Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino
Encyclopedia
The diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino is a Roman Catholic eccleasistical territory in central Italy
, known as diocese of Massa Marittima before 1978. It is a historic church territory in Tuscany
, suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Siena.
The diocese has an area of 1,200 square kilometres, an overall population of 126,931, a Catholic population of 125,000, 60 priests, 4 permanent deacons, and 82 religious, and the present bishop, appointed on 15 December 2010, is Carlo Ciattini.
, an ancient city of the Etruscans. Populonia was besieged by Sulla, and in Strabo
's time was already declining; later it suffered at the hands of Totila
, of the Lombards
, and in 817 of a Byzantine fleet. After this, the bishops of Populonia abandoned the town, and in the eleventh century, established their residence at Massa
.
In 1226 Massa became a commune under the protection of Pisa
. In 1307 it made an alliance with Siena
, which was the cause of many wars between the two republics.
The first known Bishop of Populonia was Atellus (about 495); another was Saint Cerbonius (546), protector of the city, to whom Saint Gregory refers in his Dialogues. Among the bishops of Massa were Antonio da Massa Marittima (1430), a former minister general of the Franciscans, and legate of Pope Boniface IX
; Leonardo Dati
(1467), author of poetic satires; Alessandro Petrucci (1601), who embellished the cathedral and the episcopal palace; the Camaldolese
Eusebio da Ciani (1719), who governed the diocese for fifty-one years. This see was at first suffragan of Pisa, but since 1458 of Siena.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, known as diocese of Massa Marittima before 1978. It is a historic church territory in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Siena.
The diocese has an area of 1,200 square kilometres, an overall population of 126,931, a Catholic population of 125,000, 60 priests, 4 permanent deacons, and 82 religious, and the present bishop, appointed on 15 December 2010, is Carlo Ciattini.
History
It was first mentioned in the eighth century. It grew at the expense of PopuloniaPopulonia
Populonia or Populonia Alta today is a frazione of the comune of Piombino . As of 2009 its population was 17...
, an ancient city of the Etruscans. Populonia was besieged by Sulla, and in Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
's time was already declining; later it suffered at the hands of Totila
Totila
Totila, original name Baduila was King of the Ostrogoths from 541 to 552 AD. A skilled military and political leader, Totila reversed the tide of Gothic War, recovering by 543 almost all the territories in Italy that the Eastern Roman Empire had captured from his Kingdom in 540.A relative of...
, of the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
, and in 817 of a Byzantine fleet. After this, the bishops of Populonia abandoned the town, and in the eleventh century, established their residence at Massa
Massa
Massa is a town and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, the administrative centre of the province of Massa-Carrara. It is located in the Frigido River Valley, near the Alpi Apuane, some 5 kilometers from the Tyrrhenian Sea....
.
In 1226 Massa became a commune under the protection of Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
. In 1307 it made an alliance with Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, which was the cause of many wars between the two republics.
The first known Bishop of Populonia was Atellus (about 495); another was Saint Cerbonius (546), protector of the city, to whom Saint Gregory refers in his Dialogues. Among the bishops of Massa were Antonio da Massa Marittima (1430), a former minister general of the Franciscans, and legate of Pope Boniface IX
Pope Boniface IX
Pope Boniface IX , born Piero Tomacelli, was the second Roman Pope of the Western Schism from November 2, 1389, until October 1, 1404...
; Leonardo Dati
Leonardo Dati
For other uses of the word Dati, see Dati .Leonardo Dati was an Italian friar and humanist. He was Master general of the Dominican Order from 1414 to his death....
(1467), author of poetic satires; Alessandro Petrucci (1601), who embellished the cathedral and the episcopal palace; the Camaldolese
Camaldolese
The Camaldolese monks and nuns are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century...
Eusebio da Ciani (1719), who governed the diocese for fifty-one years. This see was at first suffragan of Pisa, but since 1458 of Siena.