The Diocese of Bagnoregio is a former Catholic territory, located in the modern Province of Viterbo in the Italian region of Lazio, located about northwest of Rome."Diocese of Bagnoregio (Bagnorea)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016.Titular Episcopal See of Bagnoregio GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 5, 2016. Prior to the creation of the Kingdom of Italy, it belonged to the Papal States, and was located in the region of Umbria. It had been given to the Papal States by the Emperor Louis I in 822.Umberto Baglioni, "Bagnorea", in: In terms of religious administration, it was directly dependent upon the Holy See (Papacy). The pope appointed an Apostolic Administrator for the diocese of Bagnoregio on 8 June 1970, and the bishop was not replaced when he died in 1971. The diocese was suppressed on 30 September 1986 by Pope John Paul II.

History According to tradition, St. Ansanus preached the Gospel here in the third century and the church of Santa Maria delle Carceri outside the Alban Gate was said to have been built above the prison in which he was confined. He was not, however, a bishop.Alice Kemp-Welch, "The Emblem of St. Ansano," The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs Vol. 18, No. 96 (March 1911), pp. 337-339.

There are no records as to the date of the erection of the diocese. Pope Gregory I, about the year 600, was informed of the election of the deacon John in Bagnoregio, and a letter of the Pope to the Bishop of Chiusi instructs the bishop to investigate the election, since the deacon John was not known by the Pope. The result of the investigation is unknown, and it cannot be said that deacon John became bishop.Papini, p. 71.

The diocese grew over the centuries, gaining territories from the dioceses of Perugia and Orvieto, and incorporating what had been the diocese of Bomarzo. The latest known bishop of Bomarzo is recorded in the Roman synod of Pope Benedict VIII in 1015.Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia V, p. 619.

Up to the time of pope Urban V, Montefiascone was part of the Diocese of Castrum Balneorensis (Bagnoregio's Latin name), but on 31 August 1369 it was separated out by Pope Urban and made the seat of a new diocese.Urban V, the bull Cum Illius: Ferdinando Ughelli, without any documentary proof, claims the Diocese of Bagnorea was joined to the Diocese of Viterbo on 4 February 1449, but neglects to mention when they were reestablished as separate dioceses.

At the end of the 17th century, the diocese was composed of 12 towns (oppida) and 6 villages (villae).Ughelli, Italia sacra I, p. 514. In 1680, the city of Bagnoregio had approximately 1800 inhabitants.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 112, note 1. In 1764, there were some 2500 inhabitants.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 113, note 1. In 1913, the Diocese of Bagnorea contained 24 parishes; 106 churches, chapels, and oratories; 54 secular priests, 45 seminarians, 63 members of female religious orders, 2 schools for girls, and a population of 26,380.Umberto Baglioni, "Bagnorea", in:

On the morning of 11 June 1695, a very severe earthquake struck Bagnoregia. There had been three foreshocks earlier in the month, which drove people from their homes, but the earthquake of 11 June destroyed everything, leaving not a single building intact. It was described as having been as long as it takes to recite a "Pater noster". The cathedral, episcopal palace, and seminary were in ruins, as were several churches and monasteries. There were 31 dead, and 61 injured. After the earthquake and aftershocks subsided, the cathedral that had been in Civita di Bagnoregio was replaced by one at Bagnoregio itself. The transfer of the episcopal seat was ordered by Pope Innocent XII in the bull Super Universas Ecclesias of 19 February 1699.Papini, p. 83.

The French army of Napoleon occupied Bagnoregio in 1810, and abolished the diocese of Bagnoregio on 12 August 1810, handing it over to the diocese of Montefiascone. This uncanonical act was never approved by Pope Pius VII, who was a prisoner of Napoleon at Fontainebleau until 1814.Papini, p. 85.

Chapter and cathedral The cathedral in civitas Bagnoregio was dedicated to Saint Donatus.

In 1621, the cathedral was administered by a Chapter composed of one dignity, the Archdeacon, and seven Canons.Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 108, note 1. Ughelli, Italia sacra I, p. 514. In 1764, there were two dignities and fourteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 113, note 1.

Diocesan 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. As of 1862, the bishops of Bagnoregio had presided over eighteen synods.

Bishop Umberto Locati (1568–1587) held a diocesan synod in 1573.Papini, p. 80. Bishop Carlo Trotti (1598–1611) held a synod in 1599. Papini, p. 81. Bishop Lelio Ruini (1612–1621) held two diocesan synods, one in 1615, and another in 1621.Papini, p. 81. Bishop Carlo Bovi (1622–1635) held four diocesan synods, in 1629, 1632, 1633, and 1634.Bovi: Brinciotti, p. vii, note 1. Papini, p. 81. In 1639, Bishop Pietro Paolo Febei (1635–1649) presided over a diocesan synod in the cathedral; he held another in 1646.Brinciotti, p. vii, note 1. Bishop Vincenzo Candiotti (1653–1680) held five synods, one of them in 1679.Papini, p. 82.

Bishop Uldericus Nardi (1698–1705) had a synod in 1703. He was the first to hold a synod in the Cathedral of S. Nicholas and S. Donatus.Nardi: Brinciotti, p. vii, note 1. Onofrio Elisei (8 Jun 1705 –1721) held two synods, in 1710 and in 1718.Elisei: Brinciotti, p. vii, note 1. Papini, p. 84. Bishop Onofrio Pini (24 Sep 1721 – Jun 1754 Died) presided over a diocesan synod in 1745.

Bishop Gaetano Brinciotti (1854–1867) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral on 27–29 May 1860.

End of the diocese By the middle of 1986, papal policy in the selection of bishops had concentrated in the person of Bishop Luigi Boccadoro: the Diocese of Viterbo e Tuscania, the diocese of Acquapendente (since 1951), the diocese of Montefiascone (since 1951), and the Administratorship of the diocese of Bagnoregio (since 1971); he was also the Abbot Commendatory of Monte Cimino. On September 30, 1986, Pope John Paul II moved to consolidate these several small dioceses by suppressing them and uniting their territories"in unam dioecesim iuridice redigeremus, satis enim eas coeptis, institutis, moribus, mente coaluisse....perpetuo unimus, unione, ut dicunt, exstinctiva; quae proinde adquiret atque comprehendet in suo territorio uniuscuiusque harum Ecclesiarum territorium" into the diocese of Viterbo e Tuscania, whose name was changed to the Diocese of Viterbo.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 78 (Città del Vaticano: Typis polyglottis vaticanis 1986), pp. 906-907. The diocese of Balnoregio ceased to exist.

In 1991, the name only (not the diocese, or its former institutions) was revived, to serve as a titular see for the benefit of the Holy See.

Bishops to 1400

... Ioannes ? (attested 600)Papini (p. 71) points out that it is only known that Pope Gregory I (590–604) asked the Bishop of Clusium to investigate the life and acts of the deacon Ioannes, who had been selected by Ansfrid and the inhabitants of castrum Balneum regis to be their bishop; there is nothing known about the bishop's investigation or whether the pope approved the choice. Cappelletti, pp. 588-589. Kehr, p. 216 no. 2. Francesco Lanzoni (1927), Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604). Faenza: F. Lega, p. 544. ... [Chiarense] (attested 680)His inclusion in the episcopal list is rejected by Cappelletti, p. 590. Papini, p. 71, considers the evidence "assai dubbia". Gams, p. 670, leaves his name out. ... [Anonymous] (attested 769)A bishop of Bagnoregio took part in the Lateran Council of 769, but his name has been effaced from the manuscript. He is called "Radoino" by Papini (p. 71). J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XII (Florence: A. Zatta 1766), p. 715. Gams, p. 670 column 1: "Cujus nomen C. Cenni eruere non potuit." ... Alifredo (attested 826)Bishop Alifredo was present at the Roman synod of Pope Eugenius II on 15 November 826. J. D. Mansi, Sacrorum Concilium nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 999. Gams, p. 670. Papini, p. 71. ... Leo (attested 853)Bishop Leo attended the Roman synod of Pope Leo IV on 8 December 853. Mansi, Tomus XIV, p. 1020. Romanus (attested 855)Bishop Romanus was a supporter of the antipope Anastasius. Along with Bishop Arsenius of Orte entered the Lateran Basilica and removed Pope Benedict III (855–858) from his throne, stripped him of his vestments, and beat him. Ughelli, p. 515. Papini, p. 72. ... Aldualdus (attested 861–868)Bishop Aldualdus (Adoladus) attended the Lateran synod of Pope Nicholas I on 18 November 861. He also attended the Roman synod of Pope Adrian II in 868. Gams, p. 670. Papini, p. 72. ... Joannes (attested 1015)Bishop Joannes attended the second Roman synod of Pope Benedict VIII on 3 January 1015. Mansi, Tomus XIX (Venice 1774), p. 363. ... Ingo (attested 1059)Bishop Ingo attended the Roman council of Pope Nicholas II on 13 April 1059. Mansi, Tomus XIX (Venice 1774), pp. 912 and 920 (in another subscription list, p. 911, he is called Isidorus). Schwartz, p. 255 with note 1. Papini, p. 72. Joannes (attested 1065)Bishop Joannes attended the Roman synod of Pope Alexander II on 6 May 1065. Schwartz, p. 255. Albertus ?Cappelletti, pp. 591-592. ... Marsilius (attested 1177)Bishop Marsilius had supported the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his schismatic antipopes under Pope Alexander III (1059–1081). He was present at Venice, when the Emperor and the Pope made peace in 1077, and he begged for absolution. Antonio Rossi (ed.) La cronaca veneta, detta Altinate, in: ... Borgondius (attested 1206, 1208)Gams, p. 670. Papini, p. 73. ... Rusticus (1255 – death 1270) Simon (1272–1295)Simon had been a Canon of Bagnoregio. He was elected by the four Canons who were present at the electoral meeting, and his confirmation was sought from the pope by two of the Canons. After examination of the canonical validity of the election and the suitability of the bishop-elect by a committee of three cardinals, Simon was confirmed as Bishop of Bagnoregio by Pope Gregory X on 30 August 1272. Eubel Hierarchia catholica I, p. 126. Papini, p. 74. Stephanus Tasche, OP (1297–1306)Following the death of Bishop Simon, three Canons acting in the name of the entire Chapter elected the Franciscan friar, Matheus de Castro as bishop. On his refusal, Pope Boniface VIII on 21 January 1297 appointed the Dominican Stephanus Tasche. Bishop Stephanus died in 1306. Antoine Thomas, Les registres de Boniface VIII Tome I (Paris: Ernest Thorin 1884), p. 557 no. 1534. Ughelli, p. 515 (with the wrong year). Papini, p. 74. Simon (1306–1327)In electing a successor to Bishop Stephanus, the Chapter split into two factions; one chose Simon, a Canon of Florence, while the other chose the Franciscan Monaldus of Orvieto. The election was referred to the pope, where a committee of three cardinals examined the matter thoroughly. On 9 July 1306, Pope Clement V appointed Simon. Bishop Simon died at the Roman Curia in Avignon, in 1327. Eubel I, p. 126. Papini, p. 75.