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Volterra was an ancient Etruscan town, later conquered by the Romans.
According to the Liber Pontificalis, Volterra was the birthplace of St. Linus,[3] the immediate successor of St. Peter.[4] Nothing is known of its Christian origins. Justus (560), along with his brother Clement and Ottaviano, is one of the three patrons of the diocese of Volterra, and was involved in the Schism of the Three Chapters.[5]
In the Carolingian period it belonged to the Marquisate of Tuscany; with the approval of Henry, son of Frederick Barbarossa, its governance passed into the hands of the bishop, until his temporal authority was suspended by the commune. In the wars or factions of the 13th century, Volterra, being Ghibelline, was continually embroiled with the Florentines, who captured it in 1254, but won permanent control only in 1361.
The diocese of Volterra was immediately subject to the Holy See until 1856, when it became a suffragan of Pisa.
Diocesan synods
A diocesan synod was an irregularly held but important meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purposes were to proclaim the various decrees already issued by the bishop, to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy, and to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See.[6]
Bishop Guido Servidio (1574–1598) presided over a diocesan synod in the cathedral of Volterra on 8–10 May 1590, and had the constitutions of the meeting published.[7] Bishop Orazio degli Albizzi (1655–1676) held a diocesan synod on 2 October 1657, and published the acts;[8] he held another synod on 11 November 1674.[9] A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Ottavio del Rosso (1681–1714) in the cathedral on 14–15 June 1684, the acts of which were published.[10] He held his second synod in the cathedral of Volterra on 26–27 April 1690; its decrees were also published.[11]
^This is the claim of Umberto Benigni in the Catholic Encyclopedia, though the Liber Pontificalis actually says only that Linus was a Tuscan.
^Lanzoni, p. 559, discounts the story: "Il Lib. Pontificalis chiama Linus, successore di s. Pietro, « natione
italiis, regionis Tusciae ». Tali notizie del famoso documento, come altre volte si è detto, hanno assai poco credito."
^Ughelli I, p. 1427, places Justus second in his list of bishops, before Elpidius, and therefore before 496. Leoncini, p. 235, gives Justus the date of 530, and connects his flight from Africa with the persecution of orthodox Christians by Arians. Lanzoni, pp. 559-562. See J. Stilting's critical comments on the chronology, in: Joannes Pinius; Joannes Stilting; Joannes Limpenius (1756). Acta Sanctorum Septembris (in Latin). Vol. Tomus I. Venice: Sebastian Colet. pp. 389–409, at 391. See also: Godofredus Henschen; Daniel van Papenbroeck; François Baert (1695). Acta sanctorum Junii (in Latin). Vol. Tomus I. Antwerp: ex typographia Henrici Thieullier. pp. 437–451.
^Orazio degli Albizzi, Constitutiones et decreta edita in synodo Volterrana, die 11 mensis septembris 1674, Illustriss. et rev(erendissi)mo in Christo pat. et d.d. Horatio de Albizis ...episcopo Volaterrano... Senis: ex typographia Publici MDCLXXV. (in Latin)
^Eumantius is mentioned in a letter of Pope Gelasius I of 496. Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 213-215. Lanzoni, p. 563.
^Opilio is mentioned in a letter of Pope Gelasius I of 496. Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 213-215. Lanzoni, p. 563.
^In 495, Bishop Eucharistius was summoned to Rome by Pope Gelasius I to answer charges laid by Faustus; having failed to appear in the allotted time, he was suspended from office. Bishop Eucharistius was deposed in the Roman synod of 496, due to simony. Kehr III, pp. 280-281, nos. 1-3. Lanzoni, p. 563, no. 3.
^In 496, Pope Gelasius criticized Elpidius for planning a trip to Ravenna without proper canonical consultation. He was present at the Roman synods of 501 and 502. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 215. Kehr, p. 281-282, no. 4-6. Lanzoni, p. 563, no. 4.
^Bishop Leo is mentioned by Ughelli, p.. 1427, but he provides no documentation. Lanzoni, p. 564.
^Bishop Geminianus attended the Lateran council of Pope Martin I in 649. Ughelli X, p. 18. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus (10) (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 866.
^Bishop Tommaso is mentioned in a bull of Pope Stephen II of 20 June 1752 (according to Cappelletti) or 19 May 1752 (according to Kehr), in favor of the Church of Arezzo. Thomas was one of three local bishops appointed by Pope Zacharias to settle a dispute between the bishops of Arezzo and Siena. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 217. Kehr Italia pontificia III, p. 147, nos. 4-5.
^The name of Bishop Andreas occurs only in connection with the transfer of the remains of S. Octavianus the Hermit to the cathedral of Volterra. It is found in the sixth reading in the special Office approved by Pope Leo X in 1519: "Dicitur ibi Andreas episcopus Volaterranus supra Sancti corpus, in cathedralem Volaterranum translatum, aram erexisse." Joannes Limpinus remarks that the year was 822, and points out that the text is full of anachronisms. Jean Pien; Jean Stiltingh; Jean Van De Velde (1746). Acta Sanctorum Septembris (in Latin). Vol. Tomus primus. Antwerp: Apud Bernardum Albertum Vander Plassche. p. 396, column 1. Cf. Lanzoni, p. 562. Scipione Ammirato claims that Bishop Andrea began his forty year reign in 760, that he transferred the remains of S. Ottaviano, and that he instituted those Canons of the cathedral Chapter called the "Canons of S. Ottaviano", all without reference to proof; his dates would make a transfer of the remains in 822 impossible: Scipione Ammirato (1637). Vescovi di Fiesole, di Volterra e d'Arezzo (in Italian). Firenze: A. Massi. p. 66.
^Bishop Grippo was granted privileges by the Emperor Louis I, in a charter dated 21 October 821. He confirms privileges granted by Charlemagne. A. Fanta, "Unedierte diplome, II," in: Mittheilungen des Instituts für Oesterreichische Geschichtsforschung (in German). Vol. V. Wien: Wagner'sche Universitätsbuchhandlung. 1884. pp. 381, no. 2.
^Bishop Petrus "Bolaterrense" was present at the Roman synod of Pope Eugenius II on 15 November 826. Cappelletti believed that he served until c. 845. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus decimus quartus (14) (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1000. Cappelletti XVIII, p. 217.
^Andreas: Cappelletti XVIII, pp. 217-219. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 2-3, nos. 6-7.
^Gauginus: Ughelli I, pp. 1428-1429. Cappelletti, pp. 219-222. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, p. 3, nos. 8-9.
^Pope Stephen V prohibited neighboring bishops from receiving into their dioceses or consecrating clerics of Volterra without commendatory letters from Bishop Petrus. Kehr III, p. 282, nos. 8-9.
^Alboinus: Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 4-5, nos. 12-15.
^Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 5-7, nos. 16-22.
^Cappelletti, p. 222, divides Petrus into two persons, with Benedictus in between, based on a document of Benedictus allegedly dated 983. That document is misdated. Schwartz, p. 223.
^Gunfredus ruled the Church of Volterra for 23 years, indicating that he became bishop in 1015 or 1016. He died on 26 August 1039. Cappelletti, pp. 222-224. Schwartz, p. 224. Ughelli mistakenly presents Bishop Guido in 1034.
^His family, of Lombard origins, were originally county officials from Bergamo. Rogerius was the son of Heinrich (Errico), the son of Heinrich, Count of Crema. In 1123 Gisalbertini was named Archbishop of Pisa, which he held concurrently with Volterra. He died in 1132. Schwartz, p. 224. M. L. Ceccarelli Lemut, "Ruggero, vescovo di Volterra e arcivescovo di Pisaall’inizio del XII secolo,", pp. 53-71. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), "«Episcopus vulterranus est dominus»," pp. 96-115.
^Crescentius: Leoncini, pp. 250-251. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, pp. 57-58, nos. 163-164. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 116-123.
^Odimarus: Leoncini, p. 251. Schneider, Regestum Volaterranum, p. 58, no. 165. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 124-127.
^Galganus: Leoncini, pp. 251-252. Jacopo Paganelli (2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 128-152.
^Jacopo Paganelli(2015), «Episcopus vulterranus est dominus», pp. 153-167.
^Belforti had been a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Volterra. He was named Bishop of Volterra by Pope Boniface VIII on 22 December 1301. He died on 26 November 1320. R. S. Maffei (1923), La cacciata di Ranieri Belforti, Vescovo di Volterra, dalla terra di Casole d’Elsa (31 Marzo 1314), Caserta, Tip. Marino Fu S. (in Italian). Eubel I, p. 536.
^Allegretti had been parish priest of Morba. He was elected, and provided by Pope John XXII on 9 February 1321. He was consecrated a bishop on 21 February by Gaillard, Bishop of Arles. In 1329, the antipope Nicholas V attempted to depose him and appoint a successor. He died in 1348. Eubel I, p. 536 with note 5.
^Belforti was a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Volterra. On 10 July 1348 (Leoncini says it was 1349), Belforti was appointed Bishop of Volterra by Pope Clement VI, though he was still only in minor orders. He held a diocesan synod on 10 November 1356. He died on 20 August 1358. Leoncini, p. 264-265. Eubel I, p. 536.
^Chiati (Corti) was appointed bishop by Pope Clement VI on 3 October 1358, but he was still bishop-elect on 22 June 1359 and on 20 July 1361, when he was serving as Treasurer General of the Holy Roman Church in Italy. He was named Bishop of Bologna on 18 August 1361, still unconsecrated. Leoncini, p. 265. Eubel I, pp. 141, 536
^A member of a leading noble family of Florence, Corsini held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and served as Auditor Causarum in the papal Curia. He had been parish priest of the parish of S. Maria de Monte Unguario (diocese of Fiesole). On 1 September 1363, Corsini was transferred to the diocese of Florence by Pope Urban V. He was appointed a cardinal on 7 June 1370. On 30 September 1381, he moved to Avignon, and died in Avignon on 16 August 1405. Leoncini, p. 266. Eubel I, pp. 21, with notes 6 and 7; 250; 536 with note 6.
^Cordoni (Cudon) was named Bishop of Volterra on 11 December 1363, by Pope Urban V. He was transferred to the diocese of Tricarico by Pope Gregory XI on 19 December 1373. Leoncini, p. 266. Eubel I, pp. 497, 536.
^A native of Cagli in the Papal States, Lucio had been Bishop of Cesena. He was transferred to the diocese of Volterra on 9 January 1374 by Pope Gregory XI. He died in 1374 or 1375. The see was vacant on 12 February 1375. Leoncini, p. 266. Eubel I, p. 536.
^A native of Reggio, Pagani had been priest of the parish of S. Stefano Camponi (diocese of Florence), and became an Auditor of the Roman Rota (judge). He was named bishop of Volterra by Pope Gregory XI on 14 March 1375. He was transferred to the diocese of Forli in 1384 by Urban VI. He died on 13 January 1391. Leoncini, p. 267-268. Eubel I, pp. 253, 536.
^Cipolloni: Leoncini, p. 268-269. Eubel I, p. 536.
^Ricci was a doctor of Canon Law, and was a Canon and Vicar General of Florence. he was named Bishop of Volterra by Pope Boniface IX on 24 May 1396. He died after 8 February 1398, and before 1 June. Leoncini, p. 269. Eubel I, p. 536.
^Aliotti was a native of Prato. He had been titular Archbishop of Athens, and was transferred to Volterra by Pope Boniface IX on 1 June 1398. On 6 April 1399, he was appointed collector of papal revenues in England, and was absent until 1404. He died on 6 April 1411. Leoncini, p. 269-270. Eubel I, p. 536, with note 10.
^Spini was a Canon of Prato, Prior of S. Donnino at Brozzi, Prior of S. Apollinaire, Prior of the Church of S. Paolo in Florence, and, from 1405, a Canon of the cathedral of Florence. He was Treasurer General of John XXIII, who appointed him Bishop of Volterra on 15 April 1411. He died on 2 August 1411. Salvino Salvini, Catalogo cronologico de' canonici della chiesa metropolitana di Firenze (Firenze 1782), no. 277. Leoncini, p. 270. Eubel I, p. 536.
^Stefano Alioti was a native of Prato, son of Geri and nephew of Bishop Lodovico. He was a Canon of Pistoia. He held the offices of Registrator of apostolic letters and papal chamberlain under John XXIII and Alexander V. On 27 August 1411, he was appointed Bishop of Volterra by Pope John XXIII, but he did not take possession of his diocese until March 1412. In the autumn of 1433, he was in Rome, where he was Registrator of Apostolic Letters for Pope Eugenius IV, from which post he became Vicar of the city of Rome in 1434. He died in Rome on 10 September 1435. Leoncini, p. 271. Eubel I, p. 536, with note 12.
^A Canon of Florence, Ademari was a doctor of Canon Law. He was appointed Bishop of Volterra in 1435, making his financial arrangements with the papal Treasury on 24 October 1435. On 26 April 1459, he was appointed Bishop of Montefeltro, which he resigned in 1484. Leoncini, p. 272. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica II, pp. 153, 270.
^On 22 March 1462, Diotisalvi was transferred to the diocese of Florence by Pope Pius II. He died in 1473. Leoncini, 273-274. Eubel II, pp. 154, 271.
^Guigni was a Canon of the cathedral of Volterra, and a Canon of the collegiate church of S. Paolo in Florence. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and held the office of Protonotary Apostolic. He was appointed Bishop of Volterra on 22 March 1462. he built a hospital for the incurables in Volterra. He died in Florence on 25 April 1470. Leoncini, p. 274. Eubel II, p. 271 with note 2.
^Agli had been Bishop of Fiesole. He was transferred to the diocese of Volterra by Pope Paul II on 30 April 1470. He died in 1477. Leoncini, pp. 274-275. Eubel II, p. 271.
^Soderini was the brother of the Gonfaloniere of Florence, Pier Soderini. He was named Administrator of the diocese of Volterra on 11 March 1478 at the age of 24, being below the canonical age for consecration as a bishop. He was several times an ambassador of Florence to the pope. He governed Volterra through Vicars General, first Marco Strozzi and then Pietro Giachini. He was named a cardinal in 1503 by Pope Alexander VI. He resigned the diocese on 23 May 1509, in favor of his nephew, Giuliano. He died in Rome on 17 May 1521. Leoncini, pp. 275-277. Eubel II, p. 271 with note 3.
^Soderini was the nephew of Cardinal Francesco Soderini. On 12 June 1514, Soderini was transferred to the diocese of Saintes by Pope Leo X. Eubel III, p. 338.
^A nephew of Pope Leo X and a former Canon of Florence, Cardinal Salviati was appointed administrator in consistory on 20 July 1530 by Pope Clement VII. He governed through a Vicar, Andrea Picchinesi, since he was not yet a consecrated bishop. He was simultaneously Administrator of three other dioceses: Teano, Santa Severina, and Bitetto. He resigned upon the appointment of a new bishop, on 15 March 1532, but he retained the right to return in the event of a vacancy, and he claimed one-half of the bishop's income. He died on 27 October 1553. Leoncini, p. 280 (who claims that Bishops Sirtori and Nerli were his coadjutors). Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 337 with note 5.
^Serti was a member of the family of the Counts of Sertori of Modena. He had been Provost of Casole, and chamberlain of Pope Julius II, who appointed him Archbishop of Santa Severina on 28 March 1509. He was appointed Abbot Commendatory of the monastery of Nonantola in 1510, of S. Vincent in Volterra, of S. Maria de Frassinaria. Under Pope Leo X he was governor of Caesena, Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia. He served as Commissary of the papal army in Ravenna during the German invasion. He was transferred to the diocese of Volterra by Pope Clement VII on 15 March 1532, and took possession of his cathedral on 22 March. He died at S. Silverstro di Nonantola, to which he had retired, in 1545. Ughelli I, pp. 1460-1461. Leoncini, p. 280. Eubel III, pp. 298 with note 3; 337 with note 6.
^Nerli was only Administrator until he reached the canonical age of 27 for consecration as a bishop. Leoncini, p. 281. Eubel III, p. 337 with note 7.
^Strozzi held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. Leoncini, pp. 281-282. Eubel III, p. 337 with note 8.
^A member of the aristocracy of Arezzo, Saracini was learned in the law, and was a consultor of Pope Gregory XIII. He was appointed Bishop of Volterra on 15 January 1574, and immediately announced the beginning of a pastoral visitation of his diocese. He died after eight months in office, on 21 September, at the age of 39. Leoncini, p. 283. Eubel III, p. 337.
^Servidio held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. A Canon of Volterra, and Provost of the cathedral of Florence, Servidio served as Vicar General of the Archbishop. He then became a papal diplomat, was appointed Bishop of Volterra on 8 October 1574. He died in Florence on 1 May 1598. Leoncini, p. 283-285. Eubel III, p. 337.
^Buonamici: Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 445 with note 4.
^Alliata was named Bishop of Volterra by Pope Pius VI on 19 December 1791. On 6 October 1806, Alliata was transferred to the diocese of Pisa by Pope Pius VII. He died on 11 August 1836. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 445 with note 5; VII, pp. 307.
^Born in Prato in 1789, Baldanzi was appointed Bishop of Volterra on 10 April 1851. On 28 September 1855, Baldanzi was transferred to the diocese of Siena by Pope Pius IX. Leoncini, p. 296. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 595.
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