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Archdiocese of Catania

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Archdiocese of Catania
Archidioecesis Catanensis
Arcidiocesi di Catania
Cathedral in Catania
Cathedral in Catania
Location
Country Italy
Ecclesiastical province Catania
Coordinates 37°30′10″N 15°05′19″E / 37.502809°N 15.088604°E
Statistics
Area 1,332 km2 (514 sq mi)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2023)
721,900 (est.)
715,900 (est.)
Parishes 157
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established unknown
1859
(Archdiocese)
Cathedral Basilica Cattedrale di S. Agata
Secular priests 218 (diocesan)
101 (Religious Orders)
66 Deacons
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Archbishop Luigi Renna
Bishops emeritus Salvatore Gristina
Map
Website
www.diocesi.catania.it

The Archdiocese of Catania (Latin: 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.[1][2]

Historical notes

According to legend, Christianity was first preached in Catania by St. Beryllus.[3] During the persecution of Decius the virgin St. Agatha suffered martyrdom.[4] 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).[5] The Deacon Euplius and others were martyred in the same year.[6]

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.[7]

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 c. 750, Sabino was Bishop of Catania.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] In late summer 1071, Robert Guiscard and Roger d'Hauteville captured Catania.[11] 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.[12] When Messina was named an archdiocese, again at the request of King Roger II, Catania, Lipari and Caphalonia were appointed suffragans of Messina.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

Pope Lucius III elevated the diocese of Monreale to the rank of metropolitan archbishop on 5 February 1183, in the bull "Licet Dominus Jesus."[16] The dioceses of Catania[17] and Syracuse were made suffragans.[18] Catania was deprived of the right to the pallium.[19]

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.[20]

In 1409 a severe earthquake reduced the monastery of San Niccolò l'Arena to ruins.[21]

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.[22]

On 9 January 1693[23] a major earthquake destroyed the city of Catania and killed eighteen thousand people.[24] Only a part of the cathedral and one house survived.[25] Another earthquake struck the ruins of Catania at the end of September 1693.[26]

From 1679 to 1818, the bishop of Catania was the Great Chancellor of the University of Catania.[27] The University had been founded in 1444 by King Alfonso I of Sicily, and was under the administration of the Senate of Catania,[28] with the supervision of the Viceroy of Sicily.[29] 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.[30]

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.[31] There were twelve primary Canons and twelve secondary Canons.[32] 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),[33] 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.[34] 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.[35]

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,[36] was granted the title and honors of a minor basilica.[37]

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.[38]

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.[39]

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.[40]

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.[41]

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.[42] 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.[43]

List of bishops and archbishops

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

Bishops

to 1000

1000 to 1500

1500 to 1861

Archbishops

Since 1861

Other affiliated bishops

Coadjutor archbishops

Auxiliary bishops

Suffragan sees

Books

Reference Works

Studies

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Catania is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[98]

References

  1. Back to citation "Archdiocese of Catania" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  2. Back to citation "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Catania" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  3. Back to citation Beryllus is known from the Martyrologium Romanum, a liturgical calendar used by the diocese of Rome. Ottavio Gaetani (1657). Petrus Salernus (ed.). Vitae sanctorum Siculorum, ex antiquis graecis latinisque monumentis (in Latin). Vol. I. Palermo: apud Cirillos. pp. 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, p. 621, notes that he is called "archbishop in some sources.
  4. Back to citation 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, pp. 626-627.
  5. Back to citation Everus was said to have served in the time of Valerianus and Gallienus (250s AD). Pirro, p. 516.
  6. Back to citation Pirro, p. 516, column 2.
  7. Back to citation 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.
  8. Back to citation Gaetani, Vol. II, p. 3. Canon Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 174, column 2.
  9. Back to citation H. Gelzer, Georgius Cyprius (in Latin and Greek) (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner 1890), p. 30. George's text was revised in the mid-9th century.
  10. Back to citation Pirro, p. 520.
  11. Back to citation Gordon S. Brown, The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily (McFarland 2003), pp. 132-134.
  12. Back to citation 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.
  13. Back to citation Kehr, p. 291, no. 22. Cf. Donald Matthew, The Norman Kingdom of Sicily (Cambridge: CUP 1992), p. 192.
  14. Back to citation Kehr, p. 290, no. 19.
  15. Back to citation Matthew, The Norman Kingdom of Sicily, p. 121. Lee Allyn Davis (2010). Natural Disasters (new ed.). New York: Infobase Publishing. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-4381-1878-9. Mario Baratta (1901). I terremoti d'Italia: Saggio di storia, geografia e bibliografia sismica italiana (in Italian). Torino: Fratelli Bocca. p. 27.
  16. Back to citation Bullarum Diplomatum et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum. Taurinensis editio, (in Latin) Vol. 3 (Turin: Franco, Fory & Dalmazzo 1858), pp. 10-14.
  17. Back to citation "Licet Dominus Jesus", p. 12, § 4.
  18. Back to citation Cappelletti, p. 590. His date is incorrect, as the bull itself shows.
  19. Back to citation Kehr, p. 284, 293.
  20. Back to citation Alessandro Musco; Giuliana Musotto (2007). I francescani e la politica. Franciscana, 13 (in Italian). Vol. 2. Palermo: Officina di Studi Medievali. pp. 190, with note 69. ISBN 978-88-88615-63-9. J.H. Sbaralea (ed.), Bullarium Franciscanum III (Rome 1765), p. 214, no. XLI.
  21. Back to citation Baratta, p. 61.
  22. Back to citation Charles Hutton; George Shaw; Richard Pearson, eds. (1809). The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, abridged. Vol. I, From 1665 to 1672. London: C. & R. Baldwin. pp. 383–387. Davis, p. 396.
  23. Back to citation Robert Mallet; John William Mallet (1858). The Earthquake Catalogue of the British Association for the Advancement of Science: With the Discussion, Curves and Maps, Etc. Taylor & Francis. p. 101.
  24. Back to citation 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.
  25. Back to citation Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen (1908). Sicily, the New Winter Resort: An Encyclopaedia of Sicily. Methuen. p. 325.
  26. Back to citation Mallet and Mallet, p. 101.
  27. Back to citation Ridder-Symoens, Hilde de; Rüegg, Walter (1992). A History of the University in Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54114-5.
  28. Back to citation i.e. the city council.
  29. Back to citation Clarenza, Vincenzo Cordaro (1833). Osservazioni sopra la storia di Catania cavate dalla storia generale di Sicilia del cavaliere Vincenzo Cordaro Clarenza (in Italian). per S. Riggio.
  30. Back to citation UGo Benigni (1908), "Catania (Catanensis)" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908, retrieved: 2017-3-30, wrongly states that the date was 1860.
  31. Back to citation Pirro, p. 541, column 1.
  32. Back to citation Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182 column 2.
  33. Back to citation Pirro, pp. 571–573.
  34. Back to citation Pirro, p. 566.
  35. Back to citation Pirro, p. 560, column 2.
  36. Back to citation 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.
  37. Back to citation Gregory Chow, GCatholic, "Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata;" retrieveed: 13 October 2025.
  38. Back to citation Apostolic brief "Quinto iam Exeunte": Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 39 (Città del Vaticano 1947), pp. 340-341.
  39. Back to citation Apostolic Brief "In Sanctissimam": Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 63 (Città del Vaticano 1971), p. 206.
  40. Back to citation Apostolic Brief "Quo quidem": Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 1448-1449.
  41. Back to citation Apostolic Brief "Iam a Primordiis": Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 88 (Città del Vaticano 1996), pp. 694-695.
  42. Back to citation Gaetano Moroni (ed.), Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. 95 (Venice: Emiliana 1859), p. 240, col. 1.
  43. Back to citation 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."
  44. Back to citation Severus/Severinus: Lanzoni, pp. 628-629.
  45. Back to citation 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.
  46. Back to citation 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.
  47. Back to citation 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.
  48. Back to citation occurrence 48.0 Back to citation occurrence 48.1 Back to citation occurrence 48.2 Back to citation occurrence 48.3 Back to citation occurrence 48.4 Back to citation occurrence 48.5 Known by the discovery of his episcopal seal.
  49. Back to citation Cited only in Eastern Menologia.
  50. Back to citation 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.
  51. Back to citation Pirro, pp. 525–528.
  52. Back to citation Pirro, pp. 528–529. Gams, p. 944.
  53. Back to citation Pirro, p. 529 column 2.
  54. Back to citation 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.
  55. Back to citation 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.
  56. Back to citation Symon: Kamp, p. 1205.
  57. Back to citation 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.
  58. Back to citation Roger was a native of Catania. Pirro, pp. 532–533. Kamp, pp. 1207–1209.
  59. Back to citation 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.
  60. Back to citation 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.
  61. Back to citation Oddo was a native of Rome and the nephew of Cardinal Pietro Capucci. Kamp, pp. 1224–1228.
  62. Back to citation Fulvio Mazza (2008). Catania: storia, cultura, economia (in Italian). Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino. pp. 111–112. ISBN 9788849821888.
  63. Back to citation 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, "Boccamazza, Angelo," Dizionario biografico degli Italiani Volume 11 (1969).
  64. Back to citation Pirro, p. 536. Gams, p. 944.
  65. Back to citation 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.
  66. Back to citation 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.
  67. Back to citation Pirro, p. 540. Omitted by Eubel, I, p. 176.
  68. Back to citation 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.
  69. Back to citation 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.
  70. Back to citation 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.
  71. Back to citation 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.
  72. Back to citation Eubel, I, p. 30. Pirro, pp. 545–546. Gams, p. 944.
  73. Back to citation Lombardo, in D'Avino, p. 178. Gams, p. 944. Eubel, I, pp. 177, 340.
  74. Back to citation 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.
  75. Back to citation Bishop Pesce was transferred to the titular diocese of Philipopolis. Pirro, pp. 547–548. Eubel, II, pp. 122, 215.
  76. Back to citation 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.
  77. Back to citation Bellomo was a member of Syracusan nobility. Lombardo, in D'Avino, p. 179 column 1. Eubel, II, p. 122.
  78. Back to citation 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.
  79. Back to citation 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.
  80. Back to citation 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.
  81. Back to citation 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.
  82. Back to citation Daza was appointed Bishop of Oviedo). David M. Cheney, "Bishop Juan Daza" Catholic-Hierarchy.org; retrieved August 21, 2016.
  83. Back to citation 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.
  84. Back to citation Scipione Caracciolo was the brother of Marino Ascanio Caracciolo. Pirro, p. 553.
  85. Back to citation Luigi Caracciolo was the nephew of Marino Ascanio Caracciolo. Pirro, p. 553.
  86. Back to citation 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.
  87. Back to citation 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.
  88. Back to citation 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.
  89. Back to citation Appointed as Bishop of Catania, he died before taking canonical possession of the diocese.
  90. Back to citation 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.
  91. Back to citation 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. Francesco Maria Emanuele e Gaetani Villabianca (marchese di) (1757). Della Sicilia nobile. Vol. Parte seconda, continuazione. Palermo: nella stamperia de' Santi Apostoli. pp. 19–20. Pirro, pp. 560–561. Gauchat, pp. 142, 146.
  92. Back to citation 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.
  93. Back to citation 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.
  94. Back to citation 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.
  95. Back to citation Gravina left Catania when he was promoted to the position of Major Chaplain to the King. Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182.
  96. Back to citation Bishop Ferro de Berardis was a native of Trepani. Gaetano Lombardo, in: D'Avino, p. 182.
  97. Back to citation 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.
  98. Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Catania, official website
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