Archdiocese of Catania

{{Short description|Roman Catholic archdiocese in Italy}} {{Infobox diocese | jurisdiction = Archdiocese | name = Catania | latin = Archidioecesis Catanensis | local = Arcidiocesi di Catania | image = Catania BW 2012-10-06 12-26-52.JPG | image_size = 255px | image_alt = | caption = Cathedral in Catania  | country = Italy | metropolitan = | territory = | province = Catania | coordinates = {{Coord|37.502809|N|15.088604|E|display=inline}}  | area_km2 = 1,332 | population = 721,900 {{down}} (est.) | population_as_of = 2023 | catholics = 715,900 (est.) {{down}} | catholics_percent = | parishes = 157 | churches =  | congregations =  | schools =  | members =   | denomination = Catholic Church | rite = Roman Rite | established = unknown 1859 (Archdiocese) | cathedral = Basilica Cattedrale di S. Agata | cocathedral = | patron = | priests = 218 (diocesan) {{down}} 101 (Religious Orders) {{down}} 66 Deacons {{up}}  | pope = {{Incumbent pope}}  | bishop_title = Archbishop | bishop = Luigi Renna | coadjutor = | auxiliary_bishops = | vicar_general = | emeritus_bishops = Salvatore Gristina  | map = Arcidiocesi di Catania.png | map_alt = | map_caption =  | website = [http://www.diocesi.catania.it/ www.diocesi.catania.it] | footnotes = }} thumb|260px|Province of Catania The '''Archdiocese of Catania''' ({{langx|la|Archidioecesis Catanensis}}) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Sicily, southern Italy, with its seat in Catania. It was elevated to an archdiocese in 1859, and became a metropolitan see in 2000. Its suffragans are the diocese of Acireale and the diocese of Caltagirone.<ref name="CathHierCatania">[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcati.html "Archdiocese of Catania"] ''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016</ref><ref name="GCathCatania">[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/cata0.htm "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Catania"] ''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016</ref>

==Historical notes== According to legend, Christianity was first preached in Catania by St. Beryllus.<ref>Beryllus is known from the ''Martyrologium Romanum'', a liturgical calendar used by the diocese of Rome. {{cite book|author=Ottavio Gaetani|author-link=Ottavio Gaetani|editor=Petrus Salernus|title=Vitae sanctorum Siculorum, ex antiquis graecis latinisque monumentis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0wnEyoU-yy4C|volume=I|year=1657|publisher=apud Cirillos|location=Palermo|language=la|pages=18–19}} Pirro, pp. 514–515 (who lists numbers of authorities, beginning with Cardinal Baronius, who followed that source). The accumulation of followers does not increase the authority of the source. Lanzoni, [https://archive.org/details/MN5017ucmf%200/page/n661/mode/2up p. 621], notes that he is called "archbishop in some sources.</ref> During the persecution of Decius the virgin St. Agatha suffered martyrdom.<ref>Agatha is known from the ''Passio S. Agathae'', a hagiographical work written between the second half of the fifth century and before the eighth century. She was not, of course, a cleric. Pirro, pp. 515–516. Lanzoni, [https://archive.org/details/MN5017ucmf%200/page/n665/mode/2up pp. 626-627].</ref> At the same period or a little later the Bishop of Catania was Everus, who is mentioned in the acts of the martyrs of Leontini (303).<ref>Everus was said to have served in the time of Valerianus and Gallienus (250s AD). Pirro, p. 516.</ref> The Deacon Euplius and others were martyred in the same year.<ref>Pirro, p. 516, column 2.</ref>

===Earliest bishops=== It is said that a Domninus (or Domnicius) was Bishop of Catania and was present at the Council of Ephesus (431); the Acts of the council, however, show that he was bishop of ''Coliaeum'' (Cotyaeum, Cotyaion) in Phrygia, not bishop of Catania.<ref>J.-D. Mansi (ed.) ''Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio,'' editio novissima, Tomus V (Florence 1761), pp. 1223 and 1364. Lanzoni, p. 629. Lanzoni points out that the only western prelates at the Council of Ephesus were the representatives of Pope Leo I.</ref>

A genuine bishop of Catania, Fortunatus, was twice sent (514, 516) with Bishop Ennodius of Pavia by Pope Hormisdas to Emperor Anastasius I to effect the union of the Eastern Churches with Rome. Bishop Leo appears in the correspondence of Pope Gregory I (590–604). In 730 Bishop James suffered martyrdom for his defence of images. In {{circa}} 750, Sabino was Bishop of Catania.<ref>Gaetani, Vol. II, p. 3. Canon Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 174, column 2.</ref> His successor, Leo (II) of Catania, was known as a wonder-worker (''thaumaturgus'').

In the 8th century, The Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717–741) removed all the dioceses of Sicily from papal control, and made them suffragans of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In the ''Descriptio orbis Romani'' of George of Cyprus, Catania is listed as a suffragan of Syracuse, the only metropolitan in Sicily.<ref>H. Gelzer, ''Georgius Cyprius'' {{in lang|la|ell}} (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner 1890), [https://books.google.com/books?id=747RPLsWtncC&pg=PA30 p. 30]. George's text was revised in the mid-9th century.</ref>

Bishop Euthymius was at first an adherent of the Patriarch Photius, but in the Eighth General Council approved the restoration of Ignatius as patriarch. John of Ajello, who died in the 1169 Sicily earthquake, won a contested episcopal election against William of Blois in 1167.

===Under the Arabs and the Normans=== From c. 827 to 1071 Catania was subject to the Arab (Saracen) occupation of the island of Sicily.<ref>Pirro, p. 520.</ref> In late summer 1071, Robert Guiscard and Roger d'Hauteville captured Catania.<ref>Gordon S. Brown, ''The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily'' (McFarland 2003), pp. 132-134.</ref> The Norman conquest of Sicily under the auspicies of the Papacy meant that the revival of Christianity was tied to the Latin rite, and, without a Greek metropolitan on the island, newly appointed bishops looked to Rome for validation and consecration. It was not until 1130 that a Latin metropolitan was appointed in Palermo, and 1131 in Messina. On 27 September 1130, Pope Anacletus II, at the request of King Roger II, granted the archbishop of Palermo the right to consecrate the bishops of Syracuse, Agrigento, and Catania.<ref>Kehr, p. 291, no. 21. South Italy and Sicily were following the Obedience of Anacletus II; the German emperor followed the Obedience of Innocent II.</ref> When Messina was named an archdiocese, again at the request of King Roger II, Catania, Lipari and Caphalonia were appointed suffragans of Messina.<ref>Kehr, p. 291, no. 22. Cf. Donald Matthew, ''The Norman Kingdom of Sicily'' (Cambridge: CUP 1992), p. 192.</ref>

On 9 March 1092 (1091 old style), Pope Urban II granted the privilege to Abbot-Bishop Ansger of Catania that whowever was elected abbot of the monastery of Saint Agatha would also be bishop of Catania.<ref>Kehr, p. 290, no. 19.</ref>

A mahor earthquake struck eastern Sicily on 4 February 1169, followed by the collapse of the cone of the Mount Etna volcano. Catania was completely destroyed, with a loss of life of some 15,000 persons, including the Bishop of Catania, Ioannes de Agello.<ref>Matthew, ''The Norman Kingdom of Sicily'', p. 121. {{cite book|author=Lee Allyn Davis|title=Natural Disasters|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CRzMOYIuLJEC&pg=PA392|edition=new|year=2010|publisher=Infobase Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4381-1878-9|page=392}} {{cite book|author=Mario Baratta|title=I terremoti d'Italia: Saggio di storia, geografia e bibliografia sismica italiana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIi7AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA925|year=1901|publisher=Fratelli Bocca|location=Torino|language=it|page=27}}</ref>

Pope Lucius III elevated the diocese of Monreale to the rank of metropolitan archbishop on 5 February 1183, in the bull "Licet Dominus Jesus."<ref>''Bullarum Diplomatum et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum. Taurinensis editio'', {{in lang|la}} Vol. 3 (Turin: Franco, Fory & Dalmazzo 1858), pp. 10-14.</ref> The dioceses of Catania<ref>"Licet Dominus Jesus", p. 12, § 4.</ref> and Syracuse were made suffragans.<ref>Cappelletti, p. 590. His date is incorrect, as the bull itself shows.</ref> Catania was deprived of the right to the ''pallium''.<ref>Kehr, p. 284, 293.</ref>

On 7 July 1274 Pope Gregory X wrote to the Bishop of Syracuse that he had received information that the Bishop of Catania (Angelo Boccamazza), along with his cousin Bartolomeo Romano and two nephews, had attacked a Franciscan convent at Castro Orsino and destroyed its buildings; the Bishop of Syracuse was ordered to investigate, and if the charges were true, he was to excommunicate the offending parties.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alessandro Musco|author2=Giuliana Musotto|title=I francescani e la politica|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y9cT3-ay4pcC&pg=PA190|series=Franciscana, 13|volume=2|year=2007|publisher=Officina di Studi Medievali|location=Palermo|language=it|isbn=978-88-88615-63-9|pages=190, with note 69}} J.H. Sbaralea (ed.), ''Bullarium Franciscanum'' III (Rome 1765), p. 214, no. XLI.</ref>

In 1409 a severe earthquake reduced the monastery of San Niccolò l'Arena to ruins.<ref>Baratta, p. 61.</ref>

===Volcano and earthquakes===

On 11 March 1669 a major fissure opened up on the southeast side of Mt. Etna, some ten miles from Catania, and sent lava in the direction of the city. The stream passed along the walls of the city and reached the sea, but at the beginning of May fresh supplies of lava overtopped the walls of Catania and destroyed the monastery of the Benedictines. The vineyards of the Jesuits, who staffed a college in Catania, were also destroyed. By mid-May three quarters of Catania was surrounded by lava, and several streams entered the city. Fourteen towns and villages between the volcano and Catania were obliterated, leaving only the tower of a ruined church visible.<ref>{{cite book|editor1=Charles Hutton|editor2=George Shaw|editor3=Richard Pearson|title=The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, abridged|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6PZbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA383|volume=I, From 1665 to 1672|year=1809|publisher=C. & R. Baldwin|location=London|pages=383–387}} Davis, p. 396.</ref>

On 9 January 1693<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert Mallet|author2=John William Mallet|title=The Earthquake Catalogue of the British Association for the Advancement of Science: With the Discussion, Curves and Maps, Etc|url=https://archive.org/details/earthquakecatal00sciegoog|year=1858|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=[https://archive.org/details/earthquakecatal00sciegoog/page/n115 101]}}</ref> a major earthquake destroyed the city of Catania and killed eighteen thousand people.<ref>Baratta, ''I terremoti d'Italia'', pp. 165–173. It was estimated that in 1687 the city of Catania contained about 20,000 inhabitants. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 150 note 1.</ref> Only a part of the cathedral and one house survived.<ref>{{cite book|author=Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen|title=Sicily, the New Winter Resort: An Encyclopaedia of Sicily|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1b0YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA325|year=1908|publisher=Methuen|page=325}}</ref> Another earthquake struck the ruins of Catania at the end of September 1693.<ref>Mallet and Mallet, p. 101.</ref>

From 1679 to 1818, the bishop of Catania was the Great Chancellor of the University of Catania.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ridder-Symoens |first1=Hilde de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHMjzvAxHF0C&dq=great+chancellor+university+catania&pg=PA172 |title=A History of the University in Europe |last2=Rüegg |first2=Walter |date=1992 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-54114-5 |language=en}}</ref> The University had been founded in 1444 by King Alfonso I of Sicily, and was under the administration of the Senate of Catania,<ref>''i.e.'' the city council.</ref> with the supervision of the Viceroy of Sicily.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clarenza |first=Vincenzo Cordaro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mi04OgpYidMC&pg=PA27 |title=Osservazioni sopra la storia di Catania cavate dalla storia generale di Sicilia del cavaliere Vincenzo Cordaro Clarenza |date=1833 |publisher=per S. Riggio |language=it}}</ref> In 1556 the Jesuits established a secondary school ('college') in Catania.

In 1859 the diocese of Catania was made an archiepiscopal see, immediately subject to the Holy See.<ref>UGo Benigni (1908), [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03429a.htm "Catania (Catanensis)"] ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908, retrieved: 2017-3-30, wrongly states that the date was 1860.</ref>

===Canons and cathedral===

Bishop Bellomi (1450–1472) petitioned Pope Nicholas V that the Cathedral Chapter of Catania should include the dignities of the Archdeacon, Prior, Cantor, the Dean, and the Treasurer. Papal permission was granted on 12 June 1453.<ref>Pirro, p. 541, column 1.</ref> There were twelve primary Canons and twelve secondary Canons.<ref>Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182 column 2.</ref> Pope Pius V (1566–1572) abolished the dignity of Archdeacon. Originally the Canons were all members of a monastic community and followed the Rule of St. Benedict (hence the office of Prior),<ref>Pirro, pp. 571–573.</ref> but Bishop Vincenzo Cutelli (1577-1589) obtained permission from Pope Gregory XIII on 9 February 1578 to convert the Chapter into a corporation of secular priests.<ref>Pirro, p. 566.</ref> Bishop Ottavio Branciforte (1638-1646) revived the dignity of Archdeacon in April 1639, and appointed his brother Luigi Branciforte, ''Doctor in utroque iure'' (Civil and Canon Law) to the dignity.<ref>Pirro, p. 560, column 2.</ref>

===Minor basilicas===

On 14 July 1926, the cathedral of Saint Agatha, which was about to celebrate the eighth centenary of the return of the remains of Saint Agatha from Constantinople,<ref>Letter of Pius XI to Cardinal Alessandro Lualdi, Archbishop of Palermo, 27 July 1926: "Insignis admodum": ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' vol. 18 (Città del Vaticano 1926), pp. 341-342.</ref> was granted the title and honors of a minor basilica.<ref>Gregory Chow, ''GCatholic'', [https://gcatholic.org/churches/italy/0454 "Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata;"] retrieveed: 13 October 2025. {{self-published source|date=October 2025}}</ref>

In observance of the 5th centenary of the establishment at the church of Santa Maria dell'Elemosina in Catania as a collegiate church, and to promote the cult of the Virgin Mary, on 31 March 1946 Pope Pius XII granted the collegiate church the title and honors of a minor basilica.<ref>Apostolic brief "Quinto iam Exeunte": ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' vol. 39 (Città del Vaticano 1947), pp. 340-341.</ref>

The church of Santa Maria dell'Elemosina in the town of Biancavilla (diocese of Catania) was granted the title and honors of a minor basilica on 14 March 1970 by Pope Paul VI.<ref>Apostolic Brief "In Sanctissimam": ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' vol. 63 (Città del Vaticano 1971), p. 206.</ref>

At the request of Archbishop Domenico Picchinenna (1974–1988), Pope John Paul II granted the title and honors of a minor basilica to the church of Maria Santissima Annunziata al Carmine in Catania on 7 November 1987.<ref>Apostolic Brief "Quo quidem": ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' vol. 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 1448-1449.</ref>

On 16 April 1996, at the petition of Archbishop Luigi Bommarito (1988–2002), Pope John Paul II granted the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Pedara (diocese of Catania) the title and honors of a minor basilica.<ref>Apostolic Brief "Iam a Primordiis": ''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' vol. 88 (Città del Vaticano 1996), pp. 694-695.</ref>

===Diocesan reorganization=== On 4 September 1859, the diocese of Catania was elevated to the status of an archdiocese by Pope Pius IX. Bishop Felice Regano (1839–1861) was granted the ''pallium'' in the papal consistory of 26 September 1859.<ref>Gaetano Moroni (ed.), ''Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica'' Vol. 95 (Venice: Emiliana 1859), p. 240, col. 1.</ref> It had no suffragans, but its archbishop took precedence over bishops in assmblies of prelates.

The diocese of Catania had been an archdiocese for nearly a century and a half. Population movements, changes in occupations, and reorganization of civil districts and boundaries since world war II, made it desirable to carry out adjustments in the ecclesiastical structures of Sicily. After extensive consultations, on 2 December 2000, Pope John Paul II ordered a new arrangement of the dioceses of Sicily. The archdiocese of Catania was promoted to the status of a mentroplitan archdiocese, and assigned as suffragans the diocese of Acireale, formerly directly subject to the Papacy, and the diocese of Caltagirone, formerly a suffragan of the archdiocese of Syracuse.<ref>''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' Vol. 93 (Città del Vaticano 2001), pp. 128-129: "Nova proinde Provincia ecclesiastica Catanensis constabit quidem ex metropolitana Ecclesia Catanensi atque ex suffraganeis Ecclesiis Iaciensi, usque nunc immediate subiecta, et Calatayeronensi, hactenus archidioecesi Syracusanae suffraganea."</ref>

==List of bishops and archbishops== The traditional list and chronology of early bishops may have a lack of evidence.

=== Bishops === ==== to 1000 ==== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * {{bracket| Birillus }} * {{bracket| {{ill|Saint Attalus|lt= Attalus |it|Attalo di Catania}} }} * {{bracket| Everus (Severus ?) }} * {{ill|Serapion of Catania|lt= Serapion |it|Serapione di Catania}} (4th century) * {{bracket| Severinus }}<ref>Severus/Severinus: Lanzoni, pp. 628-629.</ref> *Fortunatus (attested 514–516)<ref>Fortunatus: Pirro, p. 517. Lanzoni, p. 629 no. 2. Kehr, X, p. 283, states that a bishop of Catania does not appear until the sixth century: ''...licet antistites eius non prius quam saec. VI occurrant,'' though the diocese goes back to the fourth or even the third century.</ref> *Elpidius (attested 558–560)<ref>Elpidius was elected in Catania, and consecrated in Rome by Pope Pelagius I. Kehr, p. 286, no. 3. Jaffé, nos. 982, 992, 1001, 1030. He was remembered by Pope Gregory I. Pirro, p. 517. Lanzoni, p. 629 no. 4.</ref> *Leo I (attested 591–604)<ref>Leo's name occurs frequently in the epistles of Pope Gregory I. Pirro, p. 517. Lanzoni, p. 629 no. 5. Kehr, pp. 287–290, nos. 5-17.</ref> *Magnus (6th–7th century)<ref name=":0">Known by the discovery of his episcopal seal.</ref> *John (7th century)<ref name=":0" /> *Constantine I (7th century)<ref name=":0" /> *George (attested 679) *Julian (attested 680) *''Saint'' James the Confessor (attested 730) *''Saint'' {{ill|Sabinus of Catania|lt= Sabinus |it|Sabino di Catania}} *''Saint'' Leo II the Wonderworker (765–789) *Theodore I (attested 787) *''Saint'' Severus (802–814)<ref>Cited only in Eastern ''Menologia.''</ref> *Euthymius (869–870) *Theodore II † (9th century)<ref name=":0" /> *Constantine II † (9th century)<ref name=":0" /> *Anthony (9th century)<ref name=":0" /> *Leo III (attested 997){{div col end}}

====1000 to 1500==== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} :'''...''' *{{ill|Ansgar (bishop of Catania)|lt= Ansgar |it|Angerio da Sant'Eufemia}} (1091–1124)<ref>Ansgar was consecrated by Pope Urban II. He was given a mandate by Pope Paschal II in 1111 to serve on a committee to investigate the alleged simony of Archbishop Gualterius of Palermo. Kehr, pp. 290–291, nos. 18-20.</ref> *{{ill|Mauritius (bishop of Catania)|lt= Mauritius |it|Maurizio di Catania}} (1124–1144)<ref>Pirro, pp. 525–528.</ref> *Julian (1144–1156)<ref>Pirro, pp. 528–529. Gams, p. 944.</ref> *Bernard (1156–1158)<ref>Pirro, p. 529 column 2.</ref> *''vacant'' (1158–1167) *John of Ajello (1167–1169)<ref>John was the brother of Matthew, Great Chancellor of King William of Sicily. He was consecrated by Pope Alexander III. Pirro, pp. 531–532. Kehr, p. 291-292, nos. 24-25.</ref> *Robert (1170–1179)<ref>Bishop Robert received a re-confirmation of the privileges of the Church of Catania from Pope Alexander III dated 20 August 1171. Pirro, pp. 531–532. Kamp, p. 1204. Kehr, p. 292 no. 21.</ref> *Symon (1189–1191)<ref>Symon: Kamp, p. 1205.</ref> *Leo IV (attested 1194)<ref>Leo: Pirro, pp. 531–532. Kamp, p. 1206-1207. Kamp explains that he was not 'Leo de Ravenna', there being a confusion with the eighth century Bishop Leo.</ref> *Roger Orbus (1195–1206)<ref>Roger was a native of Catania. Pirro, pp. 532–533. Kamp, pp. 1207–1209.</ref> *Walter of Palearia (1208–1229)<ref> Walter was Great Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily. In the summer of 1221 he accompanied Count Henricus of Malta on the expedition to Damietta, and, due to its failure and unwilling to face the wrath of Emperor Frederick II, Gualterius went off into exile. He was restored in 1229 through the influence of Pope Gregory IX. Pirro, pp. 533–535. Kamp, pp. 1210–1216.</ref> *Heinrich von Bilversheim (1231–1232)<ref>In April 1233 the see was certainly vacant. Henry was elected bishop of Bamberg in 1242. Eubel, I, p. 176 with note 1. Kamp, pp. 1217–1221.</ref> *''vacant'' (1232–1254) *{{ill|Oddo Capucci|lt= Oddo Capucci |it|Oddo Capocci}} (1254–1256)<ref>Oddo was a native of Rome and the nephew of Cardinal Pietro Capucci. Kamp, pp. 1224–1228.</ref> *Angelo de Abrusca (1257–1272)<ref>{{cite book|author=Fulvio Mazza|title=Catania: storia, cultura, economia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuArAQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Rubbettino|location=Soveria Mannelli|language=it|pages=111–112|isbn=9788849821888 }}</ref> *Angelo Boccamazza (1272–1296)<ref>Boccamazza was the brother of Cardinal Giovanni Boccamazza, who was Archbishop of Monreale in Sicily. Angelo probably (according to Walter) abandoned his diocese as a result of the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, and thereafter lived in Rome. He continued to hold the title of Bishop of Catania until 1296. Pirro, p. 536. Ingeborg Walter, [http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/angelo-boccamazza_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/ "Boccamazza, Angelo,"] ''Dizionario biografico degli Italiani'' Volume 11 (1969).</ref> *{{ill|Gentile Stefaneschi Orsini|lt= Gentile Stefaneschi Orsini |it|Gentile Stefaneschi Orsini}} (1296–1303)<ref>Pirro, p. 536. Gams, p. 944.</ref> *{{ill|Leonardo Fieschi|lt= Leonardo Fieschi |it|Leonardo Fieschi}} (1304–1331)<ref>Fieschi, a member of the noble Genoan family, governed Catania through vicars, including Otho Abrazabeni. He visited Catania in 1313, but became involved in a lawsuit with the Benedictines, and returned to Genoa. A major eruption of Mount Etna, which began in June 1329, severely damaged Catania. Bishop Leonardo died in Genoa on 21 March 1331. Pirro, p. 537. Eubel, I, p. 176.</ref> *Nicholas de Ceccano (1332–1337) *Nicholas de Grelis (1339–1342) *Gerald Othonis (1342–1347)<ref>Gerald studied under John Duns Scotus in Paris, and was a personal friend of Pope John XXII. He was also Latin Patriarch of Antioch (1342–1347). He took possession by proxy of Theobaldus, Archbishop of Palermo, and governed Catania through Vicars, Jacobus de Soris, then Jacobus titular Bishop of Sebasteia (Armenia), then Joannes de Grisalone and Gerardus de Lucicampo. He died in 1347, likely of the Black Death, which reached Sicily in October 1347. Pirro, pp. 539–540. Eubel, I, pp. 93, 176, 440.</ref> *Peter<ref>Pirro, p. 540. Omitted by Eubel, I, p. 176.</ref> *Juan de Luna (1348–1355)<ref>Member of the powerful de Luna family, he was a relative of the kings of Aragon, and had been a Canon of Toledo. Pirro, pp. 540–541.</ref> *Martialis (1355–1375)<ref>Martialis had been Abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Sant'Andrea ''de Insula'' in Brindisi. He died in Avignon in 1375. Pirro, pp. 541–542. Eubel, I, p. 176.</ref> *Élie de Vaudron (1376–1378)<ref>Elias was a native of Limoges When he was deposed by Urban VI in 1378, Simon was appointed Vice-Treasurer of Clement VII. Pirro, p. 542. Eubel, I, p. 176 note 8.</ref> *{{ill|Simone del Pozzo|lt= Simone del Pozzo |it|Simone del Pozzoi}} (1378–1396)<ref>Simon was appointed after Urban VI deposed Bishop de Vaudron. Bishop de Vaudron continued to have the support of Antipope Clement VII of the Avignon Obedience. When Élie de Vaudron died in 1388, the diocese of Catania was given to Pietro d'Alagona (1388–1396) by Clement VII. Eubel, I, pp. 176–177.</ref> :: Western Schism: ''contended'' (1396–1418)<ref>For the Avignon Obedience were elected: Pedro Serra (1396–1397) by Antipope Benedict XIII and then Robert (1398–1404). Eubel, I, p. 30. Pirro, pp. 545–546. Gams, p. 944. For the Pisan Obedience were elected: Mauro Cali, O.S.B. (1408–1411); Cali had been Bishop of Malta (1393–1408). He was nominated bishop of Catania by King Martin, and approved by Pope Alexander V, who had been elected by the cardinals at the Council of Pisa. Lombardo states that Cali was removed on orders of Queen Maria because he favored the party of Count Caprera her enemy. Lombardo, in D'Avino, p. 178. Gams, p. 944. Eubel, I, pp. 177, 340.</ref> *Jean de Puinoix (1418–1431)<ref>Also italianized as Giovanni de Podio, or in latin Johannes de Podionucis, had been Master General of the Dominicans, and an adherent of Clement VII. He participated in the Council of Constance. He was confessor of Pope Martin V. Pirro, p. 547. Eubel, I, p. 177.</ref> *Giovanni Pesce (1431–1447)<ref>Bishop Pesce was transferred to the titular diocese of Philipopolis. Pirro, pp. 547–548. Eubel, II, pp. 122, 215.</ref> *Cardinal Giovanni de Primis (1447–1449) *Arias d'Avalos (1449–1450)<ref>A native of Naples, d'Avalos was appointed bishop of Catania on the recommendation of King Alfonso, with the consent of Pope Eugene IV. Summoned to Rome to defend himself against criminal activities (which had been judged by King Alfonso to be true), he died there before trial, perhaps by 12 May 1450, perhaps on 22 August. Pirro, pp. 548–549. Lombardo, in D'Avino, p. 178. Eubel, I, p. 122, with note 2.</ref> *Guglielmo Bellomo (1450–1472)<ref>Bellomo was a member of Syracusan nobility. Lombardo, in D'Avino, p. 179 column 1. Eubel, II, p. 122.</ref> *Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere (1473–1474)<ref>Giuliano della Rovere was a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. King John did not approve of his appointment, and eventually appointed Francesco de Campulo to replace della Rovere, who was transferred from Catania to the diocese of Avignon. He became Pope Julius II on 1 November 1503. Campulo was never granted possession of Catania by the necessary papal bull. Eubel, II, pp. 16 no. 2; 122; III, p. 9. Pirro, p. 549. Eubel, II, p. 122, with note 3.</ref> *Giovanni Gatto (1475–1479)<ref>Gatto had been Bishop of Cefalù (1472–1475) before his appointment to Catania. He returned to the diocese of Cefalù on 8 February 1479, and died there in 1484. Pirro, pp. 549–550. Eubel, II, pp. 122, 125.</ref> *Bernardo Margarit (1479–1486)<ref>Bernardus had been Bishop-Elect of Cefalù when he exchanged dioceses with Giovanni Gatto. He was consecrated in Catania by Bishop Dalmatius of Syracuse on 3 November 1479. He was elected Archbishop of Monreale after the death of Cardinal Auxias Despuig in September 1483, but the King rejected his election. Pirro, p. 550. Eubel, II, pp. 122, 125.</ref> *Alfonso Carrillo de Albornoz (1486–1496)<ref>Carrillo was the nephew of Cardinal Alfonso Carillo. He was transferred to the diocese of Ávila on 27 June 1496. He died in 1514. Eubel, II, pp. 78, 122.</ref> *Juan de Aza (1496–1498)<ref>Daza was appointed Bishop of Oviedo). David M. Cheney, [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdaza.html "Bishop Juan Daza"] ''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''; retrieved August 21, 2016.</ref> *Cardinal Francisco des Prats (1498–1500)<ref>A native of Valencia, Desprats was serving as papal Legate in Aragon at the request of King Ferdinand from April 1498. He was transferred to Astorga on 9 February 1500, but was transferred again to Leon on 4 December 1500. He was named a cardinal by Pope Alexander VI on 31 May 1503, and died on 9 September 1504. Pirro, p. 551. Eubel, II, pp. 98, 122, 174; III, pp. 8 no. 42, 221 note 2.</ref>{{div col end}}

====1500 to 1861==== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Diego Ramírez de Guzmán (1500–1508) * Jaime de Conchillos (1509–1512) * Gaspar Ponz (1513–1520) * Cardinal Matthäus Schiner (1520–1522) * Cardinal Pompeo Colonna (1523–1524) * Cardinal Marino Ascanio Caracciolo (1524) * Scipione Caracciolo (1524–1529)<ref>Scipione Caracciolo was the brother of Marino Ascanio Caracciolo. Pirro, p. 553.</ref> * Cardinal Marino Ascanio Caracciolo (1529–1530) * Luigi Caracciolo (1530–1536)<ref>Luigi Caracciolo was the nephew of Marino Ascanio Caracciolo. Pirro, p. 553.</ref> * Cardinal Marino Ascanio Caracciolo (1536–1537) * Nicola Maria Caracciolo (1537–1567)<ref>Niccolo Caracciolo was the brother of Luigi Caracciolo and nephew of Marino Ascanio Caracciolo. He was appointed when he still had not reached the age of 27; he required a dispensation. Pirro, p. 554. Eubel, III, p. 159 with note 10.</ref> * Antonino Faraone (1569–1572)<ref>Faraone, a chaplain of Emperor Charles V, had previously been Bishop of Cefalù (1562–1569) on the Emperor's nomination. He was transferred to Catania, on the presentation of King Philip II of Spain, on 9 February 1569. Pirro, p. 555. Eubel, III, pp. 159, with note 11; 163.</ref> * Juan Orozco de Arce (1574–1576)<ref>Orozco, a priest of the diocese of Toledo and ''Doctor in utroque iure'' (Civil and Canon Law), was the nephew of the Archbishop of Palermo, Francisco Orozco (1559–1561). Juan had previously been Bishop of Syracuse (1562–1574). He was presented to the diocese of Catania by King Philip II. Pirro, p. 555. Eubel, III, pp. 158, 307.</ref> * Vincenzo Cutelli (1577–1589) * Juan Corrionero (1589–1592) * Prospero Rebiba (1592–1593)<ref>Appointed as Bishop of Catania, he died before taking canonical possession of the diocese.</ref> * Giovanni Domenico Rebiba (1595–1604) * Giovanni Ruiz de Villoslada (1605–1609) * Bonaventura Secusio (1609–1618) * Juan Torres de Osorio (1619–1624) * Innocenzo Massimo (1624–1633)<ref>Massimi was a native of Rome and a Referendary of the Two Signatures. He had previously been Bishop of Bertinoro (1613–1624). Pirro, pp. 558–560. Gauchat, ''Hierarchia catholica'' IV, pp. 120 with note 2; 142.</ref> * Ottavio Branciforte (1638 –1646)<ref>Branciforte was born in Palermo, the son of Ercole, 1st Duke of San Giovanni. In 1627 he was appointed to the Royal Council of Sicily by King Philip IV of Spain, and was named a royal Chaplain. He was Bishop of Cefalù from 1633 to 1638. {{cite book|author=Francesco Maria Emanuele e Gaetani Villabianca (marchese di)|title=Della Sicilia nobile |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjar9kshglsC&pg=PA19|volume=Parte seconda, continuazione|year=1757|publisher=nella stamperia de' Santi Apostoli|location=Palermo|pages=19–20}} Pirro, pp. 560–561. Gauchat, pp. 142, 146.</ref> * Marco Antonio Gussio (1650–1660) * Cardinal Camillo Astalli Pamphilj (1661–1663) * Michelangelo Bonadies (1665–1686) * Francesco Antonio Carafa (1687–1692)<ref>Carafa was born in Naples, and had taught philosophy and theology in houses of his Order. He was Praepositus of the house in Madrid and the one in Zaragoza. He was nominated to the diocese of Lanciano (1675–1687) by King Charles II of Spain on 1 April 1675, and approved by Pope Clement X on 27 May. He was transferred to Catania on 24 November 1687, and allowed to retain the personal title of Archbishop. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 150 with note 3; 235 with note 4.</ref> * Andrea Reggio (1693–1717) * Cardinal Juan Álvaro Cienfuegos Villazón (1721–1725)<ref>Cienfuegos was named a cardinal by Pope Clement XI on 30 September 1720; his red biretta was sent to him in Spain. He was appointed Cardinal Priest of San Bartolomeo all'Isola on 16 July 1721. Cienfuegos governed his diocese through a Vicar General, Pietro Gravina, Prior of the Cathedral Chapter, and, for his episcopal duties, through Paolo Stabile, O. Minim., Bishop of Bova. He was appointed Archbishop of Monreale on 21 February 1725. He died on 19 August 1739. Pirro, p. 568. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 32 no. 70; 125 with note 5; 150 with note 5.</ref> * Alessandro Burgos (1726) * Raimundo Rubí y Boxadors (1727–1729) * Pietro Galletti de Gregorio (1729–1757) * Salvatore Ventimiglia Statella (1757–1771) * Corrado Maria Deodato Moncada (1773–1813)<ref>Moncada was born at Neti (diocese of Syracuse), and was a Doctor of theology (Sapienza, Rome 1773). He was several times Vicar General and Vicar Capitular of Messana, and a Synodal Examiner. He was presented to the diocese of Catania by the King of Sicily on 5 April 1773, and approved by Pope Clement XIV on 10 May. He was consecrated in Tusculum (Frascati) by Henry Stuart, Cardinal York, on 16 May. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 156 with note 3.</ref> * Gabriele Maria Gravina di Montevago (1816–1817)<ref>Gravina left Catania when he was promoted to the position of Major Chaplain to the King. Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182.</ref> * Salvatore Ferro de Berardis (1818–1819)<ref>Bishop Ferro de Berardis was a native of Trepani. Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182.</ref> * Domenico Orlando (1823–1839) * Felice Regano (1839–1861){{div col end}}

===Archbishops=== ====Since 1861==== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *''vacant'' (1861–1867) * ''Blessed'' Cardinal Giuseppe Benedetto du Smet (February 22, 1867 – April 4, 1894) * Cardinal Giuseppe Francica Nava de Bondifè (March 18, 1895 – December 7, 1928) * Emilio Ferrais (December 7, 1928 – January 23, 1930) * Carmelo Patané (July 7, 1930 – April 3, 1952) * Guido Luigi Bentivoglio (April 3, 1952 – July 16 1974) * Domenico Picchinenna (July 16 1974 – June 1, 1988) * Luigi Bommarito (June 1, 1988 – June 7, 2002) * Salvatore Gristina (June 7, 2002 – January 8, 2022) * Luigi Renna (January 8, 2022 – present){{div col end}}

===Other affiliated bishops===

====Coadjutor archbishops==== *Emilio Ferrais (1925-1928) *Guido Luigi Bentivoglio, O. Cist. (1949-1952) *Domenico Picchinenna (1971-1974)

====Auxiliary bishops==== *Antonio Maria Trigona (1806-1817)<ref>Trigona was a native of Catania. He was appointed titular bishop of Hierocaesarea (Lydia, Turkey) and Auxiliary bishop of Catania on 31 March 1806, by Pope Pius VII. He was nominated archbishop of Messina by King Ferdinand I (III/IV) on 15 March 1817 and approved by Pius VII on 28 July. He resigned on 22 November 1819. Ritzler & Sefrin, ''Hierarchia catholica'' VII, pp. 124, 214, 262.</ref> *Francesco di Paola Berretta (1828-?) *Giovanni Fortunato Paternò (1823-1834) *Pietro Gravina Luzzena (1836-1855) *Antonio Caff (1882-1895) *Emilio Ferrais (1911-1925), appointed Coadjutor here *Pio Vittorio Vigo (1981-1985), appointed Bishop of Nicosia

==Suffragan sees== :''Since 2000'' *Acireale *Caltagirone

==Notes and references== {{reflist}}

==Books== ===Reference Works=== *{{cite book |last1=Eubel |first1=Conradus |title=Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 1 |date=1913 |publisher=Libreria Regensbergiana |location=Münster |edition=second |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol01eubeuoft}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last1=Eubel |first1=Conradus |title=Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 2 |date=1914 |publisher=Libreria Regensbergiana |location=Münster |edition=second |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol02eubeuoft}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last1=Eubel |first1=Conradus |title=Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 |date=1923 |publisher=Libreria Regensbergiana |location=Münster |edition=second |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol02eubeuoft}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last=Gams |first=Pius Bonifatius |title=Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=os9DAQAAMAAJ |year=1873 |publisher=Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz |location=Ratisbon}} pp. 946–947. (Use with caution; obsolete) *{{cite book |last1=Gauchat |first1=Patritius (Patrice) |title=Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667) |date=1935 |publisher=Libraria Regensbergiana |location=Münster |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol04eubeuoft |access-date=2016-07-06}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last1=Ritzler |first1=Remigius |last2=Sefrin |first2=Pirminus |title=Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730) |date=1952 |publisher=Messagero di S. Antonio |location=Patavii |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol05eubeuoft |access-date=2016-07-06}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last1=Ritzler |first1=Remigius |last2=Sefrin |first2=Pirminus |title=Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi VI (1730-1799) |date=1958 |publisher=Messagero di S. Antonio |location=Patavii |url=https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol06eubeuoft |access-date=2016-07-06}} (in Latin) *{{cite book |last1=Ritzler |first1=Remigius |last2=Sefrin |first2=Pirminus |title=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) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pgyItwAACAAJ |volume=VII |year=1968 |publisher=Libr. Regensburgiana |location=Monasterii |language=la}} *{{cite book |author1=Ritzler, Remigius |author2=Pirminus Sefrin |title=Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi... A Pontificatu PII PP. IX (1846) usque ad Pontificatum Leonis PP. XIII (1903) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oXUjwEACAAJ |year=1978 |volume=VIII |publisher=Il Messaggero di S. Antonio |language=la}} *{{cite book |last=Pięta |first=Zenon |title=Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi... A pontificatu Pii PP. X (1903) usque ad pontificatum Benedictii PP. XV (1922) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QXuJQwAACAAJ |volume=IX |year=2002 |publisher=Messagero di San Antonio |location=Padua |language=la |isbn=978-88-250-1000-8}}

===Studies===

*Benigni, Ugo. (1913). "Catania, Archdiocese of (Catanensis)," in: ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' vol. 3 (New York: Encyclopedia Press 1913), [https://books.google.com/books?id=9gIjAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA430 pp. 429-430]. [derived from Cappelletti; there is a new edition] * Catalano, Μichele (1917). "La fondazione e le prime vicende del Collegio dei Gesuiti in Catania (1556–1579), {{in lang|it}}, in: ''Archivio storico per la Sicilia orientale'' Vol. 14 (Catania 1917), pp.145-186. * Clarenza, Vincenzo Cordaro (1833). ''Osservazioni sopra la storia di Catania: cavate dalla storia generale di Sicilia.'' {{in lang|it}}. Catania: Salvatore Riggio, [https://books.google.com/books?id=LNZiAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1 Vol. 1 (1835)]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ib41GCIrMfwC&pg=PA1 Vol. 2 (1833)]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=kP8tAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1 Vol. 4: 1700–1830 (1834)]. *{{cite book |last=Cappelletti |first=Giuseppe |title=Le chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aXFTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA633 |volume=vigesimoprimo (21) |year=1870 |publisher=Antonelli |location=Venezia |language=it|pages=633–642}} *{{cite book |last=D'Avino |first=Vincenzio|title=Cenni storici sulle chiese arcivescovili, vescovili, e prelatizie (nullius) del regno delle due Sicilie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUIsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA168 |year=1848 |publisher=dalle stampe di Ranucci |location=Naples |language=it |pages=173–182}} (article by Canon Gaetano Lombardo) * Ferrara, Francesco (1829). ''Storia di Catania'' {{in lang|it}} (Catania: Lorenzo Dato 1829). *{{cite book |author=Lanzoni, Francesco |title=Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604) |url=https://archive.org/details/MN5017ucmf_0 |year=1927 |publisher=Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana |location=Rome |language=it}} *{{cite book |last=Backman |first=Clifford R. |title=The Decline and Fall of Medieval Sicily: Politics, Religion, and Economy in the Reign of Frederick III, 1296-1337 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChDJEjnZnrIC&pg=PA349 |year=2002 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-52181-9}} *Kamp, Norbert (1975). ''Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien: [http://digi20.digitale-sammlungen.de/de/fs1/object/display/bsb00042115_00001.html?prox=true&phone=true&ngram=true&seriesTitle_str=%7BKirche+und+Monarchie+im+staufischen+K%C3%B6nigreich+Sizilien%7D&hl=scan&fulltext=Kamp+Kirche+und+Monarchie&mode=simple&context=Kamp%20Kirche%20und%20Monarchie I. Prosopographische Grundlegung, Bistumer und Bischofe des Konigreichs 1194–1266: 3. Sizilien]'' München: Wilhelm Fink 1975, pp. . * Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1975). ''Regesta Pontificum Romanorum''. {{in lang|la}}. Vol. X: Calabria–Insulae. Turici: Weidmann 1975. (pp. 283-297). *{{cite book |last=Pirro |first=Rocco |editor=Mongitore, Antonino |title=Sicilia sacra disquisitionibus et notitiis illustrata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2KIO7RBe5GkC |edition=third |volume=Tomus primus |year=1733 |publisher=haeredes P. Coppulae |location=Palermo}}

Catania Category:Bishops of Catania Catania