Diocese of Bagnoregio

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The diocese of Bagnoregio is a former Roman Catholic territory in the Lazio, Italy.

[edit] History

According to tradition, St. Ansanus preached the Gospel here in the third century, and the church of Santa Maria delle Carceri outside the Alban Gate was said to have been built above the prison in which he was confined. There are no records as to the date of the erection of the diocese but St. Gregory the Great is authority for the statement that about the year 600 the deacon John was appointed bishop of this see.

Up to the time of pope Urban V, Montefiascone was part of the Diocese of Bagnorea (Bagnoregio's Latin name), but was made by this pontiff the seat of a new diocese. Ferdinando Ughelli, without any documentary proof, claims the Diocese of Bagnorea was joined to the Diocese of Viterbo on 4 February, 1449, but neglects to mention when they were reestablished as separate dioceses.

On September 30, 1986 it was one of several former bishoprics to be suppressed and merged into the neighbouring Diocese of Viterbo e Tuscania which then took the name of Diocese of Viterbo, Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Montefiascone, Tuscania e San Martino al Monte Cimino, in 1991 again shortened to Bishopric of Viterbo.