The Diocese of Ozieri () s a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Sardinia, Italy. It is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Sassari.
History The historical Diocese of Bisarchio (Bisarchensis, Gisarchensis) was located in the province of Sassari, district of Nuoro, with the episcopal residence at Ozieri. The first bishop mentioned is Costantino Madrone (c. 1102), who was succeeded in 1116 by Bishop Pietro. The cathedral was built in 1153. The bishop's residence changed several times, to Giracle, and again to Ardera.Mattei, p. 214, col 1. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Diocese of Ozieri"; retrieved: 28 December 2025.
In 1170, Archbishop Alberto of Torres (Sassari) presided over a provincial synod, in which the bishop of Bisarchio, Giovanni Thelle, participated.Alberto Boscolo, "Alberto," , in: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 1 (1960).
In 1350, the Doria family of Genoa ceded their rights in Sardinia to the kings of Aragon. Peter IV of Aragon nominated Fra Francesco, the guardian of the Convent of Castellón (diocese of Gerona), to be bishop of Bisarchio; he was approved by Pope Clement VI, and became the first Franciscan bishop in Sardinia.Sotgia, pp. 82-83.
In 1495, King Ferdinand II of Aragon submitted to Pope Alexander VI a plan for the diminution in the number of dioceses in Sardinia, and the consolidation of several of the dioceses, many of which were suffering financial difficulties.Sotgia, p. 87. F. Amadu, La diocesi medioevale di Bisarcio, , ed. aggiornata (Sassari: Carlo Delfino editore, 2003), pp. 146-147. Pope Julius II narrated the background of his actions in the bull "Aequum Reputamus", Codex diplomaticus Ecclesiensis [Historiae Patriae Monumenta, Tomus XVII], (Turin: Bocca 1877), p. 794 § 1: "Cupiensque idem Praedecessor noster Metropolitanarum et Cathedralium Ecclesiarum praefatarum indigentiae subvenire, et illarum statum per ministerium unionis et translationis salubrius reflorere; ac volens charissimi in Christo filii Nostri, tunc Sui, Ferdinandi Regis et carissimae in Christo filiae Nostrae, tunc Suae, Elisabethae, Regum Hispaniarum et Sardiniae illustrium, id summopere, prout eidem Praedecessori nostro per eorum litteras significaverunt, desiderantium, votis annuere...."
In 1503, at the death of Bishop Calcerando of Bisarchio, the diocese of Bisarchio was incorporated into the diocese of Alghero.Codex diplomaticus Ecclesiensis, pp. 793-798.
Reestablishment of diocese of Bisarchio
The diocese was reestablished by Pope Pius VII in his Bull, "Divina Disponente," of 9 March 1803.Cappelletti, pp. 176-206.
Eighteen months later, Giannantioco Azzei was appointed the first bishop of the restored diocese. In 1819, he was transferred to the archdiocese of Oristano, his birthplace.
The episcopal residence was then definitely transferred to Ozieri.Benigni, p. 581.
The change of name took place in 1915.
Bishops
Diocese of Bisarchio 11th cent. to 1503
Constantinus de Matrona (1082)Bishop Constantine signed a charter of donation on March 1082, at the request of the Iudex Marianus of Torres (Turritano). Mattei, p. 214, col. 1. Kehr, p. 450. Nicodemus (1082) Gavinus Petrus ( 1112–1127) Marianus Thelle ( 1139–1146)Mariano: Cappelletti, p. 174. Joannes Thelle ( 1164–1179)Joannes Thelle was present at the Third Council of the Lateran in March 1179. Codex diplomaticus Sardiniae Vol. 1, p. 240, 245. Mattei, p. 215. Cappelletti, p. 174. Joannes (1237)Joannes: Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 263. Gennarius (1263) Bernardus Carboni ( 1303–1328) Comita (Conte) ( 1330–1341) Marzocco Capra ( 1342–1348) Joannes, O.Min. (1349–1350) Franciscus, O.Min. (1350–1366)A native of Catalonia, the Franciscan Francesco had been Guardian of Castellón de Ampurias (diocese of Gerona). He was appointed bishop of Ozieri by Pope Clement VI on 26 November 1350. Eubel I, p. 263. Sotgia, p. 82. Conradus (1366–1371)Bishop Corrado was transferred to the diocese of Malta on 3 September 1371, by Pope Gregory XI. He died in 1375. Eubel I, pp. 263, 340. Donatus, O.E.S.A. (1371– before 1386)Donatus had previously been bishop of Naupactus (1367–1371). Eubel I, pp. 263, 362. Antonius Antiochius (1386– ? )Antonius was appointed by Urban VI on 16 May 1386. Eubel I, p. 263 with note 4. Simon Christophori de Jadra (1412– ? )Simon was appointed by John XXIII on 7 October 1412. Eubel I, p. 264. Antonius de Penna (1421–1436)Antonio Pinna had been a canon of the cathedral of Sassari. He was appointed bishop of Bisarchio by Pope Martin V on 26 May 1421. Maffei, p. 217, col. 1. Eubel I, p. 264. Antonius Cano (1436–1448)Caro had been rector of the parish church of Fare. He was named bishop of Bisarchio on 18 July 1436 by Pope Eugenius IV. On 23 October 1448, Cano was named archbishop of Torres (Sassari). Eubel II, pp. 159, 259. Sisinius (1448–1466) Ludovicus de Santa Croce, O.Min. (1466–1485) Michael Lopez de Lasorra, O.Min. (1485–1486)Lopez, who was likely a Spaniard, was appointed bishop of Bisarchio on16 May 1485, and less than a year later was transferred to the diocese of Rubicon in the Canary Islands. Sotgia suggests that he governed Bisarchio through a Vicar-general, and that his successor was probably nominated in March 1486. Lopez died in 1488. Eubel II, pp. 159, 226. Sotgia, p. 83. Garsias Quixada, O.Min. (1486–1490) Galcerandus de Andrea, O.Min. (1490–1499/1500)Born at Licata (diocese of Agrigento), Galcerando had been Franciscan Provincial of Sicily (first in 1456–1459; second in 1474–1483), and Bishop of Leighlin (Ireland) (1484–1490). He was transferred to Bisarchio by Pope Innocent VIII on 21 May 1490. Eubel II, pp. 159, 175. Francesco Costa, "Galcerando de Andrea da Licata," , in: Francescanesimo E Civilta Siciana Nel Quattrocento (Palermo: Officina di studi medievali 2000), pp. 51-81, esp. pp. 76-80. Joannes, O.Min. (1500–1503)
Diocese of Bisarchio o Bisarcio (Ozieri) Erected: 9 March 1804 Latin Name: Bisarchiensis
Giovanni Antioco Azzei (1804–1819)Azzei had been a canon of the cathedral Chapter of Oristano, and Vicar-general of the diocese of Oristano. He was appointed bishop of Bisarchio by Pope Pius VII on 24 September 1804. He made his formal entry into the diocese on 13 October 1805. He was transferred to the archdiocese of Oristano on 29 March 1819. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 85, 111. Antonio Francesco Spada, Storia della Sardegna cristiana e dei suoi santi, , Volume 3 (Oristano: Editrice S'Alvure 1994), p. 66. Domenico Pes, Sch. P. (29 Mar 1819 – 8 Dec 1831 Died) Serafino Carchero, O.F.M. Cap. (20 Jan 1834 – 31 Mar 1847 Died) Serafino Corrias (24 Nov 1871 – 31 May 1896 Died) Filippo Bacciu (1896 – 1914)Bacciu was a native Buddisò (diocese of Bisarchio). He held a doctorate in theology, and was a canon of the cathedral Chapter of Bisarchio. He was appointed bishop of Bisarchio by Pope Leo XIII on 30 November 1896. He died on 13 March 1914. Monitor Ecclesiasticus Vol. 9, part 2 (Conversano 1896), p. 238. The Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 6 (Rome 1914), p. 172, states that Bacciu died on 14 March 1914.
Diocese of Ozieri Name Changed: 12 February 1915
Carmine Cesarano, C.SS.R. (1915 – 1918)Cesarano was appointed by Pope Benedict XV on 8 April 1915. He was transferred to the archdiocese of Conza e Campagna on 30 September 1918. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 7 (1915), p. 289; Vol. 10 (1918), p. 452. Pięta, Hierarchia catholica Vol. 9, p. 86. Francesco Maria Franco (1919 – 1933)Francisco Franco had been a parish priest at Agliano in the diocese of Asti. He was appointed bishop of Ozieri by Pope Benedict XV on 10 March 1919. On 18 September 1933, he was appointed Bishop of Crema by Pope Pius XI; he retired from that post in 1950, and died in 1968. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 11 (1919), p. 101. Pięta, Hierarchia catholica Vol. 9, p. 86. Igino Maria Serci (1934 – 1938)Hyginus Serci (Vaquer) had been Canon Penitentiary in the cathedral Chapter of Cagliari. He was named bishop of Ozieri on 2 February 1934, by Pope Pius XI. He died on 30 May 1938. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 26 (1934), p. 97; Vol. 30 (1938), p. 212.. Francesco Cogoni (3 Mar 1939 – 25 Apr 1975 Retired)Cogoni had been archepiscopal chancellor of the archdiocese of Cagliari. He was named bishop of Ozieri by Pope Pius XII on 3 March 1939. He retired on 25 April 1975. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 31 (1939), p. 168. Giovanni Pisanu (4 Mar 1978 – 27 Mar 1997 Retired)Pisanu was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 4 March 1978. He had been parish priest in the village of Macomer in the diocese of Alghero. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 70 (1978), p. 264. Sebastiano Sanguinetti (1997 – 2006)Sanguinetti was a priest of the diocese of Nuoro, and curate of the parish of Saint Peter the Apostle, as well as director of the local chapter of Catholic Action. He was appointed bishop of Iglesias by Pope John Paul II on 27 March 1997. On 22 April 2006, he was appointed Bishop of Tempio-Ampurias. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 89 (1997), p. 261; Vol. 98 (2006), p. 404. Sergio Pintor (29 Sep 2006 – 10 Dec 2012 Retired) Corrado Melis (18 Jul 2015 – )Melis had been a priest of the diocese of Ales-Terralba, and was parish priest and episcopal vicar for Evangelization. Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 107 no. 8 (August 2015), p. 843.
Notes and references
Sources Reference Works . Archived. . Archived. . Archived.
Studies Benigni, U. (1907). "Bisarcio, diocese of," in: The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2 (New York: Robert Appleton 1907), p. 581. . Kehr, Paul Fridolin. (ed. D. Girgensohn). Italia Pontificia , Vol. X: Calabria – Insulae (Turici: Weidmann 1975). p. 450. Mattei, Antonio Felice (1758). Sardinia sacra seu De episcopis Sardis historia nunc primò confecta a F. Antonio Felice Matthaejo. . Romae: ex typographia Joannis Zempel apud Montem Jordanum, 1758. Pp. 213-218. Scano, Dionigi (1940, 1941). Codice diplomatico delle Relazioni fra la Santa Sede e la Sardegna. 2 vols. Cagliari: Arti Grafiche B.C.T. 1940. Sotgia, Giovanni Daniel (2014). La diocesi medievale di Castro: dalle origini all'"Iberizzazione" delle istituzioni (secc. X-XVI) Dissertation: Università degli Studi di Padova 2014. Tola, Pasquale (1861). Codex diplomaticus Sardiniae, Vol. 1 (Turin: ex regio typographeo 1861).