The Diocese of Bosa was a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Sardinia. The town of Bosa is located on the western shore of the island, on the right (northern) bank of the Temo River, at its mouth. The diocese was established by 1073, and was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Torres (Sassari). It was merged into the diocese of Alghero-Bosa in 1986.David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Diocese of Bosa"; retrieved 7 October 2016. Gabriel Chow, GCatholic.org, "Diocese of Bosa"; retrieved 7 October 2016.

History

Claims of early establishment It is asserted by some that the see was originally at Calmedia,Gustavo Strafforello, La Patria: geografia dell'Italia. Sardegna, Corsica, Malta, i Mari d'Italia, (Torino: Unione Tipogr. Editrice, 1895), p. 227. but was transferred to Bosa after the destruction of the former town; also, that the first bishop was Emilius, sent thither by Peter and martyred in 70 AD;Cappelletti, p. 210. but there is no historical evidence for either claim.

Pope Gregory the Great, in a letter of July 599, addresses six bishops of Sardinia, without mentioning the bishops' dioceses, who are neglectful of their metropolitan, the bishop of Cagliari.Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Epistolarum Tomi II, Pars I: Gregorii I Registri L. VIII―IX (Berolini: Weidmann 1893), pp. 189-190. The identification of any of the dioceses as Bosa is pure inference, and the assignment of any of the six names to Bosa is conjecture.The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Diocese of Bosa". In 1073 Costantino de Castro, Bishop of Bosa, who according to an inscription had built Bosa Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, was appointed Metropolitan of Torres by Gregory VII.Mattei, Sardinia sacra, p. 193, col. 1.

The cathedral of Bosa was later Santa Maria ad Nives. The cathedral was administered and served by a corporation called the Chapter, consisting of one dignity, the Archpriest, thirteen canons, and the Penitentiary.Mattei, p. 192, col. 1. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 127, note 1.

The bishop of Bosa was also styled Abbot of S. Maria di Corte, Abbot of S. Maria di Coros, and Prior of the Church of S. Antonio Abate.Martini, p. 340. Among the notable bishops of this diocese are numbered the learned Cardinal Juan Casanova (1424); Giovanni Francesco Fara (1591), author of the first (but frequently inaccurate) history of Sardinia; and Serafino Esquirro, a theologian, who had been General of the Servites (1677).

The Jesuits founded a college (high school) in Bosa in 1691. They were expelled from Sardinia in 1773, and again in 1848.Alessandro Augusto Monti, La Compagnia di Gesù nel territorio della Provincia Torinese: Fondazione antiche. Soppressione, Vol. 2 (Chieri: Stablimento tip. M. Ghirardi, 1915), pp. 379-382. Tommaso Cogliani, "L'espulsione dei Gesuiti dalla Sardegna," , in: Archivio storico Sardo, Vol. 4 (Cagliari Società Storica Sarda, 1908), pp. 189-192.

Synods

A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, 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. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-27.

Bishop Giovanni Francesco Fara held a diocesan synod on 10–12 June 1591.Constitutiones synodales sanctae Ecclesiae Bosanensis, editae et promulgatae in synodo dioecesana quam illustrissimus et reverendissimus dominus Don. Joan. Franciscus Fara, Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia Episcopus Bosanensis, habuit MDLXXXXI die x. xi. xii junii, , (Cagliari: apud Johannem Mariam Galcerin. 1691. Bishop Gavino Castagna (1663–1671) presided over a diocesan synod in Bosa from 3–5 February 1665.Pintus, pp. 67-68. In 1780, Bishop Giovanni Battista Quasina (1768–1785) presided over a diocesan synod.Pietro Meloni-Satta, Effemeride Sarda: Col l'aggiunta d'alcuni cenni biografici, (Sassari: G. Dessì, 1877), p. 10. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Nicola Cani, O.P. (1727–1737) in his cathedral on 10 January 1729.Pintus, p. 69.

On 9 September 1919, the collegiate church of Santa Maria ad Nives in the town of CuglieriDecreta authentica Congregationis sacrorum rituum ex actis eiusdem collecta eiusque auctoritate promulgata sub auspiciis SS. Domini Nostri Leonis Papae XIII, Volume 4 (Rome: Typographia polyglotta S.C. de Propaganda Fide, 1900), p. 338. (22km,14mi south of Bosa) was granted the title and privileges of a "minor basilica" by Pope Benedict XV.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 11 (1919), pp. 409-411.

Bosa and Alghero united

On 16 January 1906, Giovanni Battista Vinati was appointed bishop of Bosa; on the same day, he was named Apostolic Administrator of Alghero. He held the administratorship for sixteen months.Acta Sanctae Sedis vol. 39 (1906), p. 35: "Ecclesiae cathedralis Bosanen., cui adnexa est Administratio dioeceseos Algarensis, favore R. D. Ioannis Baptistae Vinati, Presbyteri Piacentini, Doctoris in sacra theologia et in iure canonico, Professoris sacrae scripturae in Seminario Piacentino, Archidiaconi in cathedrali Basilica et Vicarii Generalis."

Bishop Francesco Spanedda had been named bishop of Bosa in 1956, to which was added the bishopric of Alghero in 1972; when he was named archbishop of Oristano in 1979, he was bishop of Alghero and Bosa.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 72 (1980), p. 96: "die 17 Martii 1979. — Metropolitanae Ecclesiae Arborensi Exc. P. D. Franciscum Spanedda, hactenus Episcopum Algarensem et Bosanensem." two months later, his successor to both dioceses was named, Giovanni Pes.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 72 (1980), p. 97: "die 23 Maii. — Cathedrali Ecclesiae Algarensi Exc. P. D. Ioannem Pes, hactenus Episcopum tit. Risinitanum. — Cathedrali Ecclesiae Bosanensi Exc. P. D. Ioannem Pes, hactenus Episcopum tit. Risinitanum." The two dioceses were being held by one bishop, aeque principaliter. That policy became problematical, however, as Italian corporation law on "juridical personality" changed. In a formal revision of the concordat between the Italian State and the Holy See, it was agreed that the canonical device of "aeque personaliter" would be ended.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (1987), p. 629: "Quod autem effecit ut haec studia adhuc magis urgerent atque opportuna evaderent, vis legis fuit die 3 iunii 1985 normis tributa, quae recentioribus Pactis initis inter Sanctam Sedem et Gubernium Italicum continentur ; quibus quidem normis statuitur hinc ((Circumscriptionem dioecesium (...) ab auctoritate ecclesiastica libere constitui » (art. 3/1 Pactorum diei 18 februarii 1984) ; illinc vero dioeceses iure canonico constitutas adipisci posse, iuridicam personalitatem in iure civili italico (cf. art. 29 Normarum quae approbatae sunt per Protocollum diei 15 novembris 1981)."

On 30 September 1986, with the consent of Pope John Paul II, the Congregation of Bishops issued a decree, suppressing the diocese of Bosa and uniting it to Alghero."pro dioecesibus unitis Algarensi et Bosanensi Congregatio pro Episcopis praesenti Decreto plenam earum unionem decernit. The name of the diocese would be Algarensis-Bosanensis. The seat of the new diocese and its cathedral would be in Alghero; the cathedral in Bosa would become a "co-cathedral". The territory of the diocese would be the territory of both dioceses."Nova circumscriptio ecclesiastica in territorio suo includet et comprehendet territoria, quae ad unamquamque dioecesim unitam hodie pertinent." Bishop Giovanni Pes would be the bishop, and was made responsible for implemting the decree.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (1987), pp. 628-631.

Bishops of Bosa Latin name: Bosanensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sassari

To 1450

... Constantinus de Crasta ( ? –1073)Constantinus (de Castro) was transferred to the diocese of Torrees (Turritanus, Sassari) by Pope Gregory VII. Cappelletti XIII, p. 211. Marinus ( ? –1116?)Marinus: Mattei, p. 193, col. 2. Gams, p. 834, col. 1. Pintus, p. 57. Joannes (1138)Joannes: Pintus, p. 57. ... Goffredo (1170)Pintus, p. 57. Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Antiquitates Italicae medii aevi , Vol. 2 (Milan: ex typographia Societatis palatinae, 1739), "Dissertatio XXXII", p. 1051. D(...) ( 1176–1186)Dionysio? Mattei, p. 194. Pintus, p. 58. ... Tommaso ( 1259–1262)Gams, p. 834. col. 1. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 141. Mazuclus (attested 1263)Gams, p. 834. Eubel I, p. 141. Giacomo (1268)Jacobus: Eubel, p. 141. Pintus, p. 59. Petrus ( ? )Pietro: Gams, p. 834. Eubel I, p. 141. Pintus, p. 59. Nicolaus de Vare (1304―1312)Nicolaus was elected by way of compromise on 10 July 1304. There was a dispute, and one of the dissenters appealed to Pope Benedict XI, who had died on 7 July 1304. The new pope, Clement V, elected on 5 June 1305, assigned Cardinal Guglielmo Longhi, Cardinal Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano to judge the case. Bishop Nicolaus was confirmed by the pope on 9 July 1306. Monachi Ordinis Sancti Benedicti, Regestum Clementis Papae V , Vol. 1 (Roma: Typographia Vaticana 1885), p. 275, no. 1471. Eubel I, p. 141. Stanagio (1319― ? )Francisco de Vico, Sexta parte de la Historia general de la Isla, y Reyno de Sardeña , (Barcelona: Lorenço Déu, 1639), p. 59. Joannes de Clavaro, O.Carm. (1327―1340)Eubel I, p. 141. Raimundus de Gauzens (1344? –1349) Petrus, O.S.B. (1349–1350) Aimericus (1351–1356) Andreas, O.Carm. (1356–1360) Rogerius Piazza, O.Min. (1360–1363) Rainerius de Filippono (1363–1391) Antonius (1391–1402) Antonius de Ligios (1402–1406) Benedictus (1406–1407) Antonius (or Angelo) Sangualo (1407–1412) Antonius de Podio, O.Min. (1410–1418) Avignon-Peñiscola ObedienceAntonio de Podio was appointed by Pope Benedict XIII on 23 May 1410. Benedict had been repudiated by the French crown, and was deposed, excommunicated, and anathematized by the Council of Pisa for heresy and schism on 5 June 1409. Antonius de Podio was transferred to the diocese of Strongoli by Pope Martin V on 9 March 1418, and then to Santa Severina on 23 December 1429. Eubel I, pp. 141 with note 8; 449; 465. Antonius Stamingus, O.Min. (1413–1418)Antonius Stamingus was appointed by Pope John XXIII on 23 January 1413. He was transferred to the diocese of Martirano by Pope Martin V on 2 April 1418. Eubel I, pp. 141, 329. Ludovicus Gervas, O.P. (1418–1423)Gervas (formerly Gomez or Fernandez) was a master of theology. He was appointed bishop of Bosa by Pope Martin V on 9 March 1418. He died in 1423. Cappelletti, pp. 215-216. Eubel I, p. 141. Juan Casanova, O.P. (1424–1425)A native of Barcelona, Casanova was transferred to the diocese of Elne on 29 December 1425. He was named a cardinal by Pope Martin V on 8 November 1430. He died on 3 January 1436. Mattei, pp. 198-199. Gams, p. 834, col. 2. Eubel II, p. 7, no. 46; 239. Giuliano de Tallada, O.P. (1435–1445)Julianus, a master of theology, was titular bishop of Laodicea (Syria) from 1432. He was transferred to the diocese of Bosa on 22 August 1435 by Pope Eugenius IV. He died in 1445. Gams, p. 834, col. 2. Eubel II, pp. 109, 171. Thomas de Rubio, O.P. (1445–1449) Francesco Meloni (1449–1450)

From 1450 to 1700

Giovanni Cosso, O.P. (1450–1459)Cosso was named bishop on 4 February 1450, by Pope Pius II. Eubel II, p. 109. Pintus, pp. 62-63. Bernardo Roig (1460–1471?)Roig (Rois: Eubel II, p. 109. Pintus, p. 63. Giovanni de Salinis, O.Min. (1471–1484)Giovanni, who held the rank of master of theology, had been Vicar-general of the Friars Minor in Sardinia, and was then Bishop of Ottana (Sardinia) from 1454. He was transferred to Bosa on 17 June 1471, by Pope Paul II. He died in 1484. Eubel II, p. 109, 208. Pintus, p. 63. Galcerando Galba (1484–1493?)Galba was a canon of Bosa. He was confirmed as bishop on 9 February 1484, by Pope Sixtus IV. Eubel II, p. 109. Pintus, p. 63.