The Diocese of Lodi ( la, Dioecesis Laudensis) is an Italian Roman Catholic territorial entity that existed since the 4th century; it is a suffragan of the

Archdiocese of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has lon ...

Catholic-Hierarchy.org ''Catholic-Hierarchy.org'' is an online database of bishops and dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. The website is not officially sanctioned by the Church. It is run as a private project by David M. Cheney in ...

''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016"Diocese of Lodi"
''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016

History

Under Diocletian, according to the local legend, 4000 Christians with their bishop, whose name is unknown, were burned alive in their church. The diocese of Lodi and its bishop, Maurizio Malvestiti, reject the tale, naming Bassianus as their "protovescovo". The actual origins of the diocese are obscure. Some name Bassianus as the first bishop, others name Julianus, whose time of service is equally obscure. St. Bassianus, the patron of the city of Lodi, was certainly bishop in 378. Lodi was finally captured by the Milanese in the last week of May 1191. On 9 January 1252,

Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV ( la, Innocentius IV; – 7 December 1254), born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 June 1243 to his death in 1254. Fieschi was born in Genoa and studied at the universitie ...

restored the diocese of Lodi, which had been suppressed by

Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX ( la, Gregorius IX; born Ugolino di Conti; c. 1145 or before 1170 – 22 August 1241) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 March 1227 until his death in 1241. He is known for issuing the '' Decre ...

. In a separate document of 26 January 1252, Pope Innocent ordered Bishop Bongiovanni Fissiraga to confiscate all the benefices and fiefs of clergy and laity who had supported the Emperor Frederick II. In 1298 Bishop Berardus Talente (1296–1307) became the first bishop of Lodi to assume the title of Count. The episcopal palace was built in the 1730s by Patriarch Carlo Ambrogio Mezzabarba (1725–1741).

Synods, provincial and diocesan

Bishop Raimundus Sommaripa, O.P. (1289–1296) took part in the provincial synod held on 27 November 1271, by Archbishop Otto Visconti of Milan, for the purpose of aid to the Holy Land. The Siege of Acre (1291) had just ended, with the collapse of Christian power in the

Levant The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is ...

Pope Nicholas IV Pope Nicholas IV ( la, Nicolaus IV; 30 September 1227 – 4 April 1292), born Girolamo Masci, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 February 1288 to his death on 4 April 1292. He was the first Franciscan to be ele ...

had written letters to all the archbishops, instructing them to hold such synods. Bishop Aegidius dall' Aqua (1307–1312) was represented by the Archpriest Pagazani at the provincial synod of Milan, held at Bergamo on 5 July 1311, under the presidency of Archbishop Castano Turriano. A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop, to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy, and to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica ''de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis'' (March 19, 1997)
''Acta Apostolicae Sedis'' 89
(1997), pp. 706-727. Andrea Tilatti, "Sinodi diocesane e concili provinciali in italia nord-orientale fra Due e Trecento. Qualche riflessione," ''Mélanges de l'Ecole française de Rome. Moyen-Age, Temps modernes T. 112, N°1. 2000, pp. 273-304. In 1364, Bishop Paolo Cadamosto (1354–1387) held a diocesan synod ''pro tuendis ecclesiae suae legibus''. Bishop Ludovico Taverna (1579–1616) presided over a diocesan synod in 1591. The third diocesan synod was held by Bishop Michelangelo Seghizzi, O.P. (1616–1625) in 1619. Bishop Clemente Gera (1625–1643) held a diocesan synod in 1637. A diocesan synod took place in 1657, presided over by Bishop Pietro Vidoni (1644–1669). Bishop Bartolomeo Menatti (1673–1702) presided over the sixth diocesan synod in Lodi on 28–30 March 1689. Bishop Giuseppe Gallarati (1742–1765) held the seventh diocesan synod in Lodi on 9–11 June 1755. Bishop Gaetano Benaglia (1837–1868) held the eighth diocesan synod in Lodi on 29–31 August 1854. Bishop Giovanni Battista Rota (1888–1913) presided over the ninth diocesan synod on 28–30 September 1896. The tenth diocesan synod was held by Bishop Pietro Calchi Novati (1927–1952) on 27–29 October 1931; and another, the diocese's twelfth, on 16–17 October 1951. The fourteenth diocesan synod, embracing themes of evangelization advocated by

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

, took place, after more than ten years' preparation, in January 2020, under the leadership of Bishop Maurizio Malvestiti.

Chapter and cathedral

After the complete destruction of Lodi (Laus Pompeia) in 1111, a new cathedral was begun on 3 August 1158. In January of that year, every inhabitant of Lodi above the age of fifteen had been required to swear fidelity to Milan. Those who had refused, were expelled on 22 April 1153. The cathedral was completed, except for the façade, in 1163, and the remains of Bishop Bassianus reburied in the crypt, in the presence of Antipope Victor IV and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Originally dedicated to Bassianus, the new cathedral acquired the dedication to the taking up (Assumption) of the physical body of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Bishop Alberico di Merlino (1160–1168), who had joined the imperial schism, was excommunicated by Cardinal Joannes de Anagnia, the papal Legate, on 12 March 1160. Albericus was expelled from Lodi by the forces of Pope Alexander III in 1168. In 1617, the cathedral Chapter was composed of five dignities and nineteen Canons. In 1717, there were four dignities (Provost, Archdeacon, Cantor, and Archpriest) and fourteen Canons, one of whom was responsible for the souls of the parishioners of the cathedral. In 1817, in accordance with the decree of 8 June 1805, promulgated by Napoleon, King of Italy and Emperor of the French, the cathedral Chapter of Lodi consisted of one dignity, the Archpriest, and eight Canons, two of whom were designated the Theologus and the Penitentiarius, in accordance with the decrees of the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent ( la, Concilium Tridentinum), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation, it has been described a ...

Bishops of Lodi

to 1200

:... *Julianus (date unknown) :... *Bassianus (378-413) :... *Cyriacus (attested 451) :... *Ticianus (474–476.) :... : enantianus :... *Projectus (attested 575 or 578) :... *Donatus (attested 679) *Hippolytus (attested 759) :... *Erimpertus (attested 827) *Jacobus (attested 852) :... *Gerardus (attested 883, 887–888) *Amaione (attested 892) *Eldegarius (attested 903, 915) :... * Zilicus (attested 924)? *Olgerius (attested 935?) :... *Ambrosius (attested 942) *Aldegrausus (attested 951–970) *Andreas (970–1002) *Notker (11th century) :... * Olderico (1027) *Ambrogio Arluno (attested 1037–1051) *Opizo (attested 1059– ? ) :... :Fredentio (11th cent.) :... :Rainerius (attested 1092) :... *Ardericus de Vignate (attested 1117–1127) :... * Alberico di Merlino (1158–1168) * Alberto Quadrelli (1168–1173) *Albericus dal Corno (1173–1189) *Ardericus di Sant'Agnese (1189–1217)

1200 to 1500

*Ardericus (d. 1217) * Jacobus de Cereto, O. Cist. (1217) *Ambrosius del Corno (1218) *Ottobellus Soffientino (attested 1219, 1243) :''Diocese suppressed'' (1241?–1252) *Bonusjoannes Fissiraga (1252–1289) *Raimundus Sommaripa, O.P. (1289–1296) *Berardus Talente (1296–1307) *Aegidius dall' Aqua (1307–1312) : ''Sede vacante'' (1312–1318) * Leone Palatini, O.Min. (1318–1343) *Lucas da Castello, O.Min. (1343–1353) * Paolo Cadamosto (1354–1387) *Pietro della Scala (1388–1392) *Bonifazio Buttigella, O.E.S.A. (1393–1404) :''Sede vacante'' (1404–1407) *

Giacomo Balardi Arrigoni Giacomo Balardi Arrigoni (died 12 September 1435) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Urbino (1424–1435), ''(in Latin)'' ''(in Latin)'' Bishop of Trieste (1418–1424), ''(in Latin)'' and Bishop of Lodi (1407–1418). ''(in ...

, O.P. (26 Feb 1407 –1418) *

Gerardo Landriani Gerardo may refer to: People Given name Gerardo is the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of the male given name Gerard. * Gerardo Amarilla (born 1969), Uruguayan politician * Gerardo Bonilla (born 1975), Puerto Rican-born professional race ...

(1419–1437) * Antonio Bernieri (1435–1456) *

Carlo Pallavicino Carlo Pallavicino (Pallavicini; c. 1630 – 29 January 1688) was an Italian composer. Pallavicino was born at Salò. From 1666 to 1673, he worked at the Dresden court; from 1674 to 1685, at the '' Ospedale degli Incurabili'' (a conservatory wher ...

(1456–1497) *

Ottaviano Maria Sforza Ottaviano Maria Sforza (1475–1545) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Arezzo (1519–1525), Bishop of Lodi (1497–1499, 1512–1519 and 1527–1530), and Titular Patriarch of Alexandria (1541–1545) and Bishop of Terracina, ...

(1st time) (1497–1499 Resigned)

1500 to 1800

* Claude de Seyssel ''Administrator'' (1501 – 1512)Seyssel (Claudio Sassatelli) was an abbé, having been tonsured. But there is no evidence he was a priest until he was consecrated a bishop in Rome in 1513, even though he had been nominated to the See of Marseille by King Louis XII of France in 1509. *

(2nd time) (1512–1519) ''Administrator'' * Gerolamo Sansoni (19 Nov 1519 – 1536) *Cardinal Giacomo Simonetta (4 Aug 1536 – 20 Jun 1537) *Giovanni Simonetta (1537–1557) * Gianantonio Capizucchi (5 Jul 1557 – 28 Jan 1569 ) *

Antonio Scarampi Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular male ...

(1569–1576) * Gerolamo Federici (1576–1579) * Ludovico Taverna (1579–1616) * Michelangelo Seghizzi, O.P. (1616–1625) * Clemente Gera (1625–1643) * Pietro Vidoni (Sr.) (1644–1669 Resigned) * Serafino Corio, C.R. (1669–1671) : Giovanni Battista Rabbia, C.R. (1671–1672) * Bartolomeo Menatti (11 Sep 1673 – 15 Mar 1702) *Ortensio Visconti (12 Jun 1702 – 13 Jun 1725) *Carlo Ambrogio Mezzabarba (1725 –1741) *Giuseppe Gallarati (18 Apr 1742 – 14 Apr 1765 Resigned) *Salvatore Andriani, B. (22 Apr 1765 – 1 Apr 1784) *Gianantonio Della Beretta (14 Feb 1785 – 16 Feb 1816) :''Sede vacante'' (1816–1819)

since 1819

*Alessandro Maria Pagani (1819–1835) *Gaetano Benaglia (1837–1868) * Domenico Maria Gelmini (24 Nov 1871 – 25 Jan 1888) *Giovanni Battista Rota (1 Jun 1888 – 24 Feb 1913) *Pietro Zanolini (8 Jul 1913 – 6 Dec 1923) *Ludovico Antomelli, O.F.M. (24 Mar 1924 – 19 Jun 1927) *Pietro Calchi Novati (8 Jul 1927 – 11 Jun 1952) *

Tarcisio Vincenzo Benedetti Tarcisio Vincenzo Benedetti (28 October 1899 - 24 May 1972) was the Italy, Italian Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lodi from his appointment by Pope Pius XII on 11 November 1952 until his death on 24 May 1972. Benedetti was ordained a Cat ...

, O.C.D. (11 Nov 1952 – 24 May 1972) * Giulio Oggioni (28 Sep 1972 –1977) * Paolo Magnani (27 Jul 1977 –1988) * Giacomo Capuzzi (7 Mar 1989 – 14 Nov 2005) * Giuseppe Merisi (14 Nov 2005 – 26 Aug 2014 Retired) * Maurizio Malvestiti (26 Aug 2014 – )CV of Bishop Malvestiti: Diocesi di Lodi
"S. Ecc. Mons. Maurizio Malvestiti;"
retrieved: 1 October 2020.

Parishes

The diocese has reorganized its internal structure, and now has 123 parishes.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * *Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1913).
Italia pontificia
' Vol. VI. pars i. Berolini: Weidmann. pp. 238–260. * Lanzoni, Francesco (1927).
Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)
', vol. II, Faenza 1927, pp. 992–996. * * * * * *Schwartz, Gerhard (1907)
''Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122''
Leipzig: B.G. Teubner. (in German) pp. 119–122. * *

External links

* Benigni, Umberto (1910)

The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. Retrieved: 28 September 2020. {{authority control Lodi Province of Cremona Province of Lodi Province of Pavia Dioceses established in the 4th century