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;[3] 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.[4] Pope Gregory also refers to a Bishop Boniface, but he was a bishop of Ferentum in Tuscany.[5]
Diocesan reorganization
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.[6] 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.[7]
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.
Ughelli, I, 672, makes the assertion without providing evidence, or even a reference to other literature. Francesco Lanzoni, p. 168, questions the asssertion: "Non saprei donde l'Ughelli
(I, 672) lo abbia desunto. E senza prove."
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. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous."
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, Tomus XI (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 866. Ughelli I, p. 674.
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, Tomus XII (Florence: A. Zatta 1766), p. 264. Ughelli I, p. 674.
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. Cesare Baronio (1867). Augustino Theiner (ed.). Annales ecclesiastici (in Latin). Vol.Tomus duodecimus (12). Bar-le-Duc: L. Guerin. p.648.
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.
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, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020.
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, Tomus XVIII, pp. 465, 471. Ughelli I, p. 674. Schwartz, p. 270.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
A 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.
Nicolaus 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol.Tomus IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol.Tomus V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol.Tomus VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
