Roman Catholic Diocese of Nice

The Diocese of Nice (Latin: Dioecesis Nicensis; French: Diocèse de Nice) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese comprises the Department of Alpes-Maritimes. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Marseille.

Diocese of Nice Dioecesis Nicensis Diocèse de Nice
Nice Cathedral
Location
Country	France
Ecclesiastical province	Marseille
Metropolitan	Archdiocese of Marseille
Statistics
Area	4,283 km2 (1,654 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2021) 1,098,550 (est.) 642,890 (guess)
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	3rd Century
Cathedral	Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary and St. Reparata in Nice
Patron saint	Saint Reparata
Secular priests	144 (diocesan) 50 (Religious Orders) 35 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jean-Philippe Nault
Metropolitan Archbishop	Jean-Marc Aveline
Bishops emeritus	Louis Sankalé Jean Marie Bonfils André Marceau
Map
Website
nice.cef.fr

History

Earliest Times

According to local tradition, Nice was evangelized by St. Barnabas, who had been sent by St. Paul, or else by St. Mary Magdalen, St. Martha, and St. Lazarus (who had been raised from the dead by Christ himself).^[1]

St. Bassus, a martyr under Emperor Decius (249–251), is believed by some to have been the first Bishop of Nice.^[2] There is some evidence of an organized see of Nice existing in the year 314 A.D. in Roman Gallia Narbonensis, since the deacon Innocent and the exorcist Agapitus, clerics from Nice, attended the Council of Arles that year,^[3] possibly as delegates of the bishop. Louis Duchesne, however, pointed out that Nice was not a city (civitas) and did not have its own municipal administration. It was governed from the city of Marseille by a civic functionary called an episcopus ('overseer'). In 314, this situation still obtained, and the delegates sent to the Council of Nicaea are described as coming from the portus of Nice, not the civitas. It might be presumed, therefore, that they represented the chief civic administrator, the episcopus from Marseille. Hence in Duchesne's view, there was not yet an ecclesiastical superior in Nice called an episcopus.^[4]

The first Bishop of Nice known by name is Amantius, who attended in person the Council of Aquileia in 381, as did also the bishop of Marseilles. Duchesne considers Amantius the first known bishop, rather than Bassus.^[5]

Cimiez, a civitas near Nice, but in the province of Alpes Maritimae and indeed its largest town, is claimed to have had an episcopal see around 260, which may be the case, even though the early history of Christianity in Cimiez is probably fictitious.^[6] At any rate, the see was occupied in the mid-fifth century by St. Valerian, who was present at Church councils between 439 and 451.^[7] A rescript of Pope Leo I (440–461), issued after AD 450, joined the two dioceses of Nice and Cimiez into one. This union was later reversed by Pope Hilarius, but in 465 he reunited them at the demand of Bishop Ingenuus of Embrun, the Metropolitan of the Alpes Maritimae, who was quarreling with Bishop Auxanius.^[8] in this later document Pope Hilarius' letter terms Cimiez a civitas and Nice a castellum and this episode has been interpreted as an attempt by Bishop Auxanius, who would have been Bishop of Marseille, to assert his see's control over Nice, for which he had consecrated a bishop.^[9] It should be noted, however, that this united see (Nice and Cimiez) was a suffragan of that of Embrun up to the French Revolution.

During his rise to power, Charlemagne had visited Rome in 754, and had been made Patrician of the Romans by Pope Adrian I.^[10] It is claimed that when Charlemagne happened to visit Cimiez (which had been devastated by the Lombards in 574), he caused one Bishop Syagrius of Nice to build on the ruins the monastery of Saint Pontius of Cimiez. This claim presents major difficulties. There is only one source that mentions Syagrius, the Life written in the early seventeenth century by the hagiographer Vincenzo Barrali Salerna (fl. 1577-1613), a monk of Lerins, who states that Syagrius was Charlemagne's own nepos (paternal nephew), the Count of Brie; he found a place where the body of Saint Pons was being venerated, and got Charlemagne to build a monastery thanks to his repeated requests. Pope Adrian, in 777, his fifth year as pope, is said to have called Syagrius from his monastery and made him the first Bishop of Nice, an office he is said to have held for the last ten years of his life. By this account, Syagrius died on 23 May 787 and was buried in the abbey where he had been the first abbot.^[11] The problems begin with the brother of Charlemagne, Carloman, who was born in 751, making it most unlikely that his son Syagrius was made a bishop only twenty-six years later.^[12] Charlemagne's presence in Nice was motivated (Barrali Salerna says) by a desire to convert pagans in the area, during which he defeated the King of Chimaera (Chimeriensis). However, in reality there were no kings in the area, and most of the local people were Christians, as they had been for centuries. The claim that Charlemagne named Syagrius and his monastery Count of Cimiez, contradicts the fact that neither counts nor counties existed at that period. Nor was there ever a city of Chimaera, and the invention of its name seems to have been an erudite witticism, playing on mythological stories of fire-breathing monsters.^[13] It is highly unlikely that a Syagrius was bishop of Nice.

In the Second Millennium

The Bishops of Nice bore the title of Counts of Drap,^[14] since the donation of property situated at Drap made in 1073 by Pierre, Bishop of Vaison, a native of Nice, to Bishop Raymond I and his successors.^[15] In 1388 Nice fell under the political control of the Counts of Savoy, and Nice became the seat of a Seneschal.^[16] The Count (then Duke, then King of Sardinia) had the right to nominate a new bishop.

On 29 March 1137 Innocent II issued a bull, Officii nostri, confirming the privileges of the Church of Nice, including the castrum quod vocatur Drapum, for Bishop Petrus.^[17]

On 19 January 1183, Pope Lucius III wrote to Bishop Petrus, complaining about the degraded state of spiritual life in the monastery of S. Pons in Nice, and authorizing the bishop to take measures to repair the situation. Despite an agreement between the bishop and the monks in 1184, the latter remained unrepentant, and were excommunicated. They complained to Pope Lucius, who sent another letter on 31 March 1185, rebuking them and supporting the bishop.^[18]

In 1207 another scandal struck the diocese of Nice. Bishop Joannes was embroiled in another conflict with some religious of the diocese, and had concluded that certain documents presented by the religious were forged. They complained to Pope Innocent III, who issued a mandate to the Bishop of Glandèves and the Bishop of Sénez, to investigate the documents in question and the truth of the contents, so that the Pope would know how to proceed. Before that could happen, Bishop Joannes inspected the documents again and concluded that he had been wrong in the first place; he immediately approached Pietro di Castronovo, the Apostolic legate, and explained why he had made his mistake. But it was still a false charge of forgery. Canon law on falsifications, however, was clear and precise, and the bishop went directly to the Pope, who suspended him from office and appointed commissioners, Bishop Hugh of Riez and the Abbot of Boscaud, to convince the bishop to purge himself of his offense, and then restore him to office.^[19]

In 1691 Nice was seized by Louis XIV, though it was restored to Savoy in 1696. It was seized again by the Duke of Berwick in 1705, and restored to Savoy by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was attacked by the French again in 1744, and in 1792; it was united to France in 1793 and became the capital of the new Department of Alpes Maritimes.^[20]

The diocese was re-established by the Concordat of 1801 as a suffragan of Aix-en-Provence. While the Countship of Nice from 1818 to 1860 was politically part of the Sardinian States, the see became a suffragan of Genoa.^[21] When Nice was annexed to France in 1860, certain outlying districts which remained Italian were separated from the diocese and added to the Diocese of Ventimiglia. In 1862 the diocese again became a suffragan of Aix-en-Provence. The arrondissement of Grasse was separated from the Diocese of Fréjus in 1886, and given to Nice, which thereafter united the three former dioceses of Nice, Grasse and Vence.

Bishops of Nice

to 1000

 ? Bassus

•  ? unnamed bishop, who sent delegates to Council of Arles (314).^[22]
• Amantius (381–439)^[23]

[Valerianus (439–455)], Bishop of Cimiez^[24]

Valerius^[25]

[Auxanius (462–466)]^[26]

Dutherius^[27]

• Magnus (549–581)^[28]
• Austadius (c. 581)^[29]
• Catulinus (585–614)^[30]
• Abraham (614–?)^[31]

...

Syagrius ([777–788])^[32]

• Johannes (788–791)^[33]

...

• Frodonius (c. 999)^[34]

1000 to 1300

• Bernard (1004?–?)^[35]
• Pons (1011–1030)
• André (I) (1033–1034)^[36]
• Nitard (1037–1040)
• André (II) (1042–1051)
• Raimond (I) (1064–1074)
• Archimbaud (1074–1078)
• Anselm ^[37] (1100–07)
• Isnard (1108–1114)
• Pierre (1115–1149)
• Arnaud (1151–1164)
• Raimond Laugier (c. 1166)^[38]
• Pierre (c. 1183–1191?)^[39]
• Jean (1200–1207)
• Henri (1208–1236)
• Mainfroi (1238–1246)
• Nitard (1247–1251)
• Morardus (c. 1251– ? )^[40]
• Pierre (II) (1257–1272)
• Hugues (1285–1292)^[41]
• Bernard Chabaud de Tourettes (1294–1302?)^[42]

Bishops during the Avignon Papacy

• Nitard (c. 1301–c. 1311)^[43]
• Raimond, O.E.S.A. (?–1316)^[44]
• Guillaume, O.Min. (1317–1323)^[45]
• Rostaing, O.P. (1323–1329)^[46]
• Jean Artaud, O.P. (1329–1334)
• Raymond, O.Min. (1334–1335)^[47]
• Guillaume (1335 – 1348?)^[48]
• Pierre Sardina (1348–1360)^[49]
• Laurent Le Peintre (1360–1365)^[50]
• (Pierre) Roquesalve de Soliers, O.P. (1371–1380)^[51]

Bishops during the Great Western Schism

• Jean de Tournefort (1382–1400) (Avignon Obedience)^[52]
• Damiano Zavaglia, O.P. (1385 – 1388.06) (Roman Obedience)^[53]
• François (1403–1409) (Avignon Obedience)^[54]
• Jean de Burle (1409–1418) (Avignon Obedience)^[55]

Bishops, 1418 to 1800

• Antoine Clément, O.Min. (1418–1422)^[56]
• Aimon de Chissé (1422–1427)^[57]
• Aimond de Chissé (1427–1428)^[58]
• Louis Badat (1428–1444)^[59]
• Aimon Provana de Leyni, O.S.B. (1446–1461)^[60]
• Henri de Albertis (1461–1462)
• Barthélemi Chuet (1462–1501)^[61]
• Jean de Loriol (1501–1506)^[62]
• Agostino Ferrero, O.Cist. (1506 – 16 September 1511) (Apostolic Administrator)^[63]
• Girolamo de' Capitani d'Arsago, O.S.B. (1511–1542)^[64]
• Girolamo Recanati Capodiferro (6 Feb 1542 Appointed – 30 July 1544)^[65]
• François de Lambert (1549 – 1582)^[66]
• Jean Louis Pallavicino Ceva (7 Nov 1583 – 5 November 1598)^[67]
• Francesco Martinengo, O.Min.Obs. (23 Oct 1600 Appointed – 22 August 1620)^[68]
• Pierre François Maletti, (10 Jan 1622 Appointed – 4 December 1631)^[69]
• Giacomo Marenco (17 Dec 1634 Appointed – 2 January 1644)^[70]
• Didier Palleti, (28 Nov 1644 Appointed – 18 September 1658)^[71]
• Giacinto Solaro di Moretta (9 Jun 1659 – 23 April 1663) ^[72][73]
• Diego della Chiesa (6 Jul 1665 – 30 December 1669)^[74]
• Henri Provana, O.Carm.Discalc. (23 Feb 1671 – 30 November 1706)^[75]

Sede Vacante^[76]

• Raymond Recrosio, Cong. Barn. (30 Jul 1727 Confirmed – 21 May 1732)^[77]
• Charles-François Cantoni (Couton) (17 Apr 1741 – 23 August 1763)^[78]
• Jacques-Thomas Astesan, O.P. (9 Jul 1764 Confirmed – 1 June 1778)^[79]
• Charles-Eugène de Valperga de Maglione (20 Mar 1780 – Oct 1800)^[80]

Modern Bishops

• Jean-Baptiste Colonna d'Istria (11 Jul 1802 – 29 July 1833 Retired)^[81]
• Dominique Galvano (24 Nov 1833 Ordained – 17 August 1855 Died)^[82]

Sede Vacante (1855–1858)^[83]

• Jean-Pierre Sola (3 Jan 1858 – Oct 1877 Retired)^[84]
• Matthieu-Victor-Félicien Balaïn, (10 Mar 1878 – 3 September 1896)^[85]
• Henri-Louis Chapon (29 Sep 1896 Ordained – 14 December 1925 Died)^[86]
• Louis-Marie Ricard (22 Jun 1926 Installed – 21 October 1929 Died)^[87]
• Paul-Jules-Narcisse Rémond (8 Jul 1930 Installed – 24 April 1963 Died)
• Jean-Julien-Robert Mouisset (24 Apr 1963 Succeeded – 30 April 1984 Retired)
• François de Sales Marie Adrien Saint-Macary (30 Apr 1984 Succeeded – 14 November 1997)^[88]
• Jean Marie Louis Bonfils, S.M.A. (28 Aug 1998 Appointed – 28 March 2005 Retired)
• Louis Albert Joseph Roger Sankalé (28 Mar 2005 Succeeded – 8 August 2013 Resigned)
• André Marceau (6 Mar 2014^[89] – 9 March 2022)^[90]
• Jean-Philippe Nault (9 March 2022^[90] – present)

See also

• Catholic Church in France
• County of Nice

References

1. Duchesne, pp. 321-359, who indicates that the story of evangelization by the family of Bethany is no older than the 11th century, and appears to originate at Vézelay (p. 358).
2. Ferdinando Ughelli; Niccolò Coleti (1719). Italia sacra sive De Episcopis Italiae (in Latin). Vol. Tomus quartus (second ed.). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 1107–1108. Francesco Paolo Menna (1802). Sull'invenzione del sacro corpo di S. Basso martire vescovo di Nizza nella Provenza, succeduta nella chiesa cattedrale di Termoli addì 1. di Gennaio dell'anno 1761 (in Italian). Naples: Stamperia Raimondiana. pp. 3–4.
3. Innocentius diaconus, Agapitus exorcista, ex portu Nicaensi. J. Sirmond, Conciliorum Galliae tam editorum quam ineditorum collectio Tomus I, editio secunda (Paris: Didot 1789), p. 104.
4. Duchesne, p. 296. Duchesne is seconding the similar judgment of Denis de Saint-Marthe, in Gallia christiana III, pp. 1269–1270.
5. G.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus III (Florence: A. Zatta 1759), p. 600; Duchesne, p. 296, no. 1.
6. Denis de Saint-Marthe, in Gallia christiana III, p. 1267–1268.
7. Duchesne, pp. 295-296.
8. J. J.P. Migne, Patrologiae Latinae LVIII, pp. 20-22. P. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I, editio altera (Leipzig 1885) no. 562.
9. Duchesne, pp. 296-298.
10. . P. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, editio altera I (Leipzig 1885), p. 292.
11. Vincentius Barrali Salerna (1613). Chronologia Sanctorum & aliorum Virorum Illustrium, ac Abbatum Sacrae Insulae Lerinensis (in Latin). Lyon: Sumptibus Petri Rigaud. pp. 132–133.
12. Gallia christiana III, p. 1275.
13. Gallia christiana III, p. 1275; Duchesne, pp. 298-299.
14. Louis Durante (1847). Chorographie du comté de Nice (in French). Turin: Favale. pp. 54–56.
15. In 1689 Bishop Henri Provana is still called Count of Drap: Cais de Pierlas (1903), Chartrier p. 443.
16. Gallia christiana III, pp. 1269–1270. Tisserand, Histoire I, p. 255-257. The county of Drap, which at the time was a fief of Jean de Beuil.
17. Ughelli, Italia sacra IV, 1110-1111, quotes the entire Latin text.
18. P. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum II, editio altera (Leipzig 1888), p. 451, no 14823; Cais de Pierlas, (1903), Chartrier..., pp. 36-39; Gallia christiana III, p. 1281.
19. Innocent III, Regesta, Book X, lxxxiii (27 June 1207). August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I (Berlin 1874), p. 266 no. 3129. Gallia christiana III, p. 1282.
20. Gaetano Moroni, ed. (1848). Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica: Nic-Omb (in Italian). Vol. XLVIII (48). Venezia: dalla Tipografia Emiliana. pp. 46–51, at p. 48.
21. Cappelletti, XIII, p. 697.
22. Ex portu Nicensi Innocentius diaconus Agapius exorcista. C. Munier, Concilia galliae A. 314– A. 506 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963) [Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina, 148], pp. 16, 19, 21. At p. 18, the text reads ex provincia Nicensi.
23. Duchesne, p. 296 no. 1. Gallia christiana III, p. 1270. Diocese of Nice at catholic.org.
24. Valerianus: Gallia christiana III, pp. 1270–1272.
25. Valerius is omitted by Gallia christiana III, pp. 1272–1273, and is listed by Gams, p. 587 column 2, with both italics and a question mark.
26. Auxanius was involved in the controversy attendant upon the union of the dioceses of Cimiez and Nice. Gallia christiana III, p. 1272. "There is no one who does not conclude that this Auxanius was not bishop of Nice or Cimiez."
27. A document referring to Dutherius as a martyr, allegedly in 493, has been labelled a forgery: Gallia christiana III, p. 1273.
28. Magnus did not attend the Council of Orléans in 549, but he sent the priest Aetius to represent him. Magnus attended the Council of Arles (554). Sirmond, I, p. 1093: Magnus in Christi nomine episcopus ecclesiae Cemelensis (Cimiez). Carolus De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), p. 160
29. Austadius is mentioned in the legend of a local saint in the Nice area by Gregory of Tours in his History of the Franks, Book VI, chapter 6. Duchesne, p. 298, no. 3.
30. Representatives of Catulinus were present at the Second Council of Mâcon in 585. Sirmond, I, p. 1306. Duchesne, p. 298, no. 4. De Clercq, p. 250.
31. Bishop Abraham was present at the V Council of Paris in 614. C. de Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnhout: Brepols 1963), p. 282: ex civitate Nicia Abraham episcopus. Duchesne, p. 298, no. 5.
32. Syagrius: Saint Syagrius of Nice.
33. Joannes was present at the false council of Narbonne in 788. J.-D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIII (Florence: A. Zatta 1767), p. 824. Duchesne, p. 299 no. 6.
34. Froddonius attested a charter of transfer of property on 9 December 999. Gallia christiana III, p. 1276. E. Cais de Pierlas (1903). Chartrier de l'abbaye de Saint-Pons: hors les murs de Nice (in French and Latin). Impr. de Monaco. pp. 1–2, with note 6. In 1004 a bishop named Frodus (not Frodonius) was present at the election of an abbess in Marseille. A bishop named Frodoni is mentioned in a bull of Pope Sergius IV (1109–1012). But that bishop was Frodo of Sisteron (999–c.1015) Joseph Hyacinthe Albanès (1899). Gallia christiana novissima (in French and Latin). Montbeliard: Valentinoise. p. 155.
35. Tisserand, p. 125. Gams, p. 588.
36. Eugène François Tisserand (1862). Histoire civile et religieuse de la Cité de Nice et du Département des Alpes-Maritimes: Chronique de Provence (in French). Vol. Premier Volume. Nice: Visconti et Delbecchi. p. 135. Gams, p. 588 column 1.
37. Anselm was a former monk of Lérins, and reputed a local saint.
38. Laugerius (or Saugerius) was a native of Nice, a priest following the Rule of the Canons Regular, and a Canon and Sacristan of the Cathedral of Nice. Gallia christiana III, p. 1281. Ughelli, IV, p. 1111.
39. On 19 January 1183, Pope Lucius III wrote to Bishop Petrus. Philippus Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum II, editio altera (Leipzig 1888), p. 451, no 14823. Cais de Pierlas, (1903), Chartrier..., pp. 36-39. Gallia christiana III, p. 1281.
40. Morardus is found in a charter dated 2 June 1251. G. Saige, in: Cais de Pierlas, Chartrier de l' abbaye de S. Pons, p. xxxii, p. 67 with note 3.
41. Bishop Hugues is found in a charter of S. Pons of 13 April 1285. Cais de Pierlas, p. 108.
42. Gallia christiana III, p. 1285, states that Bernard died on 6 April. Eubel, I, p. 363, states that Bernard died on 6 April 1300, and that his successor, Nitard, is attested in 1301. E. Cais de Pierlas, "Obituaire de l'ancienne cathédrale de Nice," Miscellanea di storia italiana. terza serie (in Italian). Vol. III. Torino. 1896. pp. 358–398, at p. 362.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
43. Nitard: Gams, p. 588 column 2. Eubel, I, p. 363.
44. Raimond: Gams, p. 588 column 2. Eubel, I, p. 363.
45. Guillaume had been an Apostolic Penitentiary and a 'familiaris' of Pope John XXII: Eubel, I, p. 364.
46. Rostagnus, who had been Prior of the Dominican convent in Marseille, was granted his bulls on 5 April 1323. Eubel, I, p. 364.
47. Raymond was granted his bulls on 10 January 1134. Eubel, I, p. 364.
48. Guillaume had been Archdeacon of Nice. He was appointed on 29 March 1335. Eubel, I, p. 364.
49. Pierre Sardina had been a Canon of the Cathedral of Nice. He was elected by the Chapter and provided by Pope Clement VI on 22 October 1348. He died on 8 March 1360. Gams, p. 588. Eubel, I, p. 364.
50. Le Peintre had been Provost of the Cathedral of Nice. He was elected by the Chapter and provided by Pope Innocent VI on 15 May 1360. He died on 12 April 1365, according to Gams and Eubel. Gams, p. 588. Eubel, I, p. 364.
51. Soliers was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 21 August 1371. He died in 1380. Eubel, I, p. 364.
52. Tournefort was appointed by Pope Clement VII (Avignon Obedience) on 21 February 1382. Eubel, I, p. 364.
53. Zavaglia was provided by Urban VI of the Roman Obedience.
54. Bishop François de Nizza had been a Papal Referendary, and then was provided Bishop of Imola by Benedict XIII, He was provided to Nice by Pope Benedict XIII on 17 October 1403. He was transferred to Orense on 13 November 1408. He died in 1419/1420. Eubel I, p. 119, 284, 364.
55. Jean de Burle had been a priest of the diocese of Lyon, and was Doctor of Laws. He was provided Bishop of Nice on 4 March 1409 by Benedict XIII, and on the same day named Abbot Commendatory of the Abbey of S. Pons outside Nice. He was transferred to the diocese of Saint-Papoul on 23 September 1418 by Pope Martin V. Eubel, I, p. 364 with note 8; p. 390.
56. Antoine Clément, a bachelor of theology, was approved by Pope Martin V on 23 September 1418. He was transferred to the diocese of Belley on 1 April 1422. Eubel, I, pp. 131, 364.
57. Aimo de Chissiaco, junior, had been Prior of Cassiano (O.E.S.A., diocese of, and held a licenciate in Canon Law. He was granted his bulls by Pope Martin V on 20 April 1422. He was transferred to the diocese of Grenoble on 24 October 1427. Gallia christiana III, p. 1289. Eubel, I, pp. 268, 364.
58. Haimon de Chissiaco, senior, had been Bishop of Grenoble (1388–1427). He was transferred to the diocese of Nice on 24 October 1427. His transfer to Nice ensured the succession to Grenoble, which was in practical terms a family possession. Eubel, I, pp. 268, 364.
59. Louis Badat was named bishop of Nice on 10 March 1428 by Pope Martin V. Gallia christiana III, p. 1289.
60. Provana was a Doctor of Canon Law. He was still bishop on 3 August 1461, when a transaction by the monks of S. Pons took place in his presence. Cais de Pierlas, p. 388. Gallia christiana III, pp. 1289-1290. Gams, p. 588. Eubel, II, p. 202.
61. Bartolommeo's bulls were issued on 29 April 1462. He died on 12 June 1501. Gallia christiana III, p. 1290. Eubel, II, p. 202, note 4.
62. Loriol (Orioli) was a Protonotary Apostolic. His appointment was confirmed on 25 March 1501. Eubel, II, p. 202.
63. Ferrero was appointed Bishop of Vercelli on 29 November 1506. He was transferred to the diocese of Vercelli on 17 September 1511, the third of six Ferreri in a row to be bishop of Vercelli. According to Gallia christiana (III, p. 1291) Ferrero had not yet been consecrated bishop at the time he was transferred to Vercelli, and thus his proper title at Nice would have been 'Apostolic Administrator'; he could not carry out any of the sacred functions of a bishop. Eubel, III, pp. 257, 330.
64. Capitani d'Arsago was a native of Milan. He was Provost of Mirandola and Abbot of Bremen. He was present at the V Lateran Council in 1513 and 1514. Gallia christiana III, pp. 1291-1292. Eubel, III, p. 257.
65. Born in Rome, Capodiferro (his mother's family name) was the papal Datary (1541–1544), and Nuncio to King Francis I of France (1547). In February 1537 he had been sent as Nuncio to Portugal to promote the council of Trent; he was sent a second time with wider powers in 1542. Instruzioni date dalla Corte di Roma a Mgre Girolamo Capodiferro ed a Mgre Lippomano (coadiutore di Bergamo), spediti nunzii in Portogallo, il primo nel 1537, il secondo nel 1542 (in Italian). Marsiglia: Presso Roland e Comp. 1828. pp. 5, 15. He was named Bishop of Saint-Jean de Maurienne on 30 July 1544. He was named a cardinal by Pope Paul III on 19 December 1544. He had the palazzo now called the Palazzo Spada built (1548–1550). He died in Rome on 1 December 1559, during the Conclave which elected Pope Pius IV. Gaetano Moroni, ed. (1841). Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da san Pietro sino ai nostri giorni specialmente intorno ai principali santi ...: 8 (in Italian). Vol. VIII. Venezia: dalla Tipografia Emiliana. pp. 62–63. Eubel III, pp. 29 no. 59; 238 with note 4; 257, with note 5. Bishop of Nice at Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
66. Lambert was an Abbreviator of Apostolic Letters in the Roman Curia. Lambert's bulls were granted on 5 February 1549. He died on 10 November 1582. Eubel, III, p. 257.
67. Pallavicino was previously Bishop of Saluzzo (1581–1583), and then Bishop of Marsico nuovo (October–November 1583). He was transferred to the diocese of Nice on 7 November 1583. He died on 5 November 1598. Gallia christiana III, p. 1293. Eubel, III, pp. 236, 257, 290.
68. Franciscus Rasinus Martinengo was a native of Cercenasco in Piedmont. He was Theologus, Councilor and Confessor of Duke Carlo Emanuele. He took possession of the diocese of Nice on 27 December 1600. Gallia christiana III, p. 1293. Pietro Gioffredo (1839). Storia delle Alpi Marittime (in Italian). Vol. VI. Torino: Stamperia reale. pp. 125–126, 143, 256. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 258 with note 2.
69. Maletti: Gallia christiana III, p. 1294. Gauchat, IV, p. 258 with note 3.
70. Marenco had previously been Bishop of Saluzzo (1627–1636). He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Cosmo della Torre on 8 September 1627. He was transferred to the diocese of Nice by Pope Urban VIII on 17 December 1634. Gauchat, IV, p. 258 with note 4; 302.
71. Palleti: Gauchat, IV, p. 258 with note 5.
72. Gauchat, Hierarchia Catholica, IV, pages 249 and 258. Ritzler-Sefrin (edd.), Hierarchia Catholica, V, p. 275, and p. 309.
73. Les Ordinations Épiscopales, Year 1659, Number 19. ^{[full citation needed]}
74. Della Chiesa was born at Cuneo (diocese of Mondovi), and was a doctor of theology. He died on 30 December 1669. Gauchat, IV, p. 258 with note 7.
75. Provana was born at Leynico (diocese of Turin) in 1631. He was a lecturer in theology and Consultor of the Holy Office (Inquisition) in Turin. He became Councilor and Theologian of the Duke of Savoy in 1664. He was Provincial of the Province of Turin of his Order. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Carlo Pio on 8 March 1671. He died on 30 November 1706. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 287 with note 3.
76. Victor Amadeus II and the popes of the time disagreed on the nomination and appointment of bishops in the Kingdom of Sardinia and Duchy of Savoy.
77. Born in Vercelli, Recrosio had been Consultor of the Holy Office (Inquisition) in Turin. He was nominated bishop of Nice by the King of Sardinia (Duke of Savoy) on 23 June 1727, and preconised (approved) by Pope Benedict XIII on 30 July 1727. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Pierre-Guérin de Tencin of Embrun on 21 September. He died on 21 May 1732. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 287 with note 4. Françoise Hildesheimer; Pierre Bodard (1984). Les Diocèses de Nice et Monaco (in French). Paris: Editions Beauchesne. p. 86. ISBN 978-2-7010-1095-3.
78. Cantoni was born in a place called Ronco in the diocese of Vercelli. He was Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) (Turin 1711). He was a Canon and Vicar-General of the diocese of Vercelli. He was nominated bishop of Nice by the King of Sardinia on 22 February 1741, and approved by Pope Benedict XIV on 17 April 1741. He was consecrated in Rome by the Pope on 23 April 1741. He died on 23 August 1763. Ritzler, VI. p. 309, with note 2.
79. Ritzler, VI. p. 309, with note 3.
80. Ritzler, VI. p. 309, with note 4.
81. Colonna d'Istria was born at Bachizzano in Corsica in 1758. He was consecrated in Paris on 11 July 1802 by the Bishop of Vannes, Antoine-Xavier Maynaud de Pancemont. He died on 1 May 1835. Hildesheimer & Bodard, pp. 201-231. Paul Robert Chapusot (1971). Monseigneur Jean-Baptiste Colonna d'Istria: évêque français de Nice, 1758-1835 (in French). Paris: P. Lethielleux.
82. Pietro Stefano Barraia (1855). Elogio funebre alla memoria di Mrg Domenico Galvano vescovo di Nizza (in Italian). Nizza: Stamperia Societa Tipografica.
83. J. Pellegrini, in: L'épiscopat français depuis le Concordat ..., p. 412.
84. Adolphe-Hubert Kaiser (1883). Vita di S.E. Mor Giovanni Pietro Sola, già vescovo di Nizza, morto li 31 dicembre 1881 (in Italian). Nizza: Visconti.
85. Balain was born at Saint-Victor (Ardèche) in 1821. After ordination as a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was sent to Ajaccio (Corsica) to teach dogmatic theology, and in due course was promoted to teach moral theology. In 1860 he became Superior of the seminary of Vico, and in 1867 Superior of the seminary of Fréjus. He was nominated bishop of Nice by decree of 22 November 1877, and was preconised (approved) by Pope Leo XIII on 28 December 1877. He was consecrated at Fréjus on 28 February 1878 by Cardinal Guibert, Archbishop of Paris, and installed in his diocese on 10 March. He was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor by the French Government. On 3 September 1896 he was named Archbishop of Auch. J. Pellegrini, in: L'épiscopat français depuis le Concordat ..., pp. 413-414. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII (1978), pp. 135, 412.
86. Chapon was born in Saint-Brieuc in 1845. He became Vicar General and Canon of Nantes in 1884. Chapon was nominated bishop of Nice by decree of 30 May 1896, and was preconised (approved) by Pope Leo XIII on 25 June 1896. He was consecrated at Orléans on 29 September by Bishop Stanislas Touchet, and took possession of his diocese on 22 October. J. Pellegrini, in: L'épiscopat français depuis le Concordat ..., p. 414. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII (1978), p. 412.
87. Ricard had been Auxiliary Bishop of Nice from 1923 to 1926.
88. Saint-Macary was Superior of the major seminary of Bayonne from 1976 to 1983. He was Coadjutor-Bishop of Nice from 1983 to 1984. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Rennes (, Dol, e Saint-Malo). He died on 26 March 2007. Who's Who in France, S. Exc. Mgr François Saint Macary, retrieved: 14 June 2017.
89. Vatican Press Bulletin, 6 March 2014, "Rinunce e Nomine". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
90. "Rinunce e nomine, 09.03.2022" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

Sources

Reference Books

• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp. 582–584. (Use with caution; obsolete)
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1968). Hierarchia Catholica medii et recentioris aevi sive summorum pontificum, S. R. E. cardinalium, ecclesiarum antistitum series... A pontificatu Pii PP. VII (1800) usque ad pontificatum Gregorii PP. XVI (1846) (in Latin). Vol. VII. Monasterii: Libr. Regensburgiana.
• Remigius Ritzler; Pirminus Sefrin (1978). Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi... A Pontificatu PII PP. IX (1846) usque ad Pontificatum Leonis PP. XIII (1903) (in Latin). Vol. VIII. Il Messaggero di S. Antonio.
• Pięta, Zenon (2002). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi... A pontificatu Pii PP. X (1903) usque ad pontificatum Benedictii PP. XV (1922) (in Latin). Vol. IX. Padua: Messagero di San Antonio. ISBN 978-88-250-1000-8.

Studies

• Cais de Pierlas, E. (1903). Saige, Gustave (ed.). Chartrier de l'abbaye de Saint-Pons: hors les murs de Nice (in French and Latin). Impr. de Monaco.
• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1857). Le chiese d'Italia della loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. decimoterzo (13). Venezia: Giuseppe Antonelli. pp. 697–715.
• Duchesne, Louis (1907). Fastes épiscopaux de l'ancienne Gaule: I. Provinces du Sud-Est. Paris: Fontemoing. pp. 274–277. second edition (in French)
• Hildesheimer, Françoise; Bodard, Pierre (1984). Les Diocèses de Nice et Monaco (in French). Paris: Editions Beauchesne. ISBN 978-2-7010-1095-3.
• Pisani, Paul (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils.
• Sainte-Marthe (Sammarthani), Denis de (1725). Gallia Christiana: In Provincias Ecclesiasticas Distributa... Provinciae Cameracensis, Coloniensis, Ebredunensis (in Latin). Vol. Tomus tertius (III). Paris: Typographia Regia. pp. 1268–1302, Instrumenta, pp. 238–252.
• Salvetti, Bonaventure (1925). L'abbaye de Saint-Pons: hors les murs de Nice : essai historique (in French). Nice: Serre. ISBN 978-2-86410-398-1.
• Société bibliographique (France) (1907). L'épiscopat français depuis le Concordat jusqu'à la Séparation (1802-1905). Paris: Librairie des Saints-Pères. pp. 346–350.
• Stefani, Guglielmo (1854). Dizionario corografico-universale dell'Italia: 2.1: Dizionario corografico degli Stati sardi di terraferma (in Italian). Vol. secondo. Milano: G. Civelli. pp. 616–637. [list of bishops at pp. 635–637]
• Tisserand, Eugène François (1862). Histoire civile et religieuse de la Cité de Nice et du Département des Alpes-Maritimes: Chronique de Provence (in French). Vol. Premier volume. Nice: Visconti et Delbecchi.
• Tisserand, Eugène François (1862). Histoire civile et religieuse de la Cité de Nice et du Département des Alpes-Maritimes: Chronique de Provence (in French). Vol. second volume. Nice: Visconti et Delbecchi.
• Toselli, Jean Baptiste (1867). Précis historique de Nice, depuis sa fondation jusqu'en 1860 (in French). Vol. Premiere partie. Nice: C. Cauvin.

External links

• (in French) Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France, L'Épiscopat francais depuis 1919, retrieved: 2016-12-24.
• GCatholic.org- includes recent incumbents
• diocesan website, in French

Acknowledgment

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Nice". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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