The Diocese of Castro di Sardegna (Latin: Dioecesis Castrensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Oschiri in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region of Sardinia. In 1503, it was suppressed along with the Diocese of Bisarcio and the Diocese of Ottana to form the Diocese of Alghero."Diocese of Castro (di Sardegna)" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 25, 2016"Titular Episcopal See of Castro di Sardegna" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved August 25, 2016

History

Within the comune of Oschiri is the church of Nostra Signora di Castro, which was once the cathedral of the diocese, centred on the town of Castro, which has now been depopulated. It was suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sassari (Torres, Turritanensis).

The time of the establishment of the diocese of Castro is unknown.Mattei, p. 208, col. 1: "De Romano pontifice, qui primum Castrensibus episcopum nihil compertum habeo." The earliest mention of a bishop of Castro occurs in a document of 1116, when an unnamed bishop of the see assisted at the dedication of the Basilica di Saccargia.Cf. Francesco Floris (ed.), Enciclopedia della Sardegna, , Volume 2 (Sassari: La Nuova Sardgna 2007), p. 501: "Diocesi la cui prima attestazione e` del 3 settembre 1127: il vescovo Adamo sottoscriveva la cessione in usufrutto della chiesa di San Michele di Plaiano...." In 1164, its bishop Atto dedicated a church in the locality of Aneleto and granted it in the following year to Camaldolese monks.

On 5 April 1297, Pope Boniface VIII granted the island of Sardinia, which was the property of the Holy Roman Church, in feudal tenure to King James II of Aragon.Sotgia, p. 72. Pasquale Tola, Codex diplomaticus Sardiniae, Vol. 1 (Turin: ex regio typographeo 1861), pp. 456-460. The kings of Aragon claimed the right to nominate candidates to vacant bishoprics in Sardinia, and in one case, in 1482, Ferdinand II of Aragon was refused his nomination to the See of Ottana by Pope Sixtus IV.Sotgia, p. 85.

Castro later decayed, and the bishop's residence was transferred to Bono (Civil province of Sassari).

Bishop Leonardus de Sassari, O.Min. (1412–1445) held a diocesan synod on 9 March 1420, in the Church of San Michele in the town of Bono.Sotgiu, pp. 133-137.

On 8 December 1503, Pope Julius II issued the bull "Aequum Reputamus", in which the territory of Castro and that of two other dioceses were combined to form the new diocese of Alghero, (since 1986, the diocese of Alghero-Bosa).Codex diplomaticus Ecclesiensis [Historiae Patriae Monumenta, Tomus XVII], (Turin: Bocca 1877), pp. 793-798. Today what was the territory of Castro is part of that of the diocese of OzieriGams, p. 836. Cappelletti, p. 145. Eubel I, p. 174; II, p. 121; III, p. 158.

Titular see

Castro itself, no longer a residential bishopric. In 1968, the name "Castro," but not the actual diocese, was revived as a titular see.Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ), p. 863 Since 1976, its name has been Castro di Sardegna,Gregory Chow, GCatholic.org, "Titular Episcopal See of Castro in Sardinia;" retrieved: 15 December 2025. avoiding confusion with dioceses named Castro in Lazio and in Puglia.

Bishops

Diocese of Castro di Sardegna

The document describing the consecration of Sma Trinità (F. Tola, Codex diplomaticus Sarddiniae Vol. 1, Turin 1861, p. 193) mentions the bishops present: "Quales fuerunt su donnu de su Archiepiscopu de Turres, su donnu de su archiepiscopu de Oristanis, su donnu de su archiepiscopu de Calaris, misser Albertu episcopu de Sorra, misser Pedru episcopu de Bisarchiu, misser Pedru episcopu de Bosa, su episcopu de Sulcis, su episcopu de Castra, su episcopu de Flumen, su episcopu de Pioaghe, su episcopu de Ortilen, et ateros episcopos, abades, priores, canonigos, preideros, et ateros religiosos...." The document may have been interpolated, however. See: Philippus Kehr, (ed. D. Girghensohn), Italia Pontificia Vol. 10 (Turici: weidmann 1975), p. 441, no. 1. Adam (1127)Bishop Adam subscribed a donation at Pisa on 3 September 1127. Sotgiu (2014), p. 127. Atho (1161–1179)Atto (Attone): Gams, p. 836, col. 2. Sotgia (2014), p. 131: "Anno ab Incarnatione Domini M.C.LX.II [1161 modern style] consecrata est ecclesia ista in onorem Beatae Mariae et Sancti Nicholai et Sancti Petri et Sanctae Barbarae Virginis et Sancti Leonardi. III.idus Madii a Domino Athone Castrensi Episcopo." Cf. Kehr,Italia Pontificia Vol. 10, p. 449. Raimundus, O.S.B.Vallomb. Torgodorius (1231)Torgodorius: 11 October 1231. Mattei, p. 210. Gams, p. 836. Eubel I, p. 174. Pope Innocent IV wrote to a bishop-elect of Castro on 22 October 1248, ordering him to lead the effort to restore the bishop of Ploaghe to his seat, from which he was ejected by the supporters of the Emperor Frederick II. F. Tola, Codex diplomaticus Sarddiniae Vol. 1, Turin 1861, p. 360, no. LXXX. Marthucus (1259, 1264)Marthucus: Gams, p. 836. Eubel I, p. 174 with note 1. Bernardus (1348) Franciscus Joannis, O.Min. (1358–1359) Comita de Odis (1359–1362)Comita had been a canon of the cathedral Chapter of Castro. Eubel I, p. 174. Nicolaus de Varis, O.Min. (1362)Nicolaus: Mattei, p. 210-211. Augustinus Rainerius (1391–1412)Rainerius was appointed by Pope Boniface IX (roman Obedience) on 9 February 1391. Eubel I, p. 174 with note 4. Simon Margens (1395–1402)Simon was appointed by Boniface IX on 24 July 1395. He was transferred to the diocese of Civita (Sardinia) on 26 September 1401. Eubel I, pp. 174, 189. Antonius (1402–1412) Leonardus de Sassari, O.Min. (1412–1445)Leonardo is said to have held a diocesan synod. Maffei, p. 211, col. 2. Eubel I, p. 174; II, p. 121 with note 1. Francesco, O.S.B. (1445–1447)Franciscus had been prior prioratus of the Camaldolese monastery of S. Ceni de Bonarcato (diocese of Arborea, Oristano). He obtained his bulls from Pope Eugenius IV on 22 December 1445. He died in 1447. Cappelletti, p. 146. Eubel II, p. 121 with note 2. Giovanni Gasto, O.F.M. (1447–1455) Tommaso Giliberti, O. Cist. (1455–1458) Leonardo (1458–1464)Leonardo had been abbot of San Michele de Salvenari (diocese of Ploaghe): Kehr, Italia Pontificia 10, p. 442. He received his bulls on 10 November 1458. He died in 1464. Mattei, p. 212. Eubel II, p. 121. Lorenzo di Moncada, O.F.M. (1464–1478)Lorenzo held a degree in theology. Mattei, p. 212. Eubel II, p. 121. Cristoforo Magno (1478–1483) Bernardo Jover (1483–1490) Juan Crespo, O.S.A. (1490–1493 Appointed, Bishop of Ales) Melchiorre di Tremps, O.S.A. (1493–1496 Died) Giovanni Garsia, O.S.B. (1496–1501)Garsia was a Benedictine monk of the monastery of San Michele di Fluviano (Gerona). Sotgia, pp. 80-81: "sappiamo poco o nulla, oltre al nome." Antonio de Toro, O.F.M. (1501–1503 Resigned)On 25 April 1504, Bishop de Toro consecrated the church of San Stefano di Oschiri. Sotgia, pp. 81-82; 132.

8 December 1503: Suppressed along with the Diocese of Bisarcio and the Diocese of Ottana to form the Diocese of Alghero

Titular bishops Alfonso Sánchez Peña (1969–1997)On 28 July 1969, Pope Paul VI named Sánchez, a priest of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, titular bishop of Castro, and Alto Sinú, Colombia. He retired at the age of 75 in 1989, and died in 1997. Acta Apostolicae Sedis, , Vol. 61 (1969), p. 613. Giuseppe Pittau, S.J. (1998–2014)Pittau was Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, as well as Rector of the Gregorian University. He was appointed titular bishop of Cstro on 11 July 1998, and granted the title and privileges of an archbishop. On 30 September 1998, he was named Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and appointed a Consultor of the Congregation of Bishops. He died on 26 December 2014. Acta Apostolicae Sedis, , Vol. 90 (1998), pp. 635, 1045. Dominicus Meier, O.S.B. (2015–2024)On 15 July 2015, Meier, who was Judicial Vicar of the diocese of Paderborn, was appointed titular bishop of Castro, and Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn. On 28 May 2024, Bishop Meier was appointed Bishop of Osnabrück. Acta Apostolicae Sedis, , Vol. 107 (2015), p. 842; Vol. 116 (June 2024), p. 798.. Andreas Geßmann (2024– ...)Geßmann was a priest of the diocese of Essen, and parish priest of St. Lawrence in Essen. He was named titular bishop of Castro on 14 November 2024, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Essen. Acta Apostolicae Sedis, , Vol. 116 (December 2024), p. 1689.

See also Diocese of Alghero-Bosa Catholic Church in Italy

References

Sources Amadu, Francesco (1984). La diocesi mediovale di Castro. Ozieri: Edizione Il Torchietto 1984. . . Archived. . Archived. . Archived. Gams, Pius Bonifacius (1873). Series episcoporum ecclesiæ catholicæ, quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. . Ratisbon: Georg Joseph Manz 1873 (reprinted several times). 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. 207-213. Laner, F. (2004). Nostra Signora di Castro. Chiesa ex cattedrale ad Oschiri. Edizioni Adrastea, Mestre. Solmi, Arrigo (1917). Studi storici sulle istituzioni della Sardegna nel medio evo. . Cagliari: Presso La Società storica Sarda 1917. 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.