The Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone (Latin: Dioecesis Concordiensis-Portus Naonis) is a Latindiocese of the Catholic Church situated in northeastern Italy, at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, between Venice and Udine. Since 1818, Concordia Veneta, has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Venice. Bishop Andrea Casasola attended the Provincial Council of the Provincia Veneta in October 1859 as a suffragan of the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Giuseppe Luigi Trevisanato. The name of the diocese was changed to its present form in 1971.
History
Concordia is an ancient Venetian city, called by the Romans Colonia Julia Concordia Sagittaria, and is situated on the Lemene River, between the Rivers Tagliamento and Livenza, two miles south of Portogruaro, not far from the Adriatic. Today there remain of the city only ruins and the ancient cathedral. The eighty-nine martyrs of Concordia, who were put to death under Diocletian, are held in veneration; their cult is recent, however, and based on late and dubious material.
The monk, author, and controversialist, Tyrannius Rufinus (345–411), was born in Concordia, but was baptized in Aquileia, where he became a monk.
During the fifth century the city was destroyed by Attila.
The first known bishop of Concordia is Clarissimus, who, at a provincial synod of Aquileia in 579, helped to prolong the Schism of the Three Chapters; this council was attended by Augustinus, later Bishop of Concordia, who in 590 signed the petition presented by the schismatics to Emperor Mauricius. Bishop Johannes transferred the episcopal residence to Caorle (606), retaining, however, the title of Concordia.
On 12 February 928, Hugh of Arles, King of Italy, granted to the Patriarch of Aquileia the right to invest the bishops of Concordia.
The medieval bishops seem to have resided near the ancient cathedral, and to have wielded temporal power, which, however, they were unable to retain. The bishops of Concordia held one of the twenty-four canonicates in the cathedral Chapter of Aquileia; their functions were carried out by an appointed vicar.
In 1586, during the episcopate of the elder Matteo Sanudo, the episcopal residence was transferred to Portogruaro. In 1974 the episcopal residence was definitively transferred to Pordenone.
Canons and cathedral
The cathedral was staffed and administered by a corporation of Canons. In 1191, Bishop Romulus decreed the reduction in number of the Canons from twenty-two to sixteen. The change was sanctioned by the Patriarch of Aquileia on 14 December 1191. He also renewed the obligation of the Canons to reside together.
Bishop Articus da Castello (1318–1331) attempted, without success, to reform the cathedral Chapter, by appointing Canons who would agree to live in Concordia, where there was a dormitorium canonice and a claustrum. The problem was made difficult because both the Provost and the Dean were non-residential. In order to ensure that the regular liturgical services were held in the cathedral at Concordia, on 3 April 1339 Bishop Guido de Guisis (1334–1347) established three mansionarii to assume the duties that the Canons would not perform.
Returning from the Council of Trent, Bishop Pietro Querini (1537–1584) began a counter-reformational program with a general visitation of the institutions of his diocese (1566), during which he indicated to the cathedral Chapter that they should put their own discipline in order, and that they should address the equitable distribution of prebends. The result was a capitulary act of 15 January 1567, declaring that the Chapter had three dignitaries (the Dean, the Provost, and the Archdeacon), and assigning specific prebends to six Canons who were priests, two to deacons, and one to a subdeacon. In 2020, the cathedral had a Chapter composed of three dignities (the Dean, the Theologus and the Penitentiarius) and three Canons, with four honorary Canons.
Diocesan 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 Guido de Guisis (1334–1347) held a diocesan synod in 1335. On 4 August 1450, Bishop Giovanni Battista Legname (1443–1455) held a diocesan synod. On 8 April 1587, Bishop Matteo Sanudo (1585–1616) held a diocesan synod. Bishop Paolo Vallaresso (1693–1723) presided over a diocesan synod in the cathedral of S. Andrea in Portogruaro on 20–22 May 1697. Bishop Alvise Gabrieli (1761–1779) held a diocesan synod on 1–3 June 1767. Bishop Domenico Pio Rossi, O.P. (1881–1892) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral of S. Andrea on 16–18 April 1885.
^Lanzoni, p. 897: "Gli abitanti della nostra Concordia pretendono che i martiri del 17-18 febbraio siano stati uccisi nella loro città « sub Maximiano et Diocletiano »; ma non posseggono documenti o monumenti antichi del loro culto e del loro sepolcro, e la Passione (BHL, 2303), che ne hanno composito, è di età recentissima e perciò stesso di assai dubbia fede."
^Luca Gianni (2004), "Vita ed organizzazione interna della diocesi di Concordia in epoca medievale," (in Italian) in: A. Scottà (ed.), Diocesi di Concordia, Padova: Gregoriana Libreria Editrice, 2004 (Storia religiosa del Veneto, 10), pp. 205-321.
^Cappelletti X, pp. 455-456. Eugenio Marin (2003), Il Capitolo cattedrale di Concordia nella prima età moderna Università Ca’ Foscari, Venezia. Dipartimento di Studi Storici, Annali 2002. Studi e materiali dalle tesi di laurea, Milano, Unicopli, 2003, pp. 27-46. (in Italian)
^Benedictus XIV (1842). "Lib. I. caput secundum. De Synodi Dioecesanae utilitate". Benedicti XIV ... De Synodo dioecesana libri tredecim (in Latin). Vol. Tomus primus. Mechlin: Hanicq. pp. 42–49. 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.
^Domenico Rossi, Synodus dioecesis Concordiensis ab illustriss. et reverendiss. episcopo fr. Dominico Pio Rossi O. P. in auxiliari ecclesia S. Andreae ap. diebus XVI, XVII, XVIII aprilis anno MDCCCLXXXV (Treviso: Mander 1885).
^Bishop Clarissimus is mentioned by Paulus Diaconus in his Historia Langobardorum III. 26. He was present at a synod in Grado in the time of the Patriarch Elias of Aquileia (571–586): J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Consiliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta, 1771), p. 497. Lanzoni, p. 901, no. 2.
^Lanzoni, p. 901, no. 2. Kehr, p. 72. P. Ewald and L. Hartmann (edd.), Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Epistolae, I: Gregorii I Papae Registrum Epistolarum (Berlin: Weidmann 1891), p. 21.
^Bishop Anselm was present at the synod of Mantua in 827. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Consiliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta, 1771), p. 495. Kehr, p. 72.
^Bishop Toringarius attended the meeting in Rome in June 844, under Pope Sergius II (844–847). Louis Duchesne, Le Liber Pontificalis Tome II (Paris: E. Thorin 1892), p. 89. Kehr, p. 72.
^Bishop Albericus assisted the Patriarch of Aquileia at the consecration of the cathedral of Parenza in 963. Zambaldi, p. 84. Luca Gianni (2004), "Vita ed organizzazione interna della diocesi di Concordia in epoca medievale," in: A. Scottà (ed.), Diocesi di Concordia Padova, Gregoriana Libreria Editrice, 2004 (Storia religiosa del Veneto, 10), p. 205-321, at p. 205
^Bishop Rempot witnessed a document of Patriarch Udalrich (1086–1121). Rempot's episcopacy therefore falls after 1106 and before 1119. Schwartz, p. 51.
^Fridericus died on 19 November 1250. Zambaldi, p. 91. Gams, p. 788.
^Guilelmus had been Dean of the cathedral Chapter of Aquileia, and was a chaplain of Innocent IV. He was appointed bishop of Concordia by Pope Innocent IV on 3 January 1251. Zambaldi, p. 92. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Guarnerius had been bishop-elect of Ceneda. He was transferred to Concordia by Pope Innocent IV on 12 June 1251. He died in 1252. Zambaldi, p. 92. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Tiso was bishop-elect of Belluno e Feltre, but he was unable to take possession of the diocese due to the hostility between his father and the Ezzolini. He was only administrator of the diocese of Concordia. In one document he is called Procurator. E. Berger, Les registres d' Innocent IV Tomus III (Paris: Fontemoing 1897), pp. 124-125, no. 6060. Zambaldi, p. 92. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Albert had served as Vicidominus of the Patriarch of Aquileia, Gregorio de Montelongo (1251–1269). He was named Bishop of Concordia on 26 June 1260. Bishop Albert was assassinated on 3 July 1268. Zambaldi, pp. 92-94. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Fulcher belonged to the family of the Signori di Zuccula e Spilimbergo. He is said to have been appointed by Pope Gregory X, who was elected on 1 September 1271, and accepted in February 1272. Fulcher died on 17 April 1293. Zambaldi, pp. 94-96. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Jacopo d' Ottonello de' Signórì d' Ungrispac had been a Canon of Cividale. He was elected unanimously by the cathedral Chapter of Concordia, confirmed by the Patriarch of Aquileia, and consecrated a bishop in Aquileia on 21 December 1293. Jacobus died on 10 December 1317. Zambaldi, pp. 96-98. Eubel I, p. 201. Luca Gianni (2007), "Il difficile episcopato di Giacomo da Cividale, vescovo di Concordia (1293-1317),"(in Italian)Atti dell'Accademia San Marco, 9 (2007), pp. 7-36.
^Articus' grandfather's brother, Fulcherius, had been Bishop of Concordia. Bishop Jacopo died on 10 December 1317. The meeting of the Chapter to elect his successor was fixed for 28 December. The new Patriarch of Aquileia, who had to confirm the election was still in Avignon, and was slow in replying to the Canons. On 5 March 1318, they sent a messenger to the Vicar of Aquileia, Rinaldo Della Torre, pointing out that they had already sent him two messengers with the proper papers. Finally, on 2 April 1318, the patriarchal Vicar confirmed the election and ordered the institution of the bishop-elect. On 15 June 1318, Bishop Articus announced a diocesan visitation [Gianni, p. 178 (p. 14)] Bishop Artico died on 15 March 1331, according to Ughelli, and on 20 March according to the Necrology of Cividale. But on 1 July 1331, he was still alive, and carried out an investiture (Gianni (2003), p. 91 (p. 27 note 189). A Zambaldi, p. 98. Eubel I, p. 201. Luca Gianni (2003), "La diocesi di Concordia in Friuli. Difesa delle temporalità e consolidamento amministrativo: l'episcopato di Artico di Castello (1317-1331),"(in Italian) in: G. G. Merlo (ed.), Vescovi Medievali, Milano, Edizioni Biblioteca Francescana, 2003, pp. 165-206, especially pp. 168-171 (pp. 4-7).
^Guido origins are conjectural. He had been Abbot of S. Maria de Vangaditia; on 11 June 1326, he participated in the consecration of the church of S. Lorenzo in Padua. He was named Bishop of Pola in Istria by Pope John XXII on 3 December 1328. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 5 April 1331. He died on 22 March 1333. Giovanni B. Contarini (1760). De Episcopis ad Istrianas Ecclesias ex Ordine Praedicatorum assumptis dissertatio (in Latin). Venice: F. Storti. pp. 78–79. Zambaldi, pp. 98-99. Eubel I, p. 201; 404 with note 4.
^Hubertus of Cesena had been Prior of the monastery of S. Maria de Reno (Bologna), and S. Salvatore di Bologna. He was a Doctor of Canon Law. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 21 April 1333. He died on 22 August 1334. Zambaldi, p. 99. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Guido dei Guizzi was a native of Reggio, and a noted lawyer, who wrote a commentary on the Sextus and on the Decretals. He had been Archdeacon of Bologna, and then Bishop of Modena. He was transferred to the diocese of Concordia on 16 September 1334, by Pope John XXII. He held a diocesan synod in 1335, and on 29 May 1335, he attended a provincial synod in Udine held by the Patriarch Bertrando of Aquileia, who appointed Bishop Guido his Vicar General for the diocese of Aquileia. He served as a legate to Hungary for Pope Benedict XII (1334–1342). He died on 5 June 1347. Zambaldi, pp. 99-102. Eubel I, p. 201.
^A native of Udine, Costantino was the son of Marchese Francesco Savorgnano, the Provost of S. Stefano (diocese of Aquileia). He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 2 December 1347. He was consecrated a bishop in Udine by the Patriarch of Aquileia on 6 April 1348, and died on 7 May 1348. It is conjectured that he died of the plague. Zambaldi, p. 102. Degani, Diocesi, p. 218-222. Eubel I, p. 201.
^Bishop Guido was transferred to the diocese of Modena on 10 October 1380. Eubel I, pp. 201, 353.
^Panciera was a native of Portugruaro. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 12 July 1392 by Pope Boniface IX. Panciera was appointed Patriarch of Aquileia by Boniface IX on 27 February 1402. He was named a cardinal by Pope John XXIII on 6 June 1411. He died in Rome on 3 July 1431. Eubel I, pp. 32 no. 2; 99; 201.
^Antonio was a Canon of the cathedral of Aquileia, and held the degree of Doctor of Canon Law. He was Auditor Causarum of the Apostolic Palace, where he continued to work. He was appointed Bishop of Sibenico in Dalmatia (1391–1402); he was appointed Collector of papal revenue in Strigonia in 1399. He was transferred to Aquileia by Gregory XII on 13 June 1409, but Gregory had been deposed by the Council of Pisa on 5 June 1409. He never gained entry into the diocese of Aquileia. Eubel I, p. 201 with note 9; 449 with note 4.
^Bishop Enrico was appointed by Pope Alexander V on 6 September 1409. He held the office of Registrator of papal letters in the Roman Curia. Eubel I, p. 201 with note 10. Alessandro Di Bari (2015), "L'elezione forzata di Enrico di Strassoldo a vescovo di Concordia," (in Italian)Atti dell'Accademia "San Marco" di Pordenone 17 (2015), pp. 813-823.
^Argentino was born in Venice, the son of a Venetian mother and a German father from Strassbourg. His youthful brilliance was recognized by Giovanni Mocenigo, who later became Doge of Venice (1478–1485), who subsidized Francesco's studies at the University of Padua, where he obtained the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. Back in Venice, he joined the entourage of Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, who obtained for him the position of Canon of the Basilica of S. Marco. Taken to Rome, Francesco joined the entourage of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, who became Pope Julius II in 1503. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 24 August 1506, by Pope Julius II, who also made him his papal Datary. Archinto was named a cardinal on 10 March 1511, but died five months later in Rome, on 23 August 1511. He was buried in S. Maria Transtiberim, but in 1534, with the agreement of Pope Paul III, his remains were transferred to Concordia by his brother and successor, Bishop Giovanni Argentino. Ughelli V, p. 365. Lorenzo Cardella, Memorie de' Cardinali della Santa Romana Ecclesia Tomo III (Roma: Pagliarini 1793), pp. 335-336. Cappelletti X, p. 454. Eubel. Hierarchia catholica III, p. 174 with note 3.
^Giovanni was the brother of his predecessor, Bishop Francesco Argentino. Zambaldi, p. 111. Eubel III, p. 174 with note 4.
^Cardinal Grimani was the Patriarch of Aquileia, and held the diocese of Concordia in commendam from July 1533. On 6 June 1535, his nephew Giovanni Grimani was appointed Coadjutor, but without the right of succession. Grimani resigned upon the appointment of a new bishop, Pietro Querini, on 11 April 1537. Eubel III, p. 174 with note 5.
^Querini was the nephew of Cardinal Marino Grimani. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 11 April 1537, at the age of eighteen. Until he reached the age of 27, therefore, he was only bishop-elect and administrator, and he had to give half of his income to his cousin Giulio Grimani, another nephew of the cardinal. He died in Venice on 1 December 1584. Zambaldi, pp. 112-113. Eubel III, p. 174 with note 7.
^Quirini was a member of the Venetian nobility. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 13 May 1585, and died three months later, in mid-August 1585. Zambaldi, p. 113. Eubel III, p. 174 with note 8.
^A Venetian aristocrat, Sanudo was a privy chamberlain of Pope Sixtus V, who appointed him Bishop of Concordia on 26 August 1585. Based on an apostolic visitation in 1584, Pope Sixtus V authorized the transfer of the residence of the bishop from Concordia to Portogruaro in 1585; the change took place in 1586. On 8 April 1567, he held a diocesan synod. In October 1596, Bishop Sanudo was represented by a procurator at the provincial synod of Aquileia in Udine. After more than thirty years, Bishop Sanudo resigned in favor of his coadjutor, his homonymous nephew, and retired to the monastery of S. Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. Zambaldi, pp. 113-115. Eubel III, p. 174 with note 9.
^Matteo Sanudo, the nephew of his predecessor, had been titular bishop of Joppa (Palestine) and coadjutor bishop of Concordia since 2 December 1615. He succeeded to the diocese in 1616, upon the resignation of his uncle. He died in Venice on 22 February 1641. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 159 with note 2.
^Cappello: Zambaldi, p. 115. Gauchat IV, p. 159 with note 3.
^A native of Venice, Bartolomeo Gradenigo held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 4 November 1667. In 1668 Gradenigo was appointed Bishop of Treviso by Pope Clement IX. Zambaldi, p. 115. Gauchat IV, p. 159. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 168.
^Premoli was a native of Crema, and held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Rome 1654). He was appointed a Referendary of the Tribunal of the Two Signatures. He was governor of Tivoli, Fermo, Ascoli, the Provincia marittima, the Campania, and Viterbo. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia by Pope Clement IX on 9 April 1668. In 1675, he completed the restoration of the Episcopal Palace in Concordia. He died in October 1692. Zambaldi, p. 115. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 168 with note 4.
^Born in Venice in 1660, Vallaresso held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Padua. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 9 March 1693 by Pope Innocent XII, and was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Gaspare Carpineo on 15 March. He built the Episcopal Palace in Portogruaro, and began construction of the diocesan seminary building. On 14 February 1704, he appointed a committee with instructions to reform and regulate the diocesan seminary. He died in Venice on 23 November 1723, and was buried there in the Dominican church. In his Testament of 16 September 1723, he left the diocesan seminary 5,000 ducats. Zambaldi, pp. 116-118. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 168 with note 5.
^Erizzo was born of a noble family in Venice in 1678. He became a master of theology on 6 April 1724, at the age of 46. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 26 June 1724. He made his solemn entry into his diocese in December 1724. He redecorated the Episcopal Palace and the Chancery building. He put the diocesan seminary on a firm financial footing by reassigning several benefices. He died on 26 November 1760, at the age of 82. Zambaldi, pp. 118-119. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 168 with note 6.
^Gabrieli was born in Venice in 1727. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Padua (1758), and served as pro-Vicar-General of the diocese of Treviso. He was then Bishop of Famagusta (Cyprus) (1758–1761). He was transferred to the diocese of Concordia by Pope Clement XIII on 6 April 1761. On 12 July 1779, Gabrieli was appointed Bishop of Vicenza by Pope Pius VI. He died on 19 July 1758. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, pp. 212 with note 3; 178 with note 2; 441 with note 4.
^Born Angelo Pietro Bressa in Venice in 1742, Bressa joined the Benedictine Order and taught theology at their monastery at S. Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. He was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 12 July 1779, by Pope Pius VI. He died on 13 January 1817. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 178 with note 3.
^Ciani was born at Ciconnico, some 15 miles west-northwest of Udine. He had been Archpriest of Gemona, when he was appointed Bishop of Concordia on 27 September 1819 by Pope Pius VII, having been nominated by the Emperor Franz of Austria on 17 September 1818. He was not consecrated a bishop until 6 February 1820. He died of "apoplexy" on 31 July 1825. Cappelletti X, pp. 471-472. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, p. 160.
^Bishop Cassola participated in the provincial council of the Venetan Province in October 1859. Casasola was transferred to the archdiocese of Udine by Pope Pius IX. Acta et decreta Sacrorum Conciliorum Recentiorum. Collectio Lacensis, Tomus sextus (Friburg im Brisgau: Herder 1882), p. 343. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 221, 557.
^On 22 June 1896, Zamburlini was appointed Archbishop of Udine by Pope Leo XIII. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 221, 557.
Benigni, Umberto (1908). "Diocese of Concordia."The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. Retrieved: 15 September 2020. [obsolete, and uncritically Roman Catholic]
