The Diocese of Como () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy. It was established in the Fourth Century. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Milan. The Bishop of Como's cathedra is in the Como Cathedral.David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Diocese of Como"; retrieved February 29, 2016. Gabriel Chow, GCatholic.org, "Diocese of Como"; retrieved February 29, 2016.
Local legend credits the conversion of Como to the apostolate of Hermagoras of Aquileia (died c. 70).The story is not creditable; see: Ughelli, V, pp. 256–257. Cantù, I, pp. 33–34.
The diocese of Como was originally suffragan of Milan, as the consecration of its first bishop by Ambrose of Milan demonstrates.Kehr, p. 399: "Comensis episcopi, qui primum Mediolanensi archiepiscopo, posthaec Aquileiensi patriarchae suffragati sunt, inde ab a. 1751, Benedicto XIV iubente, parent Mediolanensi. By the mid 6th century the diocese was subject to Aquileia.Orsini, p. 4. Pope Stephen V (885-891) twice ordered Patriarch Walpert of Aquileia to consecrate Liutard, the Bishop-elect of Como.Kehr, pp. 399-400, nos. 3-4. Until 1751 Como was, indeed, a suffragan of the patriarchate of Aquileia and followed the Aquileian Rite; the Patriarchate was suppressed by Pope Benedict XIV, who, on 18 April 1752, created the Archdiocese of Gorizia, and made Como subject to Gorizia.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 175 note 1: "A. 1764, Civ. Comen. sita in prov Lombardiae inhabitatur a 10,000 circ. incolarum, sub dominio temporli caes. maest. reginae Hungariae; eccl. cathedr. sub invocatione Assumptionis B.M.V. suffrag. metrop. Goritien." In 1789 Como was placed under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Milan by Pope Pius VI.Gaetano Moroni, "Como," Dizionario di erudizione historico-ecclesiastica Vol. XV (Venezia: Tipografia Emiliana 1842), p. 94: "Divenne suffragnea del patriarcato di Aquileja; dipoi nel 1751 avendo Benedetto XIV soppresso il patriarcato, nell'anno seguente à 18 aprile eresse in metropoli Gorizia, cui sottopose il vescovo id Como per suffraganeo; ma il Pontifice Pio VI nel 1789 dichariò questa sede suffraganea della metropolitana di Milano." Cappelletti, XI, p. 406.
History
From the 6th century to the 15th, the rite of Aquileia, commonly called the patriarchal rite, was used in the Church of Como. Breviarium patriarchinum secundum usum Ecclesiae Comensis (Comi 1523). It was only in 1598 that Pope Clement VIII substituted the Roman rite.
In the tenth century the Bishops of Como were also its temporal lords. From the election of Bishop Raimundus in 1061, the episcopal elections were carried out by the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter and the Abbots of S. Carpoforo, S. Abondio, and S. Giuliano.
Como lost a relevant part of its territory to the newly formed Diocese of Lugano in 1884.
Cathedral and Chapter The Cathedral of S. Maria AssuntaDiocesi di Como, Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta; retrieved: 06-09-2018. was begun in 1396, and was completed only in 1595; later the cupola and some small chapels were added (1730–44). The Cathedral was granted the honorary title and privileges of a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII, at the request of Bishop Felix Bonomini, in a decree of 18 January 1951.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 43 (Città del Vaticano: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1951), pp. 668-669.
In 1695, the Chapter of the cathedralC.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. was composed of three dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Provost) and twenty Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 166 note 1. In 1764, there were three dignities and seventeen Canons.Ughelli, V, p. 257. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 175 note 1. In 1846 there were twenty members of the Chapter, headed by the Archpriest, the Theologos, and the Penitentiary. The Chapter of the Cathedral currently (2018) consists of ten Canons, headed by the Archpriest.Diocesi di Como, Capitolo della Cattedrale; retrieved: 06-09-2018.
In the city of Como there was also the Collegiate Church of S. Fedele, which was presided over by a Provost and seven Canons.Ughelli, V, p. 257. B. Bernasconi, Settanta documenti relativi all'insigne collegiata di San Fedele in Como (Como: Tipografia Cavalleri e Bazzi 1887). Kehr, pp. 463-464.
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. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-727.
Bishop Gianantonio Volpi (1559–1588) held a diocesan synod on 16 March 1565. This was the first synod since the closing of the Council of Trent, which had mandated regular and frequent diocesan synods. He held a second synod on 3–5 September 1579. J.D. Mansi, ed., Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIA (Paris 1911), p. 77. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Filippo Archinti (1595–1621) in 1598; and another synod on 16–18 May 1618.J.D. Mansi, ed., Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIbis (Paris: Hubert Welter 1913), p. 77.
The Fifth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Lazzaro Carafino (1626–1665) on 18–20 September 1633. The Sixth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Ambrogio Torriano (1680–1694) on 13–15 September 1672. It issued particularly strong regulations against the use of snuff by the clergy, following the decree of Pope Innocent X, and prescribed a fine of two aurei for any priest who used snuff before the Mass. The Seventh Diocesan Synod was held on 10–12 September 1682 by Cardinal Carlo Cicero, Bishop of Como.
Bishop Teodoro de Valfrè held a diocesan synod on 13–15 September 1904 in the Cathedral.Acta Synodi Comensis quam sub auspiciis B. M. Virginis Immaculatae Ill.mus ac Rev.mus D. D. Teodorus ex comitibus Valfrè de Bonzo Episcopus Comensis diebus XIII-VIV-XV mensis septembris anni MCMIV in Cathedrali ecclesia (Como: Unione tipografica Rudolfi doct. Ferrari 1905). The Ninth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Alessandro Macchi (1930–1947) on 8–10 September 1942. The Tenth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Felice Bonomini (1948–1974) in 1953. Bishop Oscar Cantoni announced the Eleventh Diocesan Synod, that was to take place in 2020.Sinodo Diocesano; retrieved: 07-10-2018. It concluded in May 2022.Final Document of Synod
Bishops of Como to 1000
Felix of Como (c. 379 – c. 391)Felix, a Roman, was a student of Ambrose of Milan, and was consecrated by him as the first Bishop of Como on 1 November 379. He attended a synod held by Ambrose in Milan in 390 to deal with the heretic Jovianus. He held the episcopal seat for twelve years. Ughelli, p. 258. Cantù, I, pp. 36–38. Lanzoni, pp. 977-978. Provinus (Probinus, Prouinus) Ughelli, p. 258. Cantù, I, p. 38. Provinus is said to have been a native of Provence, and to have been appointed by Bishop Felix as his successor. Lanzoni, p. 978 no. 2. (391–420) Amantius of Como (420–450)Amantius: Lanzoni, p. 978 no. 3. Abundius (or Abundantius) (attested 450–489)Abundinus sent as legate to the Council of Chalcedon by Pope Leo I. He subscribed the synodal letter of the Synod of Milan held by the Matropolitan Eusebius in 451. Gams, p. 786 column 2 (assigning the dates 422–489, though with doubt). Lanzoni, p. 978 no. 4. Console (489–495) Exuperantius (495–512) Eusebius (512–525) Eutychius (Eutichio) (525–539)Eutychius died on 5 June 539, according to Gams, p. 786. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eutichius-of-como/ Lanzoni, p. 979 no. 8 Eupilius (approx. 539) Flavianus I Prosper Joannes (c. 607)Giovanni degli Orchi (John Orco): Lanzoni, p. 979-980 no. 12. Agrippinus (607–617)Agrippinus of Cologne, Germany (Colonia Agrippina). Cantù, I, p. 92. Lanzoni, pp. 980-981 no. 13. Rubianus Adalbert Martiniano Vittorino (approx. 628)Like all of the Catholic bishops of Como, Vittorino was an opponent of Arianism as propagated by the Lombards John II John III Ottaviano Benedict I Flaviano II (approx. 712) Adeodato (712–730) Gausoaldo (approx. 730) Angilbert I (approx. 750) Lupo (approx. 750) Teodolfo Adelongo (approx. 776) Peter I (776–818) Leo I (attested 823–838)Ughelli states that Bishop Leo was elected in 818, that he served for twenty-five years, and that he died in 843. Ughelli, V, pp. 265-268. Gams, p. 786 column 2, agrees that he was elected in 818, but only extends his service until 824. Perideo (840–843) Amalrico (844–865) Angilbert II (866–880) Luitardus (Liutardo) (attested 888–905)Lu(v)itardus is mentioned both as Bishop of Como and as Imperial Chancellor of the Emperor Louis the Blind in a diploma of 7 December 901. Tatti, I, pp. 879-884. Ughelli, pp. 271-272. Cappelletti, pp. 325-328, 441 (giving the dates of 901 to c. 910). Gams, p. 786 column 2 (giving the dates of 901 to c. 910). Valperto I (attested 911–914)Valperto: Cappelletti, pp. 325-328, 441 (giving the dates of 910 to before c. 916). Gams, p. 786 column 2 (giving the dates of 910 to 27 May 914). Both decline to recognize a Valperto II in 915. Valperto II (915) Peter II (921) Azzone (922–945) Waldo (Ubaldus) (946–966)Ughelli, pp. 276-277. Schwartz, pp. 46-47. Adelgisius (attested 973–977)Adelgisius: Ughelli, pp. 277-279. Schwartz, p. 47. Peter III (attested 983–1005)Petrus: Ughelli, pp. 279-280. Schwartz, pp. 46-47.
1000 to 1300
Eberhardus (attested 1004–1006)In June 1004, and again in 1006, Bishop Eberhard was the recipient of several grants of property and privileges from Henry II, who styled himself King of the Franks and likewise of the Lombards. Tatti, II, pp. 824-828. Cappelletti, XI, pp. 331-332. Schwartz, Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens, p. 47. Albericus (c. 1010 – c. 1028)Albericus was the founder of the Abbey of Sant'Abbondio in 1013; in the foundation charter he states that he had been bishop for three years. Ughelli, V, pp. 282-285. Cantù, I, pp. 140-142. Cappelletti, pp. 332-337 Kehr, p. 405. Schwartz, pp. 47-48. Liudger (1030/32–1046)Liudger: Schwartz, p. 48. Benno (attested 1049–1061)Benno is attested in 1049. He died on 21 September 1061. Tatti, II, p. 198. Schwartz, pp.48-49. Rainaldo (1061/62–1084)Rainaldus was expelled by Emperor Henry IV for his loyalty to Pope Gregory VII. Aribertus (1085–1088)A. d. C., "Ariberto Vescovo di Como, sul finire del secolo XI," Schwartz, p. 49. Hartwicus (attested 1092)Hartwig was probably intruded by Emperor Henry IV. He is not named in the Cathedral's catalog of bishops. Schwartz, p. 49. Guido Grimoldi (1098–1125)Bishop Guido participated in the Synod of Milan on 1098: Schwartz, p. 50. Bishop Guido died on 17 August 1125, according to a manuscript in the Cathedral archives, cited by Tatti, II, p. 344. Ughelli, p. 291. [Landulfus de Carcano (1098–1118)]Landulf was an imperial supporter, and an Intruder on the episcopal throne. He was deposed by order of Pope Urban II in 1095. Schwartz, p. 50. Gams, p. 787. Kehr, p. 401 no *10. Ardizzo I (1125–1158)Ardizzo: Ughelli, V, pp. 291-294. Enrico della Torre (1158–1162)Bishop Enrico was present at the diet held by Frederick Barbarossa at Ronciglie in November 1158. Bishop Enrico joined the schism of Antipope Victor IV (1159–1164) and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and was deposed by Pope Alexander III. Ughelli, V, pp. 294-296. Tatti, II, pp. 444-448. Gams, p. 787 column 1.