The Italian Catholic diocese of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche, has existed since the fourth century. Historically immediately dependent on the Holy See, it is now a suffragan of the archdiocese of Fermo.[1]
The traces of this bishopric appear in the fourth century with St. Emidius, martyred under Diocletian and Claudius, present at the Synod of Rimini (Arian Controversy, 359). In the fifth century, Lusentius, who was present at the Synod of Milan which sent the famous letter to Pope Leo I (440-461), was bishop of Ascoli.
One of its bishops, Giulio de' Medici, afterwards became Pope Clement VII (1523-34).[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.