Archdiocese Of Genoa
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The Archdiocese of Genoa () is a
Latin Church The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...
ecclesiastical territory or
diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...
of the
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
in
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. Erected in the 3rd century, it was elevated to an
archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...
on 20 March 1133. The archdiocese of Genoa was, in 1986, united with the Diocese of Bobbio-San Colombano, forming the Archdiocese of Genoa-Bobbio; however a split in 1989 renamed it the "Archdiocese of Genoa." "Archdiocese of Genova "
''
Catholic-Hierarchy.org ''Catholic-Hierarchy.org'' is an online database of bishops and dioceses of the Latin Church and the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches that are in full communion with Rome. The website, not officially sanctioned by the Church, is run as a private pro ...
''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 28, 2016
"Metropolitan Archdiocese of Genova"
''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved September 28, 2016
The Archdiocese of Genoa is a
metropolitan Metropolitan may refer to: Areas and governance (secular and ecclesiastical) * Metropolitan archdiocese, the jurisdiction of a metropolitan archbishop ** Metropolitan bishop or archbishop, leader of an ecclesiastical "mother see" * Metropolitan ar ...
archdiocese, the
suffragan diocese A suffragan diocese is one of the dioceses other than the metropolitan archdiocese that constitute an ecclesiastical province. It exists in some Christian denominations, in particular the Catholic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandr ...
s in its
ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...
are the Diocese of Albenga-Imperia,
Diocese of Chiavari The Diocese of Chiavari () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Liguria, northern Italy. It was created on 3 December 1892 by Pope Leo XIII in the Bull ''Romani Pontifices''. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Genoa. History Chiavar ...
, Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato,
Diocese of Savona-Noli :: :: The Diocese of Savona-Noli () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy. It was historically the Diocese of Savona, from the tenth century. In 1820 the Diocese of Noli was united to the Diocese of Savona. It is a suffrag ...
, Diocese of Tortona, and
Diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...
.


Territory

The territory of the Archidiocese covers 967 km² and includes, fully or in part, the following municipalities (in two Italian Regions,
Liguria Liguria (; ; , ) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is roughly coextensive with ...
and
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
, as a legacy of the territory of the former Republic of Genoa): * In the
Metropolitan City of Genoa The Metropolitan City of Genoa () is a metropolitan city in the region of Liguria in northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa. It replaced the province of Genoa in 2015. It has 67 municipalities (''comuni) in'' an area of and a total p ...
(Liguria):
Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
,
Arenzano Arenzano (local ) is a coastal town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy, facing the Ligurian Sea. , it has a population of 11,445. This varies during the holiday seasons due to tourist flow. There are a num ...
, Avegno,
Bargagli Bargagli () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northeast of Genoa in the Val di Lentro. Bargagli borders the following municipalities: Davagna, Genoa, Lumarzo, and Sori ...
,
Bogliasco Bogliasco () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. Together with the ''comuni'' of Camogli, Recco, Pieve Ligure and Sori, it is part of the so-call ...
,
Busalla Busalla is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the upper valley of the Scrivia river. Nearby is the artificial Lake Busalletta. ...
(town center only),
Camogli Camogli (; ) is a fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso in the Riviera di Levante, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy. its population was 5,332. C ...
,
Campomorone Campomorone () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa. Campomorone borders the following municipalities: Bosio, Ceranesi, Fraconalto, Genoa, Mignanego, and ...
,
Ceranesi Ceranesi (; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northwest of Genoa. The Municipality of Ceranesi includes also the Shrine of N.S. della Guardia, the most important Mari ...
,
Davagna Davagna () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northeast of Genoa. The municipality of Davagna borders the following municipalities: Bargagli, Genoa, Lumarzo, Montoggi ...
,
Isola del Cantone Isola del Cantone () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa. Isola del Cantone borders the following municipalities: Arquata Scrivia, Busalla, Gavi, Grondona, ...
(town center only),
Mele Mele () is a ''Comune'' (Municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about west of Genoa, and historically famous for the production of paper. Mele borders the following municipalities: Genoa, Masone ...
, Mignanego,
Montoggio Montoggio () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northeast of Genoa. As of October 2006, it had a population of 2,018 and an area of .All demographics and other statistics ...
,
Pieve Ligure Pieve Ligure (, locally ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. The ''pieve'' of St. Michael Archangel, from which the town takes its name, has been rebui ...
,
Recco Recco (Latin: ''Ricina'' / ''Recina'') is a ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, region of Liguria, Italy. Recco is home to the September 8 fireworks festival honoring the Virgin Mary. The town is also known for being home to the most ...
,
Ronco Scrivia file:Ronco_Scrivia-castello_borgo_fornari.jpg, 240px, Tower of the Castle of Borgo Fornari. Ronco Scrivia () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa. Ronco Scriv ...
(except for Pietrafraccia),
Sant'Olcese Sant'Olcese () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region of Liguria, located about north of Genoa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,945 and an area of .All demographics and other statis ...
,
Savignone Savignone () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa. Savignone borders the following municipalities: Busalla, Casella, Crocefieschi, Mignanego, Serra Riccò ...
(Isorelle and San Bartolomeo only),
Serra Riccò Serra Riccò () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in the Italian region Liguria, located about north of Genoa, in the Val Polcevera. Serra Riccò borders the following municipalities: Casella, Genoa, Mignanego, ...
, Sori,
Tribogna Tribogna () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. Tribogna borders the following municipalities: Avegno, Cicagna, Mocònesi, Neirone, Rapallo Rapall ...
, Uscio,
Valbrevenna Valbrevenna () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northeast of Genoa. Valbrevenna borders the following municipalities: Carrega Ligure, Casella, Crocefieschi, Montoggio ...
(except for Nenno and Tonno) e
Vobbia Vobbia () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about northeast of Genoa. Vobbia borders the following municipalities: Busalla, Carrega Ligure, Crocefieschi, Isola del Cantone, ...
. * In the
Province of Alessandria The province of Alessandria (; ; in Piedmontese of Alessandria: ''provinsa ëd Lissändria'') is an Italian Provinces of Italy, province, with a population of some 425,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The prov ...
(Piedmont):
Arquata Scrivia Arquata Scrivia (local dialect: ''Auquâ'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Alessandria. Arquata Scrivia borders the following ...
(Rigoroso and Sottovalle only),
Bosio Bosio is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Alessandria. Bosio borders the following municipalities: Campo Ligure, Campomorone, ...
, Carrosio, Fraconalto,
Gavi GAVI, officially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (previously the GAVI Alliance, and before that the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) is a Public–private partnership, public–private global health partnership with the goal of incr ...
,
Mongiardino Ligure Mongiardino Ligure is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Alessandria Alessandria (; ) is a city and commune in Piedmont, Italy, ...
, Parodi Ligure e Voltaggio.


History

During the 9th century the entire coast of Liguria was threatened by repeated incursions of
Saracen upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens ''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Rom ...
raiders. The people were enslaved, driven off or killed. The danger to church property grew so severe that, c. 878, Bishop Sabatinus of Genoa had the remains of S. Romulus removed from his tomb in Villa Matutiana (San Remo) and brought to Genoa and placed in the crypt of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa. Muslims from North Africa thoroughly sacked Genoa in 934–935, and the site was probably abandoned for a few years. In 980, when the threat of the Saracens had receded, Bishop Teodulfus, seeing that the devastated lands were recovering and that the '' decima'' tax was able to be collected again, donated the income of those lands to the maintenance of the Canons of the Cathedral (''nostrorum cardinalium clericorum mancipamus usui''). In October 1118,
Pope Gelasius II Pope Gelasius II (c. 1060/1064 – 29 January 1119), born Giovanni Caetani or Giovanni da Gaeta (also called ''Coniulo''), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 January 1118 to his death in 1119. A monk of Monte C ...
arrived in Genoa from Pisa, having fled from the violence of the Frangipani family in Rome. On 10 October he consecrated the church of Ss. Lorenzo e Siro in Genoa.


An Archbishopric

In 1130 the diocese of Genoa faced a series of crises. In Rome,
Pope Honorius II Pope Honorius II (9 February 1060 – 13 February 1130), born Lamberto Scannabecchi,Levillain, pg. 731 was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 December 1124 to his death in 1130. Although from a humble background, ...
died on 13 February 1130. Two separate conclaves were held, and each elected a pope, Anacletus II (Petrus Pierleoni) and
Innocent II Pope Innocent II (; died 24 September 1143), born Gregorio Papareschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 February 1130 to his death in 1143. His election as Pope was controversial, and the first eight years o ...
(Gregorius Papareschi). Both sides immediately appealed for recognition and support from the King of the Romans,
Lothair of Supplinburg Lothair III, sometimes numbered Lothair II and also known as Lothair of Supplinburg ( June 1075 – 4 December 1137), was Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 until his death. He was appointed Duke of Saxony in 1106 and elected King of Germany in 1125 be ...
. At the time, Lothair was in a fierce struggle for the imperial crown against
Conrad III Conrad III (; ; 1093 or 1094 – 15 February 1152) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was from 1116 to 1120 Duke of Franconia, from 1127 to 1135 anti-king of his predecessor Lothair III, and from 1138 until his death in 1152 King of the Romans in the ...
(Hohenstaufen) who had been crowned King of Italy with the Iron Crown of Lombardy by Archbishop Anselm of Milan in 1128. For this act he and the city of Milan were placed under papal interdict. Innocent was not able to maintain himself in Rome against the opposition of the majority of the Cardinals, of the clergy, of the nobility, and of the people of Rome, though for a time he held the
Trastevere Trastevere () is the 13th of Rome, Italy. It is identified by the initials R. XIII and it is located within Municipio I. Its name comes from Latin (). Its coat of arms depicts a golden head of a lion on a red background, the meaning of which i ...
; in May or June he fled the City, and arrived in Pisa c. 20 June, and on 2 August he was in Genoa. Meanwhile, in Milan, Archbishop Anselm had announced his support for Pope Anacletus, though a substantial number of Milanese objected to his choice and campaigned for Innocent. The opposition was led by the Archpriest, Stephanus Guandeca, who brought the people around to repudiating Anacletus, recognizing Innocent, and deposing Anselm. The ''Annales Genuenses'' of Caffaro di Caschifellone, a contemporary of Bishop Syrus, states that Pope Innocent was present when Syrus was elected Bishop of Genoa, but that he was consecrated in the same year by Pope Innocent at Sanctus Egidius (near the later city of Montpellier). Archbishop Jacobus de Voragine, however, seems to say that Innocent consecrated Syrus Bishop of Genoa when he was staying in Genoa. At the time of his election as bishop, Syrus was already a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, having been named by Innocent himself earlier in the year 1130. In any case, Pope Innocent and his Court were transported to southern France by the galleys of the Genoese navy, for which the Pope was grateful. It was one of the considerations in his naming the bishops of Genoa to the rank of archbishop. Pope Innocent returned to Italy in April 1132, and took up residence in Pisa in January 1133. The See of Milan was vacant, and Pope Innocent took the opportunity, on 20 March 1133, to remove Genoa from the Metropolitanate of Milan, and create a new Metropolitanate at Genoa, with Syrus as its first Archbishop. Five days later, the Pope wrote again, extending the use of the ''
pallium The pallium (derived from the Roman ''pallium'' or ''palla'', a woolen cloak; : pallia) is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the pope, but for many centuries bestowed by the Holy See upon metropolitan bish ...
'' and naming Syrus and his successors Commendatory Abbots of the monastery of S. Syro. The new suffragans of the Metropolitanate of Genoa were: Mariana, Nebbio, and Accia (on Corsica); Bobbio, and Brugnato (newly created), to which was added the diocese of Albenga, formerly in the Metropolitanate of Milan. According to Pope Innocent II's bull, the archbishop of Genoa was to be consecrated only by the pope. This stipulation was changed by
Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III (c. 1100/1105 – 30 August 1181), born Roland (), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 September 1159 until his death in 1181. A native of Siena, Alexander became pope after a Papal election, ...
in a bull of 9 April 1161, which specified that the archbishop of Genoa, like the archbishop of Pisa, was to be consecrated by his suffragan bishops. Another bull of 25 March 1162 repeated the order.


Failed election

In 1288, on the death of Archbishop Bernardus, the Chapter met and conducted several ballots to choose his successor. They were unsuccessful in coalescing around a candidate, and therefore appointed a committee of four Canons to choose the next Archbishop. The four members, Nicolinus de Camilla, Jacobus de Voragine, Thedisius Fieschi, and Ottobono Spinola, were unable to come to an agreement, and therefore resigned the choice to the Pope. On 4 June 1288,
Pope Nicholas IV Pope Nicholas IV (; born Girolamo Masci; 30 September 1227 – 4 April 1292) 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 elected pope.McBrie ...
appointed as Administrator of the diocese of Genoa the current Latin Patriarch of Antioch, Obizzo Fieschi, a nephew of
Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent 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 universities of Parma and Bolo ...
, who had been driven out of his own diocese by the Saracens (''propter Agarenorum perfidiam''). In 1292, Opizzo Fieschi resigned, and Pope Nicholas appointed Jacobus de Voragine to the Archbishopric of Genoa.


A Pope in Genoa

Urban VI Pope Urban VI (; ; c. 1318 – 15 October 1389), born Bartolomeo Prignano (), was head of the Catholic Church from 8 April 1378 to his death, in October 1389. He was the last pope elected from outside the College of Cardinals. His pontificate be ...
, who represented the "Roman Obedience" at the beginning of the
Great Western Schism The Western Schism, also known as the Papal Schism, the Great Occidental Schism, the Schism of 1378, or the Great Schism (), was a split within the Catholic Church lasting from 20 September 1378 to 11 November 1417, in which bishops residing ...
(1378–1417), had been intriguing to set up a principality for his nephew Butillo in the
Kingdom of Naples The Kingdom of Naples (; ; ), officially the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was established by the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282–1302). Until ...
. He helped Charles of Durazzo to overthrow Queen Johanna of Naples, and then crowned him in Rome in 1381. The Pope's interference in Neapolitan affairs, however, caused King Charles and a number of Urban's cardinals to create a plan to remove Urban from power because of his incapacity, and institute a Council of Regency. In response Urban imprisoned and tortured six cardinals, but Charles responded by besieging the Pope in the town of Nocera (Lucera). During the siege, on 12 January 1385, the Pope had Cardinal Joannes de Amelia executed. On 7 July 1385, Urban managed to escape. During his flight the horse of the Bishop of Aquila went lame, and the Pope ordered the bishop to be killed. His intended refuge, the papal city of
Benevento Benevento ( ; , ; ) is a city and (municipality) of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill above sea level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino (or Beneventano) and the Sabato (r ...
, refused to receive him. He broke his way in, extracted money from the inhabitants, and made arrangements with the captains of the Genoese galleys who were standing off
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
to take his party on board and convey them to Genoa. A rendezvous had to take place on the eastern coast of southern Italy, since the western coast was in the hands of Charles of Durazzo. When they arrived at
Barletta Barletta (; Salentino: ''Varrétte'' or ''Barlétte'') is a city and ''comune'' in Apulia, in southeastern Italy. Barletta is the '' capoluogo'', together with Andria and Trani, of the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. It has a population of a ...
, they found that it too had joined Charles. It was only off the beach near
Trani Trani () is a seaport of Apulia, Southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, by railway west-northwest of Bari. It is one of the capital cities of the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT). History Overview The city of ''Turenum'' appears for the ...
that the papal party was taken aboard ten Genoese galleys and transported to Genoa. On 23 September 1385 the galleys arrived in Genoa. Urban took up residence in the Hospital of Saint John, which he did not leave during his entire stay in the city. The five cardinals whom he held under arrest were with him. He had several members of his Curia arrested and tortured because he suspected that they were trying to liberate the cardinals. The Genoese them presented the bill to the Pope for his rescue operation, amounting to 80,000
florin The Florentine florin was a gold coin (in Italian ''Fiorino d'oro'') struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard during that time. It had 54 grains () of nominally pure or 'fine' gold with a pu ...
s. The Pope assigned to the Genoese the city of
Corneto Tarquinia (), formerly Corneto, is an old city in the province of Viterbo, Lazio, Central Italy, known chiefly for its ancient Etruscan tombs in the widespread necropoleis, or cemeteries. Tarquinia was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage s ...
, a seaport in the Patrimony of Saint Peter, as payment. After more than a year in Genoa, the Doge of Genoa urged the Pope to find other accommodations, since strife between papal supporters and the inhabitants of the city were a constant threat to the Republic. Before he departed in December 1386, Pope Urban had four of his cardinal prisoners executed. Only Cardinal Adam de Easton escaped, because of the personal intervention of
Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...
.


Cathedral and Chapter

At the beginning of the 18th century, the Chapter of the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo was composed of five dignities and twelve Canons. The dignities were: the Provost, the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Majusculus, and the Primicerius. The Archdeacon and Archpriest are already found in 980 under Bishop Teodulfus.
Pope Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII (; ; 1432 – 25 July 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cybo (or Cibo), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 August 1484 to his death, in July 1492. Son of the viceroy of Naples, Cybo spent his ea ...
had once been Provost of the Cathedral Chapter.


Synods

A diocesan synod was an irregular but important meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. The earliest known diocesan synod took place in 1216, according to Jacobus de Voragine, immediately after the return of Bishop Otto from the
Fourth Lateran Council The Fourth Council of the Lateran or Lateran IV was convoked by Pope Innocent III in April 1213 and opened at the Lateran Palace in Rome on 11 November 1215. Due to the great length of time between the council's convocation and its meeting, m ...
. The bishop explained to his clergy what had been decided, and ordered the decisions of the Council to be observed. The earliest known provincial synod took place in the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo in 1294, according to Jacobus. The remains of S. Syro, the alleged first bishop of Genoa, were solemnly recognized and enshrined beneath the altar of S. Lorenzo. In 1310, Archbishop Porchetto Spinola (1299–1321) held a provincial synod, in which the Statutes of Genoa pertaining to the imprisonment of persons for unpaid debts, including clerics, was debated. Archbishop Andrea della Torre (1368–1377) held a synod in 1375. On 10 January 1421, Archbishop Pileo de' Marini (1400–1433) held a diocesan synod, which was chiefly concerned with the lives and conduct of the clergy. In 1567, shortly after his installation as Archbishop, Cipriano Pallavicino (1567–1586) held a provincial synod in order to introduce into the Statutes of the diocese canons for reform, in accordance with the decrees of the
Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), 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 at the time, it has been described as the "most ...
. These revised Statutes, which were published in 1575 and twice reissued, in 1605 and 1727, were in use for more than two centuries. On 1 September 1588, under Cardinal Antonio Sauli (1586–1591), the Perpetual Administrator of the diocese of Genoa, a diocesan synod was held. The Cardinal ordered the rectors and curates of the churches to read one chapter of the Constitutions to the people on every feast day. Archbishop Orazio Spínola (1600–1616) held his first diocesan synod on 6 October 1604. The proceedings were published. Archbishop Domenico de' Marini (1616–1635) held his first diocesan synod on 16 February 1619. Cardinal Stefano Durazzo (1635–1664) held a diocesan synod on 21 April 1643. A diocesan synod was also held on 6 May 1683, with Archbishop Giulio Vincentio Gentili and
Pope Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI (; ; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death on 12 August 1689. Political and religious tensions with ...
taking part. A synod was also held on 11–13 September 1838.


Bishops of Genoa

*Diogenes (attested 381) : alomone*Paschasius (attested 451) *Felix *
Syrus of Genoa Saint Syrus of Genoa () (died around June 29, 381 AD) was a priest and later bishop of Genoa during the fourth century AD. Life Born at Struppa, a neighborhood of Genoa, he had a reputation for holiness and zeal. He succeeded Saint Felix as Rom ...
* St. Remo : ppellinus (c. 617):... *Mansuetus *Sigibertus *Petrus (c. 864) *Sabbatinus (attested 876, 877) :... *Rapertus (c. 916 ?) *Teodulfus (c. 945–after 980) *Joannes (c. 985 – c. 993) :... *Landulphus (1019–1034) *Conradus *Obertus *Conradus Mezanello (c. 1084) *Cyriacus (c. 1090) *Augurius (1095–1098) * Airaldo Guaraco (1099–1117) *Otto (1117–1120) :''Sede vacante'' (1120–1123) *Sigifredus (1123–1129) *Syrus (1130–1163)


Archbishops of Genoa

* Siro de' Porcello (1133–1163) * Ugone della Volta (1163–1188) *
Boniface Boniface, OSB (born Wynfreth; 675 –5 June 754) was an English Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of Francia during the eighth century. He organised significant foundations of the church i ...
(1188–1203) * Ottone II Ghiglini (1203–1239) *Giovanni de' Rossi (1239–1252) * Gualtiero da Vezzano (1253–1274) * Bernardo de' Arimondi (1276–1287) * Opizzino Fieschi (1288–1292) Administrator * Giacomo da Varazze (Jacopo da Varagine) (1292–1298) *
Porchetto Spinola Porchetto is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Clara Porchetto (born 1978), Italian retired swimmer * Raúl Porchetto (born 1949), Argentine musician * Victor Porchetto de Salvatici (died c. 1315), Italian Carthusian ...
, O.Min. (1299–1321) * Bartolomeo de' Maroni (1321–1335) * Dino de' Tusci (1336–1342) * Giacomo Peloso da Santa Vittoria (1342–1349) * Bertrando Bessaduri (1349–1358) * Guido Scetten (1358–1368) * Andrea della Torre (1368–1377) * Lanfranco Sacco (1377–1381?) *Bartolomeo de Cucurno (c. 1381–1382) * Giacomo III Fieschi (1383–1400) * Pileo de' Marini (1400–1429?) * Pietro de' Giorgi (1429–1436) * Giorgio Fieschi (1436–1439) * Giacomo Imperiale (1439–1452) *
Paolo di Campofregoso Paolo di Campofregoso (Genoa, 1427 – Rome, 22 March 1498) was a Genoese aristocrat and Italian Cardinal who was three times Doge of the Republic of Genoa, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Genoa from 1453 to 1498 and Bishop of Ajaccio from 149 ...
(1453–1495) *Cardinal Jorge da Costa (1495–1496) Administrator *Cardinal
Paolo di Campofregoso Paolo di Campofregoso (Genoa, 1427 – Rome, 22 March 1498) was a Genoese aristocrat and Italian Cardinal who was three times Doge of the Republic of Genoa, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Genoa from 1453 to 1498 and Bishop of Ajaccio from 149 ...
(1496–1498) * Giovanni Maria Sforza (1498–1520) *
Innocenzo Cybo Innocenzo Cibo (25 August 1491 – 13 April 1550) was an Italian cardinal and archbishop. Family and education From the Genoese family Cibo, in 1488 the Cybo family purchased Florentine citizenship for a considerable sum of money   I ...
(1520–1550) * Gerolamo Sauli (1550–1559) * Agostino Maria Salvago. O.P. (1559–1567) * Cipriano Pallavicino (1567–1586) *
Antonio Sauli Antonio Maria Sauli (sometimes Antonio Sauli) (1541–1623) was the Archbishop of Genoa and later a Roman Catholic Cardinal, serving as the dean of the College of Cardinals for the last three years of his life. Sauli was born in Genoa. He was a ...
(1586–1591) Administrator * Alessandro Centurione (1591–1596) * Matteo Rivarola (1596–1600) *
Orazio Spínola Orazio Spínola (1547–1616) was a Roman Catholic cardinal and member of the Pamphili family. The Cardinal designed to episcopally crown the venerated image of Madonna delle Vigne, promising its people to crown it every year on its centennial ...
(20 December 1600 – 24 June 1616) * Domenico de' Marini (1616–1635) *
Stefano Durazzo Stefano Durazzo (1594 – 1667) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and archbishop of Genoa. Early life Durazzo was born 5 August 1594 in Multedo, near Genoa, the seventh son of Pietro Durazzo and Aurelia Saluzzo. He belonged to the Durazzo fa ...
(1635–1664) * Giambattista Spinola (1664–1681) * Giulio Vincenzo Gentile (1681–1694) *
Giovanni Battista Spínola Giovanni Battista Spinola (1681–1752) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was born in Genoa at the Republic of Genoa, on 16 July 1681 and was the great-grandson of Cardinal Giambattista Spinola (1615–1704), and the nephew of Cardinal Giambatti ...
(1694–1705) *Cardinal Lorenzo Fieschi (archbishop) (1705–1726) * Nicolò Maria de' Franchi, O.P. (1726–1746) * Giuseppe Maria Saporiti (1746–1767) * Giovanni Lercari (1767–1802) *Cardinal
Giuseppe Spina Giuseppe Maria Spina (11 March 1756 – 13 November 1828) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal. He was born in Sarzana to an aristocratic family, and moved to Rome to study jurisprudence and canon law. In 1796 he was ordained a priest and in 17 ...
(24 May 1802 – 13 December 1816) *Cardinal Luigi Emmanuele Nicolo Lambruschini, B. (1819 – 26 June 1830) * Cardinal Placido Maria Tadini, O.C.D. (28 October 1831 – 22 November 1847) * Salvatore Magnasco (1871–1892) *
Tommaso Reggio Tommaso Reggio (9 January 1818 - 22 November 1901) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Genoa from 1892 until his death. He was also the founder of the Sisters of Saint Martha. Reggio distinguished himself dur ...
(1892–1901) *
Edoardo Pulciano Edoardo is the Italian form of the English male given name Edward. Notable people named Edoardo include: * Edoardo Agnelli (industrialist) (1892–1935), Italian industrialist * Edoardo Alfieri (1913–1998), Italian sculptor * Edoardo Amaldi (190 ...
(16 November 1901 – 25 December 1911) *Cardinal Tommaso Boggiani, O.P. (10 March 1919 – 1921) *Cardinal
Carlo Minoretti Carlo Dalmazio Minoretti (17 September 1861 – 13 March 1938) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Genoa. Early life and education Carlo Minoretti was born in Cogliate, Lombardy. He was educated at the Se ...
(16 January 1925 – 13 March 1938) *Cardinal
Pietro Boetto Pietro Boetto, S.J. (19 May 1871 – 31 January 1946) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Genoa from 1938 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935. He also resisted the Italian f ...
, S.J. (17 March 1938 – 31 January 1946) *Cardinal
Giuseppe Siri Giuseppe Siri (20 May 1906 – 2 May 1989) was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Genoa from 1946 to 1987, and was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1953. A protege of Pope Pius XII, he took part in the Seco ...
(14 May 1946 – 6 July 1987) *Cardinal
Giovanni Canestri Giovanni Canestri (30 September 1918 – 29 April 2015) was an Italian Catholic cardinal, who served as Archbishop of Cagliari from 1984 until 1987 and as Archbishop of Genoa from 1987 until 1995. Life Born in Castelspina, province of Alessa ...
(6 July 1987 – 20 April 1995) *Cardinal
Dionigi Tettamanzi Dionigi Tettamanzi (14 March 1934 – 5 August 2017) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who was named a cardinal in 1998. He was Archbishop of Genoa from 1995 to 2002 and Archbishop of Milan from 2002 to 2011. Early years Tett ...
(18 June 1995 – 11 July 2002), appointed
Archbishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan (; ) 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 long maintained its own Latin liturgical rite usage, the Amb ...
*Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone (born 2 December 1934) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church and a Vatican City, Vatican diplomat. A Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal since 2003, he served as Archbishop of Vercelli from 1991 to 1995, as S ...
, S.D.B. (10 December 2002 – 15 September 2006), appointed
Cardinal Secretary of State The Secretary of State of His Holiness (; ), also known as the Cardinal Secretary of State or the Vatican Secretary of State, presides over the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. Th ...
*Cardinal
Angelo Bagnasco Angelo Bagnasco (; born 14 January 1943) is an Italian Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Genoa, Archbishop of Genoa from 2006 to 2020. He was President of the Conferenza Episcopale It ...
(29 August 2006 – 8 May 2020) * Marco Tasca, OFM Conv (2020–)


Parishes

Of the diocese's 278 parishes, most are in the
Province of Genoa The province of Genoa () was a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital was the city of Genoa. It was replaced by Metropolitan City of Genoa. Overview It has an area of and a total population of about 0.9 million (2009). There are ...
,
Liguria Liguria (; ; , ) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is roughly coextensive with ...
; the rest are in the
Province of Alessandria The province of Alessandria (; ; in Piedmontese of Alessandria: ''provinsa ëd Lissändria'') is an Italian Provinces of Italy, province, with a population of some 425,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The prov ...
,
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
. For a listing of parishes by province and commune see List of parishes of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Genoa.Source
chiesacattolica.it
(retrieved:2008-03-13)
In 2013, there was one priest for every 1,248 Catholics; in 2016, there was one priest of every 1,364 Catholics.


Notes and references


Books


Reference works for bishops

* pp. 815–816. (Use with caution; obsolete) * pp. 281–282. (in Latin) * p. 167. * p. 215. * p. 207. * pp. 225–226. * p. 241. * * *


Studies

* * * *Desimoni, Cornelio (1888)
"Regesti delle lettere pontificie riguardanti la Liguria".
''Atti della Società Ligure di Storia Patria'' XIX (Genova 1888), pp. 5–146. * * * *Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1914).
Italia pontificia
: sive, Repertorium privilegiorum et litterarum a romanis pontificibus ante annum 1598 Italiae ecclesiis, monasteriis, civitatibus singulisque personis concessorum.'' Vol. VI. pars ii. Berolini: Weidmann. (in Latin) *Lanzoni, Francesco (1927).
Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)
'. Faenza: F. Lega, pp. 834–840. * * * * * {{authority control
Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
*
Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
Province of Alessandria Province of Genoa Culture in Genoa 1133 establishments in Europe 12th-century establishments in the Republic of Genoa