Diocese of Tivoli

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The Italian Catholic diocese of Tivoli has existed since the second century. In 2002 territory was added to it from the Territorial Abbey of Subiaco. It is subject to the Holy See.^[1]

[edit] History

Tivoli was strongly fortified by Belisarius in the Gothic War, but almost destroyed by Totila in 340. After the Lombard invasion it was in the power of the Byzantines and formed part of the patrimony of St. Peter. It had a count, representing the emperor. In 916 Pope John X won a memorable victory there over the Saracens.

It rebelled at times against the popes, under Emperor Henry IV and Emperor Henry V, and against Pope Innocent II; at other times it fought against the Roman rebels, as under Pope Eugene III and Pope Adrian IV. In the thirteenth century the Senate of Rome succeeded (under Pope Innocent IV) in imposing a tribute on the city, and arrogated to itself the right of appointing a count to govern it in conjunction with the local consuls.

In the fourteenth century it sided with the Guelphs and strongly supported Pope Urban VI against Pope Clement VII. King Ladislaus was twice, and later Braccio da Montone once, repulsed from the city. But its strength was undermined by internal factions, in consequence of which Pope Pius II constructed the fortress which still exists. Pope Alexander VI withdrew it from the jurisdiction of the Roman Senate. In 1527 it was sacked by bands of the supporters of the emperor and the Colonna, important archives being destroyed during the attack. In 1547 it was again occupied by the Duke of Alba in a war against Pope Paul IV, and in 1744 by the Austrians.

The first known bishop was Candidus (465); among his successors were:

Gaulterus (1000), under whom the feast of St. Lawrence, patron of the city, was instituted;
Otto (1148), during whose episcopacy Eugene IV died at Tivoli;
Giovanni da Gabenna O. P. (1337), who died in the odour of sanctity;
Filippo de' Rufini, O. P. (1367), sent by the Romans to Gregory IX to induce him to return to Rome;
Fra Lorenzo, O. M. (1450), reformer of the clergy;
Cardinal Giulio Roma (1634), restorer of the cathedral and founder of the seminary;
Cardinal Marcello di Santacroce (1652), who completed the work of his predecessor;
Gregorio Barnaba Chiaramonti (1782), afterwards Pius VII.