The Diocese of Bolzano-Brixen (, , ) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy, with its seat in the city of Bolzano. Its territory corresponds with that of the province of South Tyrol with its predominantly German-speaking population. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Trento."Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone {Bozen-Brixen}" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Bolzano–Bressanone" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
The current configuration of the diocese was created by Pope Paul VI, in a papal bull of 6 August 1964, when the South Tyrolean parts of the archdiocese of Trento around Bolzano and Merano were merged into the Diocese of Brixen. In turn, the Austrian parts of the Brixen diocese around Feldkirch, Vorarlberg were at first allocated to the Apostolic Administration of Innsbruck-Felkirch, that only in 1964 was promoted as a Diocese and separated in two in 1968.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 57 (Città del Vaticano 1965), pp. 363–364Acta Apostolicae Sedis 60 (Città del Vaticano 1968), pp. 782-783 The Ladin districts of Fodom (Livinallongo del Col di Lana and Colle Santa Lucia) and Anpez (Cortina d’Ampezzo) passed from Brixen to the Diocese of Belluno. At the same time the episcopal see was moved from Brixen to Bolzano, where the Assumption of Mary parish church was elevated to a co-cathedral, while the chapter remained in Brixen.
The diocesan ordinary (bishop) is Ivo Muser, appointed on 27 July 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI.
History
The history of the diocese begins when the diocese was established in Säben (Sabiona)Volker Bierbrauer and Hans Nothdurfter, "Sabiona – frühmittelalterlicher Bischofssitz," in Archäologie in Deutschland No. 3 (Juli - Sept. 1991), pp. 12-17. in the 6th century, and it was subject to the patriarchate of Aquileia.Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 140.
On 20 April 798, on orders of Charlemagne, Pope Leo III established the new archdiocese of Salzburg, and assigned it as suffragans the dioceses of Passau, Ratisbon, Freising, Säben, and Neuburg.Brackmann, Germania pontificia, p. 4 and p. 8-9, nos. 7-10.
It was under Bishop Albuinus (c. 974–1006), probably in 993, that the residence of the bishop and his episcopal seat were transferred from Säben to Brixen, some twelve miles to the northeast, in the same valley. The episcopal treasury, however, remained in Säben, and the church of the Holy Cross at the monastery of Säben continued to function as a cathedral of the diocese. A new cathedral was established in the church of Ss. Cassius and Ingenuinus in the monastery of the same title in Brixen.Resch(ius), Annales II, pp. 562-563. Albuin's predecessor, Richbert(us), had also lived at Brixen from time to time, but when he died he was buried with his predecessors in the cathedral of the Holy Cross in Säben.Resch(ius), Annales II, pp. 521-524. Brackmann (p. 4) follows Haupt, Kirschengeschichte Deutschlands (III, p. 165), in placing the date before 15 October 967.
Synods The Emperor Henry IV held a synod at Brixen, on 25 June 1080, attended by thirty bishops, including Bishop Altwin of Brixen. The synod accused Pope Gregory VII of sacrilege, perjury, homicide, and other crimes, and deposed him from his papal office. Pope Gregory replied by excommunicating the emperor and all of his supporters, including presumably Bishop Altwin of Brixen, at a synod held in Rome in February 1081.
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. 706-727.
Bishop Bruno von Bullenstetten und Kirchberg (1250–1288) presided over a diocesan synod in Brixen in 1287 or 1288. Bishop Landulfus held a diocesan synod c. 1296. Bishop Johannes Wulfing von Güttingen (1306–1322) held a synod in 1318.
A diocesan synod was held in Brixen by Bishop Christoph von Schrofenstein (1509–1521) in 1511."Die Diöcesansynode von Brixen v. I. 1511," in: Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie Vol. 3, No. 2 (1879), pp. 405-407. Bishop Christoph Andreas von Spaur (1601–1613) presided over a diocesan synod in Brixen on 23–26 September 1603. L. Petit and J.B. Martin (edd.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Vol. 36bis (Paris: Hubert Welter 1913), p. 943.
Bishop Kaspar Ignaz von Künigl zu Ehrenburg (1703–1747) held a diocesan synod in 1710.L. Petit and J.B. Martin (edd.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Vol. 36ter (Paris: Hubert Welter 1924), p. 888.
Bishop Simon Aichner (1884–1904) held a diocesan synod on 27–31 August 1900. Petit and Martin (edd.), Vol. 36bis, p. 944.
Seminary The Council of Trent, in its 23rd session in 1562, decreed that each diocese, to the extent that it was feasible, should have a diocesan seminary for the training of priests.The Council of Trent The Twenty-Third Session The canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical Council of Trent, Ed. and trans. J. Waterworth (London: Dolman, 1848), 170-92. "...all cathedral, metropolitan, and other churches greater than these, shall be bound, each according to its means and the extent of the diocese, to maintain, to educate religiously, and to train in ecclesiastical discipline, a certain number of youths of their city and diocese, or, if that number cannot be met with there, of that province, in a college to be chosen by the bishop for this purpose near the said churches, or in some other suitable place." As early as 1567, Archduke Ferdinand II and Cardinal Madruzzo began to draw up plans, but financial difficulties as well as problems with a site for the institution impeded progress. The Salzburg provincial synod of 1569 was encouraging, and again in 1576, but not with financial aid. Madruzzo's coadjutor and successor, Prince-Bishop Johann Thomas von Spaur (1578–1591), kept the plan alive, with the support of the Jesuit Peter Canisius, but still the problem was financial, even with a proposed tax on the Canons. The diocesan seminary of Brixen was finally founded by Bishop Johann Thomas Spaur in 1607, in the Kirchmayr house in the Runggad. It was not until 1764–1767 that the seminary acquired its own building.Josef Stadlhuber, "Die Tridentinische Priesterbildung unter dem Brixner Fürstbischof Johann Thomas von Spaur (1578—1591)," Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie Vol. 81, No. 3 (1959), p. 355.
In 1779, the cathedral church, dedicated to the taking up (Assumption) of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, and to Ss. Cassianus, Ingenuinus, and Albuinus, had a ChapterC.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. composed of two dignities and nineteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 131, note 1.
On 29 September 1822, in the bull "Quae Nos Gravissimi", on a petition presented by Count Antal Apponyi, ambassador of the Emperor Francis I to the Holy See, Pope Pius VII granted the emperor the privilege of nominating the bishops of Trent and Brixen. The bull states that this was done with the consent of the Chapters of the two cathedrals (who thereby lost their right to free election of their bishop), as well as of the bishop of Brixen.Bullarii Romani continuatio Tomus Decimus quintus (Roma 1853), p. 573. The pope would impose a time limit, during which the privilege could be exercised.
On 7 March 1825, Pope Leo XII issued the bull "Ubi Primum", in which he named Salzburg as the metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province, and assigned as suffragans the dioceses of Trent, Brixen, Gurk, Seckau, and Lavant.Bullarii Romani continuatio Tomus Decimus sextus (Roma 1853), pp. 304–307, at § 5.
Bishops Bishops of Säben
... Ingenuinus (attested c. 590)Bishop Ingenuinus (Ingenuino de Savione et Agnello de Tridento) is mentioned by Paul the Deacon in his Historia Langobardorum Book III, chapter 30. Mastalo (attested 599)Bishop Mastalo was the recipient of a letter from Pope Gregory I. Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 141, no. 2. ... Alim (attested 749–800)Alim received two letters from Pope Leo III, one dated 20 April 798, the other dated 11 April 800. Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 141, nos 3 and 4. Heinrich (attested 805–828)Heinrich is said to have attended a synod in Salzburg in 807. Sinnacher I, pp. 372-388. Aribo (Arnbo, Arbeo)Arnbo: Sinnacher I, pp. 388-398, conjectures that he died in 842. Wilfund Lantfried (c. 842 – c. 875)Lantfried (Landfried): In 845, the King Louis the German issued a diploma in favor of the Church of Säben. The date of his death is unknown. Sinnacher I, pp. 399-420; 517-519. Zerito (c. 875–885)Zerito: Sinnacher I, pp. 420-423, is unable to produce any documentation. Zacharias (c. 890–907)On 31 December 892, Arnulf of Carinthia, King of Italy, granted hunting privileges to Bishop Zacharias. In July 900, Bishop Zacharias was one of several bishops who received a letter of complaint from Pope John IX. On 13 September 901, Zacharias and the Church of Säben were taken under the protection of King Ludwig. Sinnacher I, pp. 424-449; 522-526. Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 142, no. 7. Maginbert (907–c.925)Maginbert (Meinbert): Sinnacher I, pp. 451-465. Redlich, pp. 5-7. Nithard (attested 925–935)Nithard: Sinnacher I, pp. 465-468 (who assigns a death c. 938). Redlich, p. 7. Wisant (c. 938–956??)Wisant (Wisund): a letter of Pope Leo VIII (Brackmann, Germania pontificia, p. 142, no. 8) is a forgery. Hauck, p. 994. Redlich, p. 7. Hugo (attested 952)Bishop Hugo was present at the synod of Augsburg in 952. Hauck, p. 994. Richbert (c. 960–977?)Richbert is first attested at Christmas, 960. A bishop of Brixen, whom Resch identifies as Richbert, attended the Roman synod of Pope John XII in February 962. He was dead on 10 December, in a year before 977. Resch(ius), Annales, pp. 465-524. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XVIII (Venice: A. Zatta 1773), p. 464. Redlich, p. 8-9.
Bishops of Brixen
to 1200
Albuinus (c. 974–1006)Sinnacher II.1, pp. 13-55. Adalbert (attested 1011)Adalbert (Adalbero): Haupt, p. 995. HeriwardOn 24 April 1020, the Emperor Henry II granted Bishop Heriward and the Church of Brixen the abbey of Disent with all of its properties. Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 142, no. 10. Hartwig (attested 1027–1038)Hartwig: Haupt, p. 995. Poppo (1040–1048)Poppo was a Bavarian. He is first mentioned as Bishop of Brixen on 16 January 1040. He accompanied the Emperor Henry III to his coronation in Rome in 1146. when Pope Clement II died, Henry appointed Poppo as pope. Poppo ruled from 17 July to 9 August 1048, a total of three weeks and two days. J.N.D. Kelly, The Oxford Dictionary of Popes (Oxford 1876), pp. 146-147. Altwin (1049–1091 Resigned)Altwin died on 28 February 1097: Haupt, p. 995. Anto (attested 1097–1100)Anto: Haupt, p. 995. Redlich, pp. 39-40. Hugo (c. 1100?–1125)Hugo had been a member of the imperial court, and was a member of the retinue of Henry V. He is mentioned as bishop-elect in a document of the emperor dated 4 July 1111. He was consecrated by Martin Burdinus, Henry's antipope under the name "Gregory VIII". Hugo was deposed in 1125 by the Archbishop of Salzburg, Konrad von Abensberg, after the Emperor Henry's death. Redlich, pp. 40-42, 50. Brackmann, Germania pontificia I, p. 142, no. 11. Reginbert, O.S.B. (1125–1140) Hartmann von Brixen (1140–1164) Otto von Andechs (1165–1170 Resigned) Heinrich von Fügen (1170–1174)