On 22 April 1138, Populonia was made a suffragan of Pisa by Pope Innocent II, who had once been living in exile in Pisa; the bull stated that the grant was a compensation for Pisa's loss of the overlordship of the bishops of Corsica earlier in the century. Before 1138, Populonia had been directly subject to the Holy See (Papacy), and attended the Roman synods.
In 1226 Massa became a commune under the protection of Pisa. In 1307 it made an alliance with Siena, which was the cause of many wars between the two republics.
On 22 April 1459, Pope Pius II issued the bull "Triumphans Pastor", in which he raised the diocese of Siena to metropolitan status, and assigned to it as suffragans the dioceses of Soano, Chiusi, Massa, and Grosseto.
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. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures. This applied to Populonia, which had a tiny population but was part of the name of the diocese, while the much larger city of Piombino, which was a civil administrative center, had no recognition. On 14 May 1978, at the instruction of Pope Paul VI, the name "Populonia" was removed from the name of the diocese, and the name "Piombino" substituted. The name "Populonia", however, was preserved as the name of a new titular diocese.
The first known Bishop of Populonia was Atellus, or Asellus (about 495). Among the bishops of Massa were Antonio da Massa Marittima (1430), a former minister general of the Franciscans, and legate of Pope Boniface IX; Leonardo Dati (1467), author of poetic satires. Massa Marittima's most famous native son was Saint Bernardino (of Siena) (1380–1444), whose father was the governor of Massa at the time of Bernardino's birth.
The cathedral of Massa, begun in the first years of the 11th century, is dedicated to Saint Cerbonius, one of its earliest bishops, who was named protector of the city. The cathedral is also a parish church. Its earliest construction is Romanesque, but, beginning in 1287, it was extended under the supervision of Giovanni Pisano. The present cathedral structure was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585– 1587) on 23 March 1586.
The cathedral is served and administered by a Chapter, composed of two dignities (the Archpriest and the Provost) and ten Canons. In 1679, there were only six Canons. In 1770 there were eight Canons. Since the cathedral has parishioners, the Archpriest is responsible for their spiritual care.
The co-cathedral in Piombino, once the convent of the Augustinian monks, was built through the generosity of the Lord of Piombino, Jacopo d'Appiano, between 1374 and 1377. The Augustinians were ejected in 1806, under the regulations of the French occupation, and S. Antimo was severely damaged. The co-cathedral is dedicated to Saint Antimo.
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 Nicolaus Beruti, O.P. (1394–1404) held a diocesan synod on 20 May 1396, at which, having considered the effects of the wars and famine, it was decided to reduce the decima (tithe). A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Vincenzo Casali (1585–1587) on 10–11 April 1586.
On 18–20 April 1723, Bishop Eusebio Ciani (1719–1770) presided over a diocesan synod, held in the cathedral at Massa. He held another synod in 1746, at which the parish priest of the island of Capraia was raised to the dignity of archpriest.
Bishop Giovanni Battista Boracchia (1892–1924) held a diocesan synod in Massa on 11–13 October 1921.
^Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum romanorum pontificum (in Latin). Vol. Tomus V. Turin: Seb. Franco, H. Fori et H. Dalmazzo. 1860. pp. 150–152 §3.: "Necnon filias nostras praedictas Suanensem, Clusinensem et Grossetanensem et Massanensem Ecclesias, cum suis civitatibus et dioecesibus, iuribus el pertinentiis universis, Ecclesiae Seuensi et arcbiepiscopis praefatis, tamquam illorum metropolitanis et de eorum provincia...."
^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."
^"Cum vero civitas Populonia, olim opibus copiosa, nunc ad paucos incolas redacta sit dum e contra urbs Plumbinum in praesens incolarum, magistratuum ac publicorum munerum habentium, negotiorum et religionis operum prospera incrementa susceperit...."
^Luigi Mezzadri; Maurizio Tagliaferri; Elio Guerriero (2008). Le diocesi d'Italia (in Italian). Vol. III. Cinisello Balsamo: San Paolo. p. 692. ISBN978-88-215-6172-6.
^Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 70 (Citta del Vaticano 1978), p. 434. "...titulus Ecclesiae Populoniensis in indicem sedium titularium inseratur atque Episcopis conferatur qui titulares nuncupantur."
^The title of archpriest lasted from 1746 to 1817, when Capraia was incorporated into the diocese of Genoa. Arturo Ferretto, "I Primordi e lo sviluppo del Cristianesmo nel in Liguria ed in particolare a Genova," Atti della Società ligure di storia patria. Serie 3, no. XII (in Italian). Vol. 39. Genova: Per Tommaso Ferrando. 1907. p. 471.
^Florentius is known only through the hagiographical life of Saint Cerbonius. The life of Saint Cerbonius is based on the hagiographical life of Saint Regulus. Both are filled with anachronisms and unlikely events. Lanzoni, pp. 554-557. Garzella, pp. 1-21.
^Lanzoni, p. 558: "L'Ughelli (III, 703) mette in Populonia un Maximinus, su la fede di Gregorio Magno; ma il pontefice non ne parla." ('Ughelli places a Maximinus in Populonia, on the authority of Pope Gregory I, bit the Pope does not speak of him.')
^Pope Gregory I (Epistles I. 15) appointed Bishop Balbinus of Rosellae as Apostolic Visitor of the Church of Populonia. Kehr III, p. 269, no. 1.
^Wido: Schwartz, p. 260: "Wahrscheinlich gleich darauf zum Bischof von Lucca erhoben."
^Laurentius: Cappelletti, p. 693. Schwartz, p. 261.
^Bishop Rolandus of Populonia was present at the Roman council of the Lateran of March 1112. A bill of Pope Honorius II mentions him as "Illandus Massanus". In 1138 he subscribes as "R. Populoniensis episcopus" in a document of Archbishop Baldwin of Pisa; Populonia-Massa is apparently a suffragan of Pisa by 1138. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXI (Venice: A. Zatta 1776), pp. 51 and 70. Ughelli, pp. 711-712. Cappelletti, p. 693. Schwartz, p. 262.
^Lando, a Canon of Pistoia, was appointed on 24 December 1307, after Accurso Orlandi, who had been elected by the cathedral Chapter, refused the election. Pope Clement V ordered Cardinal Leonardo Patrasso, Bishop of Albano, to carry out his consecration. Cappelletti, p. 699. Regestvm Clementis papae V (in Latin). Vol. Tomus tertius. Roma: ex Typographia Vaticana. 1885. pp. 15, no. 2358. Eubel I, p. 329 with note 3.
^Cristoforo Tolomei was a native of Siena. Cappelletti, p. 699.
^In 1322, Bishop Joannes wrote a letter to Pope John XXII, signing himself "Bishop of Populonia and Massa". Cappelletti, pp. 699-700.
^Galgano was a member of the nobility of Siena. Cappelletti, p. 700. Eubel I, p. 329.
^Guido had been Archpriest of Vercelli, and then Bishop of Macerata (1347–1349). He was transferred to the diocese of Populonia e Massad on 21 October 1349 by Pope Clement VI. In 1356 he held a diocesan synod; in the summons he calls himself "Bishop of Massa". Cesaretti, pp. 49-50. Cappelletti, p. 700. Eubel I, pp. 329, 410.
^On 29 October 1380, Antonio was transferred to the diocese of Lucca. Cesaretti, pp. 50-51. Gams, p. 740. Eubel I, p. 329 (who has him die in Massa, though he does not give a date).
^Pietro was a native of Fano, and had been bishop of Civitas nova (?). He was appointed bishop of Massa by Urban VI on 27 December 1380. He was transferred to his home town of Fano on 26 February 1389. Cesaretti, p. 51. Eubel I, pp. 245, 329, who notes that the chronology is particularly contradictory and uncertain.
^Nicolaus had been Bishop of Capri since 1377. He was appointed to Massa on 1 November 1385 by Pope Clement VII (Avignon Obedience). He apparently did not take possession, and thus a date for the end of his episcopacy is not recorded. Eubel I, pp. 164, 329. He is ignored by Cesaretti, p. 51, and by Cappelletti, p. 700.
^Andrea was a citizen of Siena, and the brother of Guido di Giovanni Guidi, the noted condottiere. He was appointed Bishop of Massa on 7 January 1389 by Urban VI. Galeazzi was transferred to the diocese of Assisi on 10 October 1389 by Pope Boniface IX, and at the same time Bishop Aduardus of Assisi was deposed as a follower of Clement VII. Cesaretti, p. 51. Cappelletti, p. 700. Eubel I, pp. 113, 329.
^A native of Pontremoli, Gabrielli held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was a Canon of Core, and a chaplain of Pope Boniface IX, who appointed him to the diocese of Massa on 28 November 1390. He was sent as papal Legate to Władysław II Jagiełło, King of Poland and the Teutonic Knights, who were disputing rights in Lithuania. He was transferred to the diocese of Pisa on 9 September 1394. He died on 25 June 1400. Cesarini, pp. 51-52. Eubel I, pp. 329, 400.
^Antonius held a doctorate in theology. In 1422, he was an ambassador of Pope Martin V to Constantinople. He was then Minister General of the Franciscan Order. He was named Bishop of Massa by provision of Martin V on 12 June 1430 (the bull of appointment in Cesarini, pp. 162-164). He signed his Last Will and Testament on 13 September 1435 (Cesarini, p. 164); his successor was appointed on 7 October 1435. Cappelletti, p. Eubel I, pp. 329; II, p. 187.
^Richard had been Abbot of S. Pancrazio, and then Abbot of Vallambrosa. He was named Bishop of Massa on 7 October 1435. He died in 1438. He was still bishop-elect when he died: Cesaretti, p. 158: "Cum nos nuper Ecclesiae Massarum, tunc Pastoris solatio destitutae de Persona dilecti Filii Richardi Electi Massanen...." Ughelli III, p. 722-723. Cappelletti, p. 702. Eubel Hierarchia catholica II, p. 187.
^Pietro had previously been Bishop of Corneto. He was transferred to the diocese of Massa by Pope Eugenius IV on 6 March 1439. The government of Siena attempted to prevent his entry into his diocese, but they were placed under the interdict by Pope Eugenius, which caused them to relent. When Siena became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1459, Massa was made a suffragan of Siena. Dell'Orto died in 1467. Cappelletti, p. 705. Eubel II, p. 187.
^A native of Florence, Dati had been papal secretary to both Pope Paul II (1464–1471) and Pope Sixtus IV (1471–1484). Obviously, he was non-residential. He died in Rome in 1472 at the age of 64. Cappelletti, pp. 705-706. Eubel II, p. 187.
^Della Rovere was a native of Savona and a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. He paid for his bulls of institution and consecration on 8 January 1472. On 11 July 1474 he was transferred to the diocese of Ferrara by Pope Sixtus IV. He died in 1494. Eubel II, pp. 153, 187.
^A native of Siena, Gianderoni lived in Rome and was the papal Sacristan. He was appointed Bishop of Massa on 15 July 1475, though Massa was ruled by his Vicar, Michele da Massa, O.S.A. Gianderoni died in Rome in 1483. Cappelletti, p. 706. Eubel II, p. 187.
^Conti was named coadjutor of the bishop of Orvieto, but he died before he could succeed. Ughelli III, p. 725. Cappelletti, p. 706. Eubel II, p. 187.
^A member of the nobility of Siena, Benassai had a degree in law, and was a Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber (Treasury) and scriptor litterarum apostolicarum of Pope Alexander VI. He was then Treasurer General of the Holy Roman Church (third highest post in the Apostolic Camera, after the Camerlengo and the Governor of Rome). He was appointed Bishop of Massa by Alexander VI on 6 October 1501. During the conclaves of 1503 he was still serving as Treasurer General, and also held the post of papal Sacristan. In 1504, he was arrested for fraud and imprisoned. On 5 November 1504, he was released, but compelled to resign all of his offices in the papal Court and pay a fine of 8,000 ducats. Johann Burchard (1885). Louis Thuasne (ed.). Diarium: sive Rerum urbanarum commentarii (1483-1506) (in Latin). Vol. Tome troisième. Paris: E. Leroux. pp. 258, 269, 278, 288, 370. Ughelli, pp. 725-726. Cesaretti, pp. 61-62. Eubel II, p. 187.
^Cardinal Cesi was appointed Administrator of the diocese of Massa on 6 October 1529. He resigned upon the appointment of a new bishop on 21 October 1530. Cesaretti, p. 63. Eubel III, p. 237.
^A native of Siena, Ghianderoni had been Archbishop of Amalfi from 1519 to 1530. In 1529 he was appointed commissary for the intended journey of Pope Clement VII to Bologna for the imperial coronation. He was confirmed as bishop of Massa on 21 October 1530. On 12 November 1538 Ghianderoni was appointed Bishop of Ancona e Numana by Pope Paul III; he resigned in 1550. Cesaretti, pp. 63-64. Eubel III, pp. 105 with note 6; 108; 237.
^Born in 1520, Farnese was only 18 years old when named Apostolic Administrator of Massa. During his entire term he was too young to be canonically consecrated a bishop. He was appointed to Massa on 15 November 1538, and took possession by procurator and resigned on 22 April 1547. Cesaretti, pp. 64, 175. Cappelletti, p. 707. Eubel III, p. 237.
^A native Roman, Maffei was secretary of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, and then of Pope Paul III, and a Canon of the Vatican Basilica. He was appointed Bishop of Massa on 22 April 1547. On 8 April 1549, Maffei was named a cardinal by Pope Paul III; he was still only bishop-elect. On 7 Jun 1549 Maffei was appointed Bishop of Caserta. He died in Rome on 16 July 1553 at the age of 39, and was buried in S. Maria sopra Minerva. Ughelli, pp. 726-727. Cesaretti, p. 64. Eubel III, pp. 31 no. 71; 155, 237.
^Born in Evora (Spain), Silva was for many years ambassador of the king of Portugal to the Holy See. He was appointed Bishop of Viseu in 1526 (a post he resigned in 1547), and became a cardinal in 1539. He served the papacy as Legate of the Marches of Ancona from 9 January 1545; on 19 March 1545 he was named governor of Fermo. He was appointed Bishop of Massa on 22 April 1549. He was Legate of Bologna. He died on 5 June 1556. Cappelletti, p. 707. Eubel III, pp. 27 no. 39; 237, 335.
^A native of Siena and the Provost of the cathedral Chapter of Siena, Petrucci was named bishop of Massa on 22 April 1602. He restored the cathedral, and rebuilt the episcopal palace. On 23 March 1615, Petrucci was transferred to the diocese of Siena by Pope Paul V. Cesaretti, pp. 67-69. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 234 with note 2; 312.
^Piccolomini held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and had been Canon, Archpriest, and then Provost of the cathedral Chapter of Siena. He was named Bishop of Massa on 30 March 1615 by Pope Paul V. Gauchat IV, p. 234 with note 3.
^Ciani was a native of Siena. He was bishop of Massa for 51 years, dying in 1770 at the age of 89. He had lived for some years in retirement in Siena. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 280 with note 8.
^Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 280 with note 2.
^Tolli was born in Livorno in 1761. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Pisa 1784). He was a synodal examiner and Vicar General of Massa, and in 1793–1795 he was Vicar Capitular, following the death of Bishop Vannucci on 7 August 1793. He was appointed bishop of Massa on 22 September 1795 by Pope Pius VI, and consecrated a bishop in Rome on 27 September by Cardinal Luigi Valenti Gonzaga. On 28 Mar 1803, Toli was transferred to the diocese of Pistoia e Prato by Pope Pius VII. He died on 6 July 1833. Galli II, pp. 320-321. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 280 with note 3.
^A native of Florence and Canon of the cathedral, Mancini was appointed Bishop of Massa on 2 October 1818 by Pope Pius VII. On 12 July 1824, Mancini was transferred to the diocese of Siena. Cappelletti, p. 709. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 256, 342.
^A native of Pereta (diocese of Sovana e Pitigliano), Traversi had been Provost of the cathedral and Vicar General of the diocese of Sovana. He was named Bishop of Massa by Pope Leo XII on 19 December 1825. He died on 27 August 1872. Stefano Galli Da Modigliana (1873). Memorie storiche di Massa Marittima (in Italian). Vol. II. Massa Marittima: Tip. A. Dionigi. pp. 322–323. Giuseppe Bruscalupi (1906). Monografia storica della contea di Pitigliano (in Italian). Firenze: Martini, Servi e c. pp. 541–542. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, p. 256.
^Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 371.
Antonio Canestrelli, Antonio (1910). L'Abbazia di Sant'Antimo. Monografia storico-artistica, con documenti e illustrazioni. Siena: Rivista Siena Monumentale Editrice, 1910–1912. (in Italian)
Garzella, Gabriella (1991). "Cronotassi dei vescovi di Populonia-Massa Marittima dalle origini all'inizio del secolo XIII," in Pisa e la Toscana occidentale nel Medioevo. A Cinzio Volante nei suoi 70 anni (Pisa 1991), vol. I, pp. 1–21. (in Italian)
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Massa Marittima". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
