Diocese of Ischia

The Diocese of Ischia (Latin: Dioecesis Isclana) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Campania, southern Italy. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Naples.^[1]^[2] The diocese comprises the entire island of Ischia, which contains seven communes divided into two circumscriptions.^[3] In 1743, the population was about 4,000. The city of Ischia constituted one single parish, with two religious houses of men and one of women.^[4] In 2018, the population of the town of Ischia was 20,118.

CountryItaly

Ecclesiastical provinceNaples

Area46 km² (18 sq mi)

Population

Total

Catholics

(as of 2016)

70,043

60,282 (86.1%)

Quick facts Diocese of Ischia Dioecesis Isclana, Location ...

Diocese of Ischia Dioecesis Isclana

Ischia Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Naples
Statistics
Area	46 km² (18 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2016) 70,043 60,282 (86.1%)
Parishes	25
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	12th century
Cathedral	Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta
Secular priests	30 (diocesan) 6 (Religious Orders) 9 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Gennaro Pascarella
Map

Website
www.chiesaischia.it

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History

The earliest known Bishop of Ischia, Pietro, was present at the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in 1079.^[5]

In July 1228, a major earthquake struck the island of Ischia. Upwards of 700 persons were killed.^[6]

In imitation of the Sicilians and their revolt against Charles I of Naples (the Sicilian Vespers, 1282), Ischia revolted, but was reconquered by Charles' son, Charles II, in 1299, and four hundred of his troops were set loose to sack and burn the properties.^[7]

The cathedral, dedicated to the taking up (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary into heaven, is located in the Castello Aragonese, at the eastern tip of the island of Ischia. It is inaccessible except by a steep climb on foot. In 1848, the cathedral was served and administered by a Chapter, composed of three dignities (the Primicerius, the Archdeacon, and the Archpriest) and sixteen Canons. All the Canons were appointed by the cathedral's patron, the King of the Two Sicilies.^[8]

Bishop Luca Trapani (1698–1718) presided over a diocesan synod, held in the cathedral from 31 May to 2 June 1716.^[9]

The diocesan seminary was begun by Bishop Nicola Schiaffinati, O.E.S.A. (1739–1743), but was not completed until the reign of his successor, Bishop Felice Amato (1743–1764). In order to finance the operation of the seminary, two parishes were suppressed, Santa Barbara in the Castello Aragonese, and San Domenico in Campagnano.^[10]

On 23 July 1762, a major earthquake struck Ischia, without loss of life, but with the destruction of the parish church at Casamicciola. On 18 March 1796, another earthquake struck the same area, and seven people died.^[11]

The Concordat of 1818 between the Holy See (Papacy) and the Kingdom of the two Sicilies provided for the consolidation of the diocesan structure of the kingdom by the elimination of some fifty dioceses. Ischia, after nineteen years without a bishop, was specified as one of those dioceses, and it was to be united to the diocese of Pozzuoli. Strong representations made by a delegation of Ischiani to the King, however, brought the diocese a reprieve.^[12]

Bishops

to 1800

...

Petrus (attested 1179)^[13]
Amenius (attested 1206)^[14]

...

Salvus (attested 1295)^[15]

...

Petrus (attested 1306)

...

Ugolinus de Auximo, O.P. (attested 1340)^[16]
Guilelmus (died 1348)^[17]
Thomasius (attested 1348)^[18]
Jacobus (attested 1359)^[19]
Bartolomeo Borsolari, O.E.S.A. (1359)^[20]
Paulus Strina (1384–1389)
Nicolaus Tinti, O.P. (1389–1418)
Lorenzo de Ricci (1419–1435)^[21]
Joannes de Sicilia, O.E.S.A. (1436–1453)^[22]
Michele Cosal, O.Cist. (1453–1464)^[23]
Joannes de Cicho (1464–1501)
Bernardino de Leis, C.R.L. (1501–1504)^[24]
Donatus Strineo (1504–1534)^[25]
Agostino Falivenia (Pastineus), O.S.M. (1534–1548)^[26]
Francisco Gutiérrez (bishop) (1548–1554)^[27]
Virgilio Rosario (1554–1559)^[28]
Filippo Geri (1560–1564)^[29]
Fabio Polverone (1565–1589)^[30]
Iñigo de Avalos, C.R. (1590–1635)^[31]
Francesco Tontori (Tontolo), C.R.S. (1638–1663 Resigned)^[32]
Giovanni Antonio de' Vecchi (1663–1672)^[33]
Gerolamo Rocca (1672–1691)^[34]
Michelangelo Cotignola (1692–1698 Resigned).^[35]
Luca Trapani (1698–1718)^[36]
Gianmaria Capecelatro, C.R.L. (1718–1738)^[37]
Nicola Antonio Schiaffinati, O.E.S.A. (1739–1743 Died)^[38]
Felice Amato (1743–1764 Died)^[39]
Onofrio de Rossi (1764–1775)^[40]
Sebastiano de Rosa (1775–1792)^[41]
Pasquale Sansone (1792–1799)^[42]

since 1800

Sede vacante (1799–1818)^[43]

Giuseppe d'Amante (1818–1843 Died)^[44]
Luigi Gagliardi (1845–1854 Resigned)^[45]
Felice Romano (1854–1872 Died)^[46]
Francesco di Nicola (1872–1885 Died)^[47]
Gennaro Portanova (1885–1888)^[48]
Giuseppe Candido (1888–1901 Resigned)^[49]
Mario Palladino (1901–1913)^[50]
Pasquale Ragosta (1914–1925)^[51]
Ernesto de Laurentiis (1928–1956 Died)
Antonio Cece (1956–1962)^[52]
Dino Tomassini (1962–1970)^[53]
Diego Parodi, M.C.C.I. (1980–1983 Died)
Antonio Pagano (1983–1997 Retired)
Filippo Strofaldi (1997–2012 Resigned)
Pietro Lagnese (2013–2020 Appointed, Bishop of Caserta)
Gennaro Pascarella (2021–present)

Notes and references

[1]
Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Ischia". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.^{self-published}
[2]
Chow, Gabriel. "Diocese of Ischia (Italy)". GCatholic.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.^{self-published}
[3]
Scotti, p. 270 column 2.
[4]
Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 246, note 1. These were suppressed by the Law of 7 July 1866: G. D'Ascia, Storia dell' isola d'Ischia (Napoli 1867) p. 280. Danilo Breschi, "Le leggi di liquidazione dell’asse ecclesiastico nel biennio 1866-1867: un iter complesso e una soluzione traumatica," (in Italian), in: Z. Ciuffoletti and G. L. Corradi (edd.), La soppressioione delle corporazioni religiose e la liquidazione dell'asse ecclesiastica nell'Italia unita: il caso toscano e le fonti archivistiche (1866-1867) (Firenze: Mandragora 2014), pp. 23-43, at 29-31.
[5]
Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia XIX, p. 551.
[6]
Mario Baratta (1901). I terremoti d'Italia: Saggio di storia, geografia e bibliografia sismica italiana (in Italian). Torino: Fratelli Bocca. p. 32 no. 146.
[7]
Cappelletti, p. 550.
[8]
Scotti, p. 271.
[9]
Luca Trapani (1716). Synodus dioecesana Isclana ab illustriss. reuerendiss. domino D. Luca Trapani ... Celebrata dominica Pentecostes, & duabus sequentibus feriis, ... Anno Domini 1716. Clemente 11. Pontifice Optimo Maximo (in Latin). Romae: ex Typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae.
[10]
Scotti, p. 269 column 2.
[11]
Baratta, pp. 247, no. 734; 309, no. 835.
[12]
Scotti, p. 270 column 1.
[13]
Bishop Petrus subscribed to the Acts of the Third Lateran Council of March 1179. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXII (Venice: A. Zatta 1778), p. 460, where he signs as part of the Province of Naples.
[14]
Gams, p. 885. Eubel Hierarchia catholica I, p. 286.
[15]
Kamp I, p. 361 with note 2; IV, p. 1293.
[16]
On 20 January 1340, Ugolino of Osimo and other bishops granted indulgences to the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Misericordia in Venice. Cappelletti, p. 552.
[17]
1348 was the year of the visitation of the Bubonic Plague.
[18]
A Canon of Marsico, Thomasius was appointed by Pope Clement VI on 22 December 1348. Cappelletti, p. 553.
[19]
In 1359 Bishop Jacobus (de Itro) was transferred to the diocese of Martirana by Pope Innocent VI. Cappelletti, p. 553. Eubel I, pp. 286, 329.
[20]
Borsolari was a brother of Giacomo Borsolari, O.P., a vigorous opponent of and prisoner of Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti of Milan, who is buried in the church of S. Domenico outside the castle of Ischia. Bartolomeo was appointed by Pope Innocent VI on 22 March 1359. He was removed from office by Clement VII (Avignon Obedience) in 1384, but continued to serve under Urban VI (Roman Obedience) until his death on 4 December 1389. Cappelletti, p. 553. Eubel I, p. 286.
[21]
Ricci was transferred to the diocese of Ravello by Pope Eugenius IV on 18 February 1435. Eubel I, p. 286; II, pp. 169, 221.
[22]
Joannes was appointed by Pope Eugenius IV on 28 March 1436. Eubel II, p. 169.
[23]
Cosal, a Spaniard; Eubel II, p. 169.
[24]
On 7 December 1502 De Leis was in Rome and celebrated Mass in the church of the Lombard hospital. On 22 January 1504, De Leis celebrated Mass in the Minerva in Rome. De Leis was appointed Bishop of Castro di Puglia by Pope Julius II on 8 January 1504. Joannes Burchard, Liber notarum (Diarium) ed. Enrico Celani, Volume secondo (Citta di Castello: E. Lapi 1914), pp. 339, 432. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, pp. 157, 214.
[25]
Donatus had been the Archpriest of Serra Capreola, and was a professor of Canon Law. He was elected Bishop of Castro by Pope Alexander VI, less than a month before the Pope's death. He was transferred to Ischia by Pope Julius II on 8 January 1504, in an exchange with Bishop de Leis. He actually lived in Naples and served as the Vicar General of Archbishop Francesco Carafa for 26 years. He died in 1534 at the age of 86. Ughelli, p. 236. Cappelletti XIX, p. 554. Eubel III, p. 214.
[26]
Falivenia was a native of Gefano (diocese of Salerno) and a member of the Servite Order. He was Bishop of Capri from 1528 to 1534, and was transferred to Ischia by Pope Clement VII on 24 April 1534. Pope Paul III made him Collector of papal revenue (the decima) in the Kingdom of Naples. He died in 1548. Ughelli, p. 236. Cappelletti, pp. 554-555. Eubel III, pp. 151, 214.
[27]
Gutierrez was a Spaniard from Palencia. He was appointed by Pope Paul III on 24 September 1548. Ughelli, p. 236. Eubel III, p. 214.
[28]
Rosario was a native of Spoleto, and a Canon of S. Maria Rotunda (the Pantheon) in Rome. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was named Bishop of Ischia on 27 August 1554 by Pope Julius III. He was then named a cardinal on 15 March 1557 by Pope Paul IV. He did not reside in Ischia, however, since he was Vicar of the City of Rome for Paul IV. He died in Rome on 22 May 1559, at the age of sixty. He was never Archbishop of Siponto (Manfredonia), as alleged by Ughelli, p. 236. Eubel III, pp. 35 no. 12; 214.
[29]
A native of Pistoia, Geri was appointed Bishop of Ischia by Pope Pius IV on 26 January 1560. He was transferred to the diocese of Assisi on 1 March 1564. He died in 1575. Cappelletti, p. 555. Eubel III, pp. 121, 214.
[30]
Polverone was a Neapolitan, and held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was appointed in the Consistory of 6 July 1565 by Pope Pius IV. He died in 1589. Ughelli, p. 236, says he died in 1590. Eubel III, p. 214.
[31]
Bishop Innico, a Canon Regular of the Lateran, was the nephew of Cardinal Iñigo de Avalos (died 21 February 1600). He was appointed Bishop of Ischia in the Consistory of 29 January 1590 by Pope Sixtus V. He died in 1635. Eubel III, p. 214, with note 10.
[32]
Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 211.
[33]
De' Vecchi died in Ischia in April 1672. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 211. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 230 note 2.
[34]
Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 3.
[35]
Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 4.
[36]
Born in Naples in 1664, Trapani held a doctorate in theology (Naples 1681). He was named Bishop of Ischia in the Consistory of 22 December 1698 by Pope Innocent XII, and consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Maria Petruccio. He was transferred to the diocese of Tricarico by Pope Clement XI on 24 January 1718. Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 5.
[37]
Capecelatro: Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 230 with note 6.
[38]
Schiaffinati: Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 246 with note 2.
[39]
Amato: Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 3.
[40]
Rossi had previously been Bishop of Fondi. He was named Bishop of Ischia by Pope Clement XIII on 9 April 1764. He was appointed Bishop of Sant'Agata de' Goti on 17 July 1775, by Pope Pius VI. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 4.
[41]
De Rosa was transferred to the diocese of Avellino e Frigento by Pope Pius VI on 26 March 1792. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 5.
[42]
Sansone: Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 246 with note 6.
[43]
During the Sede vacante the administration of the diocese was in the hands of a Vicar Capitular, the Primicerius of the cathedral Chapter, Mons. Giosuè Mazzella. Cappelletti, p. 557. Onofrio Buonocore (1954). Monografie storiche dell'Isola d'Ischia (in Italian). Naples: Rispoli. p. 113.
[44]
D'Amante was born in Procida (Naples) in 1752. He was named Bishop of Ischia on 26 June 1818 by Pope Pius VII. Notizie per l'anno 1829 (Annuario pontificio) (Roma: Cracas 1829), p. 87.
[45]
Gagliardi was born in Barletta, and was a Canon of the cathedral of Molfetta, and a doctor of theology.
[46]
Francesco Rivieccio (2009). Monsignor Felice Romano: un pastore nell'età del Risorgimento (1793-1872) (in Italian). Torre del Greco: Edizioni scientifiche e artistiche. ISBN 978-88-95430-14-0. [encomiastic]
[47]
Di Nicola had been a Canon of the cathedral of Aversa. He was appointed Coadjutor bishop of Ischia in 1871 by Pope Pius IX. On 18 November 1881, Bishop di Nicola was provided with an auxiliary bishop by Pope Leo XIII, Carlo Mennella, who was appointed titular Bishop of Menneth in partibus infidelium. La Civiltà Cattolica. Series 11, volume 8 (in Italian). Vol. 32nd year. Firenze: La Civiltà Cattolica. 1881. p. 608. HARVARD:32044105219927.
[48]
Portanova was appointed Archbishop of Reggio Calabria by Pope Leo XIII.
[49]
Candido: Piero Doria (2007), "Il governo spirituale di Giuseppe Candido, Vescovo di Ischia (1888-1901), nella documentazione dell'Archivio Segreto Vaticano," in: Livio Ruggiero and Mario Spedicato (edd.) Giuseppe Candido tra pastorale e scienza. Atti del Convegno di Studi (Lecce, 27-28 ottobre 2006) (Galatina 2007), pp. 265 ff.
[50]
Palladino was born at Campobasso (Boiano) in 1842. He became a priest of Naples, and was named a Canon of the cathedral Chapter by Cardinal Giuseppe Prisco in 1898. He was appointed Bishop of Ischia on 15 April 1901 by Pope Leo XIII. On 8 June 1913 he was transferred to the diocese of Caserta by Pope Pius X. He died at Caserta on 17 October 1921. Annuario pontificio (Roma 1921), p. 106.
[51]
Ragosta was appointed Bishop of Castellammare di Stabia by Pope Pius XI.
[52]
Cece was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Aversa by Pope John XXIII.
[53]
Tomassini was appointed Bishop of Anglona-Tursi by Pope Paul VI.

Diocese of Ischia

History

Bishops

to 1800

since 1800

Notes and references

Bibliography

Reference for bishops

Studies

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