Roman Catholic Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina

The Italian Catholic diocese of Cesena-Sarsina, in Emilia Romagna is created on September 30, 1986, after the diocese of Sarsina was united with the historic diocese of Cesenaas a suffragan of the archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.^[1]

The current bishop of Cesena-Sarsina is Douglas Regattieri. He was appointed on October 8, 2010 after Bishop Antonio Lanfranchi was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola by the Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

History

Cesena was the ancient Cæsena. After the overthrow of the Ostrogoths it became a part of the exarchate. By the Donation of Pepin (752) it became the fief of the Holy See, which was confirmed in its possession by King Rudolph of Habsburg (1278).

In medieval times it was governed by various families, among them the Ordelaffi di Forli and the Malatesta, the latter being remembered for their justice and good government. After the death of Cesare Borgia, Cesena, with the rest of Romagna, acknowledged the immediate authority of the Holy See (1503).

Among its bishops were:

• St. Maurus (d. 946);
• Gian Battista Acciaioli (1332), exiled by Francesco degli Ordelaffi;
• Gregorio Malesardi (1408), who built the cathedral;
• Jacopo (1379), under whom occurred the massacre ordered by the antipope Clement VII;
• the Dominican Vincenzo Maria Orsini, later Benedict XIII.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Catholic Hierarchy page
2. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia article

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.