Diocese of Nepi-Sutri

Lombard, Carolingian, Ottonian

In the Gothic War, Nepi was one of the last strongholds of the Goths.^[1] The town was sacked by the Lombards in 569.^[8] In the eighth century, however, it became the seat of Toto (Theodore), who had been invested dux Nepsinae civitatis by the Lombard king Desiderius (756–774). In 767, he plotted the murder of Pope Paul I but was dissuaded. When Paul died on 28 June 767, though, Toto had his brother Constantine acclaimed as pope. A counter-revolution against the brothers on 30 July 768 resulted in the death of Tuto and the deposition, imprisonment, and mutilation of Constantine.^[9]

In 817, in the Pactum Hludowicianum between the Emperor Louis the Pious and Pope Paschal I, the towns of Nepi and Sutri are specifically mentioned as being part of the old Duchy of Rome, and are acknowledged as being the property of the Church.^[10] That privilegium, granted by Louis the Pious, was confirmed in exactly the same terms by the Emperor Otto I on 13 February 962.^[11]

Bishop Stephanus of Nepi, Bishop Donatus of Ostia, and the deacon Marinus, in 868, were named papal legates and presidents of the Council of Constantinople, in the matter of the alleged heresy of Photios I of Constantinople. The first session of the Council took place on 5 October 869. The legation finally returned to Rome in 871.^[12]

In 993, Bishop Joannes of Nepi was serving as bibliothecarius S.R.E. in the papal court of Pope John XV (985–996), and served as datary.^[13]

Bishop Martinus of Nepi and Bishop Joannes of Sutri both attended the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179.^[14]

Guelfs and Ghibbelines

In the struggle between the emperors and the popes, Nepi was imperialist during the reigns of Pope Alexander II, Pope Nicholas II, Pope Gregory VII, and Pope Innocent II. In the schism which began in 1130, Nepi supported Pope Anacletus II (1130–1138) against the imperially supported Innocent II, who had been driven out of Rome. An inscription of 1131 in the cathedral at Nepi confirms the determination of the citizens to go to war if necessary to defend their choice.^[15] On the other hand, in 1160, it fought against the commune of Rome, and in 1244, was besieged by Emperor Frederick II.^[1] A feudal possession, first of the prefects of Vico, and then of the Orsinis, of the Colonnas, and of Cesare Borgia, from 1537 to 1545, it was erected into a duchy in favour of Pier Luigi Farnese;^[16] and when the latter was transferred to Parma, Nepi returned to immediate dependence on the Holy See.^[1] In 1798 the French set fire to the cathedral and to the episcopal palace, and archives were lost.^[1]

Sutri is placed on the Cassian Way.^[17] The cathedral is of the thirteenth century, modernized by frequent alterations. Santa Maria della Grotta is an interesting church.^[1] The history of Sutri in antiquity resembles that of Nepi. In 537, the imperial general Belisarius "...ordered Bessas to take over Narni, a very strong city in Tuscany.... Bessas took Narni not at all against the will of the inhabitants, and Konstantinos won over Spoleto and Perugia and some other towns without trouble.... But while Bessas was making his dispositions in Narni in a more leisurely manner, it so happened that, as the enemy {Goths] were passing that way, the plains in the outskirts of the city were filled with Goths. These were an advance guard preceding the rest of the army. Bessas engaged with them and unexpectedly routed those whom he encountered and killed many. But then, as he was pushed back by their superior numbers, he retired to Narni."^[18] for Sutri also was taken by the Lombards in 569, but was retaken by the exarch Romanus; Liutprand likewise took the town in 726, but in the following year restored it to "St. Peter".^[1] As the city is on the Cassian Way not far from Rome, it was, as a rule, the last halting-place of the German emperors on their way to the city, and sometimes they received there the papal legate.

Other bishops were Martinus, or Marinus, who was sent as ambassador to Otho I in 963; Benedictus, who, in 975, became Pope Benedict VII; Bishop Bonitho (Bonizo), historian of the Gregorian epoch, who was driven from his diocese by the anti-papal faction and later was made Bishop of Piacenza.^[1]

Union of dioceses

Due to the limited financial resources of both dioceses, the diocese of Sutri was united to Nepi by Pope Eugenius IV, aeque personaliter, under Bishop Luca de Tartaris, in the Bull "Romana Ecclesia" of 12 December 1435. One bishop wa to be the bishop of Nepi and of Sutri at the same time; their diocesan structure was unchanged. The bishop was to perform ordinations alternately in Nepi and in Sutri, he was to consecrate the holy oils alternately, and when a vacancy occurred, the two cathedral Chapters were to meet together alternately in Sutri and Nepi.^[25]

Diocesan synods were held for Nepi e Sutri in 1671 (in Sutri),^[26] in 1742 (in Nepi),^[27] in 1762,^[28] and in 1795.^[29][30]

Under Pomponius Cesi (1519), who became a cardinal, the cemetery of S. Savinilla was discovered.^[1][31] Antonio Michael Ghislieri, who was bishop for six months in 1556–1557, became Pope Pius V. Bishop Joseph Chianti (1701) founded the seminary.^[32] Camillus Simeoni (1782) was exiled by the French, and after their defeat and expulsion from the Papal States, became a cardinal.^[33]

As the army of the new French Republic were invading Italy to attack Naples, they passed through the diocese of Cività Castellana. The local militia of Sutri attempted to block the vanguard, but were defeated. In retaliation, the French sacked Sutri, and set fire to the cathedral, the episcopal palace, and the chancellery. Rebuilding did not begin until after the return of Pope Pius VII from French exile.^[34]

Diocese of Nepi

Erected: 1st Century
Latin Name: Nepesinus

Diocese of Sutri

Diocese of Nepi e Sutri

United: 12 December 1435 with Diocese of Sutri
Immediately Subject to the Holy See

Titular (arch-)bishops of Nepi

• Felipe Bacarreza Rodriguez (1991–2006)^[111]
• Benedetto Tuzia (2006-2012)^[112]
• René Leigue Cesari (2012-2022)^[113]
• Walter Erbì, titular Archbishop (16 July 2022 – ...)^[114]

Titular (arch-)bishops of Sutri

• Christoph Schönborn, O.P. (1991–1995)^[115]
• Paolo Sardi (1996-2010), Archbishop^[116]
• Antonio Guido Filipazzi (2011 - )^[117]