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Roman Catholic Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato

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(Redirected from Bishopric of La Spezia) Roman Catholic diocese in Italy
Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato
Dioecesis Spediensis-Sarzanensis-Brugnatensis
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical provinceGenoa
Statistics
Area881 km (340 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2016)
221,263
219,024 (98.8%)
Parishes186
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established5th century
CathedralCattedrale di Cristo Re (La Spezia)
Co-cathedralConcattedrale Basilica di S. Maria Assunta (Sarzana)
Cattedrale di S. Pietro, S. Lorenzo e S. Colombano (Brugnato)
Secular priests103 (diocesan)
30 (Religious Orders)
19 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopLuigi Palletti
Map
Website
Diocesi della Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato

The Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato (Latin: Dioecesis Spediensis-Sarzanensis-Brugnatensis) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Liguria, northern Italy, created in 1929. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Genoa.

The historic diocese of Luni (earlier Luna) was united to the Diocese of Sarzana in 1465, and then to the Diocese of Brugnato in 1820, to form the current diocese; its name has been changed more than once. The diocese of La Spezia was created on 12 January 1929 by Pope Pius XI, into which he incorporated the diocese of Luni-Sarzana and Brugnato. The title of Luni was dropped from the name of the diocese on 12 August 1975, which became La Spezia, Sarzana and Brugnato. The name was hyphenated in 1986. The name Luni has been reserved since 1975 as the title of a titular diocese.

The current bishop is Luigi Palletti, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on October 20, 2012.

History

The Luni (Lunae) of the Ligurian coast is sometimes confused. It was the Luni (Luna) in Tuscany near Magra (Etruria annonaria), and another Luni (Luna) was located near Blera (Tuscania suburbicaria). An alleged early bishop of the 4th century (or the 7th) named Basilius has no documentary support. The same may be said of a Salorius (or Salarius). A real Bishop Felix, who attended the Roman synod of Pope Hilarius belongs to c. 465.

The episcopal see of Luni dates at least from the fifth century. In the late sixth century are found Bishop Terentius and Bishop Venantius, the recipient of a number of mandates of Gregory the Great. Under Bishop Felerandus, in the 8th century, the purported relic of the Blood of Christ is said to have been brought to Luni.

In 641 the town of Luni was attacked by the Lombard king Rothari, who had the houses, walls, and towers destroyed. The inhabitants fled. When Rothari departed, the survivors returned and rebuilt, but in 849 the Saracens attacked and destroyed virtually everything. Recovery was assisted by the Carolingians and then the Ottonians. Bishop Ceccardus (860 or 892) was murdered by barbarians. The Saracens returned in 1016 and again wrought complete devastation. On 26 May 1133 Pope Innocent II removed the territory of Brugnato from the diocese of Luni and erected it into a separate diocese.

Move to Sarzana

On 30 June 1183, the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted Bishop Pietro the county of Luni, the shoreline, and the port of Amelia (Ameglia).

Bishop Walterius (1193–1212) and the magistrates of Sarzana engaged in extensive consultations to make explicit all of their mutual rights and obligations as the Bishop moved his official seat to Sarzana, where in fact the bishops had been living for some time. The pact was signed on 24 June 1201. Bishop Walterius and the Canons of the Cathedral also negotiated a pact, which was approved by Pope Innocent III on 7 March 1202 in the bull In eminenti sedis.

On 25 March 1204, Pope Innocent III confirmed the transfer of the seat of the diocese of Luni to the town of Sarzana. In 1217, Pope Honorius III removed the territory of Porto Venere from the diocese of Luni and assigned it to Genoa.

When Luni was abandoned, the episcopal see was fixed at Sarzana, then at Sarzanello, and finally at Castelnuovo.

In October 1254, Bishop Guglielmo approved the transfer to Nicolò Fieschi the castles of Tivegna and Castiglione, and the woods of Padivarmo; the grants were confirmed in the same month by Pope Innocent IV. In June 1257, Pope Alexander IV authorized Cardinal Ottobono Fieschi of Genoa, the nephew of Pope Innocent IV (Fieschi), to act as judge in all pending and future cases involving litigation between the bishop of Luni and the commune of Sarzana. On 4 June 1259, the Podestà and councilors of Sarzana to represent them in litigation with the Bishop of Luni before Cardinal Ottobono. On 30 July 1260, Cardinal Ottobono found in favor of Bishop Marsucco (1213–1221).

In 1306 Dante went to Sarzana, and succeeded in settling a dispute between Bishop Antonio Camulla and the Marchese Franceschino Malaspina, the most important of the diocese's vassals. The poet's sojourn here inspired a few terzine of the Divine Comedy.

On 13 February 1355 Emperor Charles IV conferred on the bishops of Luni the title of prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Antonio M. Parentuccelli (1495), a cousin of Pope Nicholas V, built the episcopal palace and the church of S. Maria delle Grazie.

Cathedral and Chapter

The original cathedral in Luni had been dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In December 1187, Pope Gregory VIII granted the petition of the Bishop and Canons of Luni to transfer the episcopal seat to Sarzana, but he died before the transaction could be completed. The transfer was finally accomplished with the consent of Innocent III in 1204. The Cathedral church in Sarzana was dedicated to S. Basilio, and later to the Assumption of the Body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.

The Chapter of the Cathedral was composed of two dignities, the Archdeacon and the Provost, and twenty Canons. In addition, there was a Theological Prebend and a Penitentiary Prebend. In 1709 there were only thirteen Canons; in 1757 there were fourteen.

Synods

A diocesan synod was an irregular 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 Thomas de Benedictis (1485–1497) presided over a diocesan synod in 1494.

Cardinal Benedetto Lomellini (1565–1572) held a diocesan synod. A synod was held by Bishop Giovanni Battista Bracelli (1572–1590) on 12 September 1582. Bishop Giovanni Battista Salvago (1590–1632) held his first diocesan synod in 1591; at this synod association between Christians and Jews was prohibited, and it was demanded that Jews wear a garment of yellow (crocei coloris) to identify them. His second synod took place in 1595, and his third in 1596.

On 4 May 1642, Bishop Prospero Spínola (1637–1664) presided at a diocesan synod. Bishop Giovanni Battista Spínola (1665–1694) held a diocesan synod on 8–10 April 1674.

In 1702 Bishop Giovanni Girolamo Naselli (1695–1709) presided over a diocesan synod. On 6–8 June 1717, Bishop Ambrogio Spinola (1710–1726) held a diocesan synod.

Seminary

The Council of Trent, in its 23rd Session, meeting on 15 July 1563, issued a decree, the 18th chapter of which required that every diocese have a seminary for the training of clergy.

On 6 September 1601, the Canons of the Cathedral named a representative to the committee to prepare the plans of the seminary which had been ordered by Bishop Salvago in his diocesan synod of 1595. It was erected on the north side of the cathedral property. In 1605 the Bishop was able to report to the pope that a seminary had been erected. In accordance with the decisions of his synod of 1717, Bishop Ambrogio Spinola repaired and enlarged the building. Bishop Francesco Agnini (1837–1853) erected the chapel and donated his library of 2,000 volumes.

Nineteenth Century

In 1787 the diocese of Pontremoli, and in 1821 the diocese of Massa Ducale were separated from Luni-Sarzana, but the diocese of Brugnato, separated from Luni by Pope Innocent II in 1133, was added by Pope Pius VII on 25 November 1820 in the Bull Sollicita. The diocese of Luni-Sarzana was directly subject to the Holy See, but Brugnato was a suffragan of Genoa.

Pope Pius VI died in exile and imprisoned by the French Directory at Valence in August 1799. When the Directory had been overthrown, and in 1802, with the permission of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, the Pope's remains were being returned to Rome, the funeral cortege passed through Sarzana. On 2 February a solemn funeral Mass was sung in the Cathedral by Archbishop Giuseppe Maria Spina, who had accompanied Pius throughout his ordeal.

Bishops

Diocese of Luni

...
  • Victor (attested 503, 504)
...
  • Venantius (attested 593–604)
...
  • Thomas (attested 649)
...
  • Severus (c. 680)
...
  • Fileradus (attested 769)
...
  • Petroaldus (attested 826)
...
  • Teudolasius (attested 867)
  • Gualterius (attested 881)
  • Cecardus (c. 892–c. 895)
  • Odelbertus (c. 899–941)
...
  • Adalbertus (attested 950, 963, 968)
  • Gotefredus (c. 976, 981, 998)
...
  • Guido (c. 1020–after 1027)
  • Deodatus (c. 1027–1033)
  • Heribertus (attested 1039)
  • Guido (attested 1055, 1060, 1076, 1078)
  • ? Lazzaro (attested 1085)
  • Filippo (attested 1095, 1096)
  • Andreas (attested 1124)
  • Filippo
  • Gotefredus (1129–1156)
  • Raimundus (attested 1168)
  • Pipinus de Arrighis (attested 1170, 1173, 1174, 1176)
  • Petrus (attested 1178–1183)
  • Rolandus (attested 1191)
  • Gualterius (1193–1212)
  • Marsucco (1213–1221)
  • Noradinus (1221–1224)
  • Buttafava (1224-1228)
  • Guglielmo (1228–1270)
  • Gotifredus (1271–1273)
  • Henricus de Fucecchio (1273–1297)
  • Antonio Camulla (1297–1309)
Sede vacante (1309–1312)
  • Gerardino Malaspina (1312–1320)
  • Bernabo Malaspina (1320–1338)
  • Antonio Fieschi (1338–1343)
  • Agapito Colonna (1344)
  • Giordano Colonna (1344–1351)
  • Gabriele Malaspina (1351–1359?)
  • Barnabas Griffi (1363–1378)
  • Jacobus Campana, O.P. (1378-1380)
  • Jacobus Piccolomini
  • Gerardus Pasqualoni
  • Francesco Lante, O.Min.
  • Martino de Ferrari
  • Giovanni Montino
  • Andrea, O.P.
  • Giacomo de Rossi
  • Francesco Pietrasanta Manfredi (1415–1465)

Diocese of Luni e Sarzana

Sarzana Cathedral

Diocese of Luni, Sarzana e Brugnato

Brugnato Cathedral

United: 25 November 1820 with the Diocese of Brugnato

  • Pio Luigi Scarabelli, C.M. (1820–1836)
  • Francesco Agnini (19 May 1837 Confirmed – 8 Mar 1853 Died)
  • Giuseppe Rosati (22 Feb 1867 – 5 Sep 1881 Died)
  • Giacinto Rossi, O.P. (18 Nov 1881 – 29 Jan 1899 Died)
  • Giovanni Carli (19 Jun 1899 – 5 Jan 1921 Died)
  • Bernardo Pizzorno (7 Mar 1921 – 6 Aug 1926 Died)

Diocese of Luni o La Spezia, Sarzana e Brugnato

Name Changed: 12 January 1929
Latin Name: Lunensis o Spediensis, Sarzanensis, et Brugnatensis
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Genoa

  • Giovanni Costantini (8 Feb 1929 – 26 Jul 1943 Resigned)
  • Giuseppe Stella (7 Sep 1945 – 3 Sep 1975 Retired)
  • Siro Silvestri (3 Sep 1975 – 7 Dec 1989 Retired)
  • Giulio Sanguineti (7 Dec 1989 – 19 Dec 1998 Appointed, Bishop of Brescia)
  • Bassano Staffieri (10 Jul 1999 – 6 Dec 2007 Retired)
  • Francesco Moraglia (6 Dec 2007 – 31 Jan 2012 Appointed, Patriarch of Venice)
  • Luigi Ernesto Palletti (20 Oct 2012 – )

Parishes

The diocese has 186 parishes, all within the Province of La Spezia in Liguria.

See also

Notes and references

  1. "Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  2. "Diocese of La Spezia–Sarzana–Brugnato" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  3. Acta Apostolica Sedis LXVII (Città del Vaticano: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1975), p. 558. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Luni: (Titular See)"; retrieved: 2018-01-07.
  4. Semeria, pp. 13-14. Lanzoni, p. 586.
  5. The question is whether he was Bishop of Luni (Lunensis) or Lucca (Lucensis). Ughelli opts for the latter; Semeria, p. 14, for the former.
  6. Semeria, II, p. 4.
  7. Semerio, p. 28. Cappelletti, p. 434.
  8. Semeria, pp. 4-5. Cappelletti, p. 422.
  9. Cappelletti, pp. 464-466, quoting the bull of Innocent II in its entirety.
  10. Gentile, pp. 350-351 no. 369.
  11. Gentile, p. 100-106 no. 64.
  12. Ughelli, I, p. 850. Giovanni Battista Pittoni (1722). Constitutiones pontificiae et Romanarum congregationum decisiones ad canonicos utriusque ecclesiae cathedralis scilicet & collegiatae spectantes. Jo. Baptista Pittono sacerdote Veneto collectore (in Latin). Venice: Leonardus Pittonus collectoris pater. pp. 11-12.
  13. August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Vol. I (Berlin: De Decker 1874), p. 187, no. 2161. Kehr, p. 373.
  14. Cappelletti, p. 426.
  15. Gentile, nos. 485-486.
  16. Gentile, p. 52-54, nos. 36-39.
  17. Barbara Reynolds (2013). Dante: The Poet, the Thinker, the Man. London: I.B.Tauris. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-0-85772-203-4.
  18. Semeria, p. 7.
  19. Kehr, pp. 382 and 383 no. 9.
  20. Ughelli, I, p. 833. Cappelletti, p. 446. Kehr, p. 383 no. 10.
  21. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 250 note 1; VI, p. 269 note 1.
  22. Constitutiones Episcopatus Lunensis Sarzanensis quas magna cura summaque diligentia Rev. D. Thomas de Benettis de Sarzana eiusdem dicecesis episcopus et comes imprimi iassit Pisa, typis Ugonis Ruggerii, MCCCCXCIIII.
  23. Constitutiones et decreta condita in diocesana Synodo Lunen. Sarzanen. sub lll.mo et Rev.mo D. Benedicto Lomellino . . . cardinali. Genua: apud Antonium Bellonum, 1580. (in Latin)
  24. Constitutiones edita, et promulgata in Synodo diacesana Lunen. Sarzanen. quam ... Joan. Baptista Bracellius ... episcopus lunen sarzanen. et comes, habuit anno MDLXXXII, die xij Septemb.. Luca: apud Vincentium Busdrachium I584.
  25. Diocesi, Luni-Sarzana (1619). Constitutiones Lunensis, Sarzanensis, dioecesis, quas habitis synodis frequentibus tribus illustrissimus, ac reuerendissimus dominus Io. Baptista Saluagus Lunen. Sarzan. episcopus, & comes tulit, et demum in vnum codicem ad cleri sui commodiorem vsum referri mandauit: 1 (in Latin). Lucca.
  26. Constitutiones Lunensis, Sarzanensis, dioecesis, quas habitis synodis frequentibus tribus illustrissimus, ac reuerendissimus dominus Io. Baptista Saluagus Lunen. Sarzan. episcopus, & comes tulit, et demum in vnum codicem ad cleri sui commodiorem vsum referri mandauit: Constitutiones synodi secundae per illustrissimum, ac reuerendiss. D. Ioan. Baptistam Saluagum ... anno 1595 (in Latin). Lucca: apud Octauianum Guidobonum, et Balthasarem de Iudicibus. 1618.
  27. Constitutiones synodales ah Ill.m° et Rever.mo D. D. Prospero Spinula Lunensi Sarzanensi episcopo et comite edita . . . die IV Mai, M-DC- XLII. Massa: Typis Francisci delle Dote, M-DC- XLIl. (in Latin)
  28. Constitutiones et decreta synodalia ab . . . Jo. Baptista Spinula Sancta Lunen. Sarzanen. Ecclesia episcopo etc., in Dicecesana Synodo habita . . . diebus octava, nona et decima Aprilis 1674. Massa: Typis Hieronymi Marini, 1674. (in Latin)
  29. Constitutiones synodales ab Jo. Hieronymo Nasello Sancta Lunensis Sarzanensis ... Ecclesia episcopo et comite edita et celebrata, anno 1702. Parma: typis Rossetti, MDCCII. (in Latin)
  30. Constitutiones synodales ab Illustrissimo et Reverendissimo D. D. Am brosio Spinula . . . Sarzanensis Ecclesia episcopo et comite edita ... die sexta, septima et octava Junii anni 1717. Massa: Typis Peregrini Frediani, 1717. (in Latin)
  31. Gaetano Moroni (ed.), Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica, Volume LXXIX (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1856), pp. 340-341.
  32. Diocesi della Spazia-Sarzaba-Brugnato, Seminario Vescovile; retrieved 07-06-2018. (in Italian)
  33. Andrea Barberi; Rainaldus Secreti, eds. (1835). Bullarii Romani continuatio (in Latin). Vol. Tomus decimus quintus (15). Rome: ex typographia Reverendae Camerae Apostolicae. pp. 349–351. The editors mistakenly date the bull to 8 December 1820, reading Idus where the bull actually says Kalendas.
  34. Umberto Benigni (1910), "Luni-Sarzana-Brugnato," The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 19100; retrieved: 1 Jul. 2018.
  35. Spinola had been Pius VI's Majordomo, and was Pius VII's Nuncio in Paris. When he was leading the funeral cortege, he was already a cardinal, though his name had not yet been made public (It was being held in pectore).
  36. Pietro Baldassari (1843). Relazione delle avversità e patimenti del ... Papa Pio VI negli ultimi tre anni del suo pontificato ... Edizione seconda corretta ed aumentata (in Italian). Vol. IV (Edizione seconda corretta ed aumentata ed.). Modena: Reale Tipografia. p. 266. Gaetano Moroni, ed. (1853). Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica (in Italian). Vol. LXI. Venice: dalla Tipografia Emiliana. p. 223.
  37. Victor was present at the III Roman synod of Pope Symmachus in 503, and the IV Roman synod of 504. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VIII (Florence: Zatta 1762), pp. 252, 269. Ughelli, p. 834. Semeria, p. 14.
  38. Venantius: Ughelli, I, p. 834. Semeria, pp. 16-23. Gams, p. 817 column 1. Istoria di san Venanzio vescovo di Luni, titolare della chiesa parrocchiale e patrono di Albacina (in Italian). Jesi: Tip. f.lli Ruzzini. 1873. Lanzoni, p. 588, no. 3.
  39. Thomas attended a council of Pope Martin I in 649. Kehr, p. 373.
  40. Ughelli, I, p. 835. Semeria, p. 27.
  41. Walcherius was killed by the Normans. Semeria, pp. 27-28. Kehr, p. 377, nos. 11-12.
  42. Semeria, p. 28. Gams, p. 817 column 1.
  43. On 24 May 900, King Berengar I of Italy confirmed the rights and privileges of the Church of Luni for Bishop Odelbertus. Ughelli, pp. 835-836. Gentile, pp. 21-23 no. 17.
  44. Bishop Adalbertus was the recipient of a gift of land in January 950. He was the beneficiary of a diploma of the Emperor Otto I of 10 May 963. In the spring of 968 he was present at the synod of Ravenna. Ughelli, pp. 836-837. Semeria, pp. 30-31. Schwartz, p. 215. Gentile, pp. 147-149 no. 441.
  45. Gotefredus was not transferred from Brescia. Gotefredus of Brescia was a separate contemporary bishop. His date of death is controversial, perhaps 998 or later. Ughelli, pp. 837-839. Semeria, pp. 31–32. Schwartz, p. 215.
  46. Guidone is called Veridone or Vidone by Semeria. Schwartz rejects Cappelletti's (p. 436) fanciful date of 1016. Bishop Guido attended the Synod of Rome on 10 April 1027. Ughelli, pp. 840-841. Semeria, pp. 33–34. Schwartz, p. 215.
  47. Deodatus subscribed a bull of Pope John XIX. P. Jaffe (ed. S. Loewenfeld), Regesta Pontificum Romanorum I, edito altera (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 519 no. 4101. Schwartz, p. 215.
  48. Heribertus issued a document for the people of Trebbiano on 6 November 1039. Semeria, p. 34. Schwartz, p. 215. Gentile, no. 488.
  49. A complaint was lodged against Bishop Guido in the presence of Pope Nicholas II in April 1060. Kehr, p. 377 no. 13. In 1055, Bishop Wido appeared in the court of Emperor Henry III: Gentile, p. 269, no. 296; no. 225; no. 449.
  50. Lazzaro: Kehr, p. 373. Schwartz, p. 216.
  51. Filippo was present at the synod of Piacenza of in March 1095. Schwartz, p. 216.
  52. Andreas: Ughelli, pp. 841-844. Semeria, pp. 36-37. Schwartz, p. 216.
  53. On 3 December 1151, Bishop Gotefredus granted the church of S. Andrea in Carrara to S. Frediano in Lucca. Gentile, no. 326. Semeria, pp. 39-41, dates Bishop Gotefredus between 1135 and 1159. Gams, p. 817 column 1, places him between 1137 and 1158.
  54. In February 1168 Bishop-elect Raimundus received the fealty of the Lords of Buzano. Gentile, pp. 283-284, no. 304.
  55. On 2 August 1170 Bishop Pipin granted the Consuls of Sarzana to move a burgo A native of Pisa, Bishop Pipinus was rebuked by Pope Alexander III in 1173 for favoring the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's design to detach Porto Venere from the control of Genoa and hand it over to Pisa. on 11 February 1174, the consuls of the borgo of Aulla swore fealty to Bishop Pipin. In 1176 Bishop Pipin granted a plot of land in Casale for the erection of the monastery of S. Croce. Ughelli, p. 846. Kehr, p. 380 no. 28. Gentile, nos. 61, 533, and 542.
  56. In October 1178 a controversy between Bishop Petrus Petrus was present at the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. Ughelli, p. 846, with the note; 846-850. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXII (Venice: Antonius Zatta 1778) p. 214. Semeria, pp. 43-45. Kehr, pp. 381-382, nos. 29-33.
  57. Ughelli, p. 850. Semeria, p. 46 (copying Ughelli).
  58. Gualterius: Semeria, pp. 46-50. Gams, p. 817 column 2.
  59. Marsucco (Marsuchio): Semeria, pp. 50-53. Gams, p. 817 column 2.
  60. Noradinus: Semeria, pp. 53-54. Gams, p. 817 column 2.
  61. Buttafava: Semeria, pp. 54-55. Gams, p. 817 column 2.
  62. Guglielmo: Semeria, pp. 55-59. Gams, p. 817 column 2.
  63. Godefredus: Cappelletti, p. 448. Eubel, I, p. 317.
  64. Henricus: Eubel, I, p. 317 with note 4.
  65. Antonio: Semeria, pp. 64-65. Eubel, I, p. 317.
  66. Gerardino was the second son of Alberto Malaspina, Marchese di Filattera. There was a disputed election among the Canons of the Cathedral. After a long delay, the choice of Gerardino was imposed by Pope Clement V on 9 May 1312. On 1 January 1318 Gerardino was still Bishop-elect. Semeria, pp. 66-67. Eubel, I, p. 317 with note 5.
  67. Bernabo Malaspina had been Primicerius in the Cathedral Chapter of Verdun, and was in minor orders. He was appointed Bishop of Luni by Pope John XXII on 20 August 1320, in the vacancy caused by the death of Bishop Gerardino Malaspina. He was killed by the Pisans through poison, according to Giovanni Villani, Cronaca Book XII, chapter 25. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Tome III (Paris: Fontemoing 1906) p. 142 no. 11932. Ughelli, I, p. 854. Semeria, pp. 68-71. Eubel, I, p. 318. Gams, p. 817 column 2, gives the obsolete dates of 1322 to 1338.
  68. Semeria states, p. 74, that Malaspina died in 1359. Hence, Gams, p. 817.
  69. Barnabas was transferred to the diocese of Penne on 31 January 1374, but continued to hold Luni as Administrator. He was transferred to the diocese of Pisa in 1380. Semeria, pp. 75-77. Eubel, I, pp. 318, 394.
  70. Giacomo, called Jacobus Tura (Scottini) by Eubel, was a native of Siena, and had been Archbishop of Trani (1352–1378). He resigned the diocese of Luni in 1380 and retired to the Dominican convent in Siena. Semeria, pp. 78-79. Eubel, I, p. 318.
  71. Francesco was appointed by John XXIII on 6 March 1415. He died in 1465. Gams, p. 817 (who indicates that he was in possession of the diocese on 29 April 1414). Eubel, I, p. 318; II, p. 182.
  72. Tommaso Benedetti: Eubel, II, p. 182.
  73. Silvestro Benedetti was a native of Pisa, and the nephew of Tommaso de Benedetti, He studied Canon Law. He was a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Luni e Sarzana, and was named Bishop of Luni e Sarzana on 28 April 1497 by Pope Alexander VI. Semeria, p. 92, remarks that in his long tenure he never accomplished anything noteworthy. He died in 1537. Eubel, II, p. 182 with note 2. Armando Felice Verde (1977). Lo Studio fiorentino, 1473-1503: Studenti Fanciulli a scuola nel 1480. Volume 3, Issue 2 of Lo Studio fiorentino, 1473-1503: Ricerche e documenti (in Italian). Firenze: Istituto nazionale di studi sul Rinascimento/Olschi. p. 888.
  74. Pogliasca was a native of Genoa, and had an education in the law. He was appointed a Referendary (judge) of the Two Signatures by Pope Julius II, and was later given the office of Master of the Ospedale di Santo Sprito in Rome. He was also Regent of the Papal Chancery. He was appointed Bishop of Luna e La Spezia by Pope Paul III on 28 November 1537. In 1550 he was compelled to appear in Rome to answer charges of avarice which had been laid against him, instigated by Canon Landinelli and several other Canons in a seven-year-long dispute over finances. But on 17 May Pope Julius III permitted him to return to his diocese. On 11 October 1557, however, charges were laid against him for simony at the Office of the Holy Roman Inquisition. He died in 1561. Semeria, p. 93. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 231. Marzia Ratti (2001). Antonio Carpenino e il restauro della Pala degli Agostiniani. Restauri e restituzioni, 1. (in Italian). Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana. pp. 29–30. ISBN 9788882153243.
  75. "Bishop Giovanni Battista Bracelli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
  76. Domenico Spinola was born in Genoa. He had been a cleric of the Apostolic Camera (Papal Treasury), and then Auditor. He served as Vice-Legate in Viterbo. He was appointed a cardinal on 26 April 1626. He was named Archbishop of Acerenza and Matera in 1630. He was transferred to the diocese of Luni e Sarzana on 26 April 1632 by Pope Urban VIII, and took possession of the See on 28 September 1632. He was transferred to the diocese of Mazara del Vallo, with the addition of the personal title of Archbishop, on 1 December 1636. He died in Mazara in 1649. Semeria, pp. 101-102. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, pp. 20 no. 13; 67 with note 7; 226 with note 2.
  77. Prospero Spinola held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He served in the Roman Curia as Referendary (judge) of the Tribunal of the Two Signatures of Justice and Mercy, and was then Vice-Legate of the papal government in Bologna, at a time when Bologna was stricken with plague. Pope Urban VIII appointed him Bishop of Luni e Sarzana on 7 September 1637. During his episcopate the diocese was several times devastated by wars, and in 1648, by a severe famine. In 1657 there was plague, and in 1660 a plague of locusts. He died on 17 July 1664. Cappelletti, p. 469. Semeria, pp. 104-105. Gauchat, p. 226 with note 3.
  78. Born in Genoa, Giovanni Battista Spinola was the nephew of Bishop Prospero Spinola. He was a papal Referendary like his uncle, and he too had been a papal governor, of Fabriano and of San Severino, and was then Vice-Legate of Ravenna. He was appointed Bishop of Luni e Sarzana by Pope Alexander VII on 22 April 1665, and took possession of the diocese on 13 August. In 1674 he held a diocesan synod, and in 1686 he was appointed Apostolic Visitor of the island of Sardinia. He was appointed Archbishop of Genoa by Pope Innocent XII on 13 September 1694. He died on 7 January 1705. Cappelletti, p. 469. Semeria, pp. 104-105. Gauchat, p. 226 with note 4. Cappelletti, p. 469. Semeria, pp. 104-105. Ritzler-Sefrin Hierarchia catholica V, p. 155.
  79. Born of a noble family in Savona, Naselli was transferred from the diocese of Ventimiglia (1685–1695) to the diocese of Luni e Sarzana on 7 February 1695 by Pope Innocent XII. He died on 10 August 1709. Semeria, p. 105. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 250 with note 2.
  80. Ambrogio Spinola: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 250 with note 3.
  81. Della Torre: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 250 with note 4.
  82. Lomellino was born in Genoa in 1701. He taught philosophy and theology to junior members of his Congregation. He served as Provincial and then as Praepositus General of his Congregation, and lecturer at the Sapienza in Rome. He was appointed bishop of Luni and Sarzana in Consistory by Pope Benedict XIV on 23 May 1757, and was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Giorgio Doria on 30 May. He conducted three visitations of the parishes in the diocese. He engaged in lively controversies with the Senate and magistrates of Genoa. He died on 24 February 1791. Semeria, pp. 107-110. Cappelletti, pp. 460-462. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 269 with note 2.
  83. Gentile was born at Vulturi in the diocese of Genoa in 1720, son of a Genoese patrician. He obtained the degree Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from the Sapienza in Rome. He had previously been Bishop of Brugnato (1767–1791). He was transferred to the diocese of Luni e Sarzana on 26 September 1791 by Pope Pius VI. He resigned the diocese on 17 September 1795. Semeria, pp. 107-110. Cappelletti, pp. 462- Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 132 with note 4; 269 with note 3.
  84. Vincenzo Maria was born Agostino Maria Maggioli of aristocratic parents in Genoa in 1752. He held the degree of master of theology (1794). He had lectured in philosophy and theology in the convents of his Order, and served four years as Prior of S. Maria de Castello in Genoa. He was appointed Bishop of Luni e Sarzana on 22 September 1795, and was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 27 September by Cardinal G.-B. Caprara. With the coming of the revolution in Genoa that brought about the Ligurian Republic in 1797, Maggioli was identified as 'excessively aristocratic' and fled from Sarzana, eventually arriving in Rome. With Roman influence the Napoleonic government of Genoa was mollified, and he was transferred to the diocese of Savona) on 24 September 1804. He died there on 19 January 1820. Semeria, p. 111. Cappelletti, pp. 462-463. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 269 with note 4.
  85. Scarabelli was nominated by Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia on 24 June 1820, and preconised (approved) by Pope Pius VII on 2 October 1820. He was consecrated a bishop on 17 December by his Metropolitan, Luigi Lambruschini, Archbishop of Genoa. Having become an octogenarian, he asked permission of King Carlo Felice and Pope Gregory XVI to resign, and on 26 April 1836 his resignation was accepted. Semeria, II, pp. 113-116. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, p. 246.
  86. Agnini: Semeria, pp. 116-117. Ritzler-Sefrin, VII, p. 246.
  87. Rosati: Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 355.
  88. Bishop Staffieri was born at Casalpusterlengo in the diocese of Lodi in 1931. He was appointed Bishop of Carpi on 11 July 1989, and was consecrated a bishop on 9 September 1989. He was transferred to the diocese of La Spazia-Sarzana-Brugnato on 10 July 1999 by Pope John Paul II. He retired on 6 December 2007, and was named Bishop Emeritus on 1 March 2008. Diocesi della Spazia-Sarzaba-Brugnato, Il vescovo emerito; retrieved 07-04-2018. (in Italian) He died on 31 July 2018: La Stampa, "È morto Bassano Staffieri, vescovo emerito della Spezia"; retrieved: 08-02-2018. (in Italian)
  89. Palletti was born in Genoa in 1956, and holds a diploma in the pianoforte from the Nicolò Paganini Conservatory of Music. He served in Genoa after his ordination as a parish curate and hospital chaplain. From 1995 he was confessor at the diocesan seminary of Genoa. In 1998 he was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Genoa on 18 December 2004, and for that purpose named titular Bishop of Fondi; his consecration took place on 16 January 2005, at the hands of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa. He was named Archdiocesan Chancellor. He was transferred to the diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato on 20 october 2012. Diocesi della Spazia-Sarzaba-Brugnato, Il vescovo; retrieved 07-04-2018. (in Italian)
  90. Source for parishes: CCI (2008), Parrocchie, Chiesa Cattolica Italiana, retrieved 2008-03-14.

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 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Luni-Sarzana-Brugnato". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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