The Italian Catholic diocese of Narni, in central Italy, was suppressed in 1907, becoming part of the diocese of Terni[1].
Narni is the ancient Nequinum of the Sabines, called Narnia by the Romans. Liutprand captured the town in 726, but Pope Zacharias persuaded him to restore it to the Duchy of Rome in 742, after which it remained under pontifical rule.
Narni venerates as its first bishop the martyr Juvenalis, who died in the second half of the fourth century; St. Maximus, who was bishop in 425, was succeeded by his two sons Hercules and Pancratius. Gregory the Great refers to the bishop St. Cassius, who died in 558; the same pontiff wrote a letter to the bishop Projectinus which shows that, at Narni, at that time, there were still pagans to be converted.
Bishop John (940) was succeeded by his son, who became Pope John XIII; among other bishops were: William, a Franciscan, whom Pope Urban V employed against the Fraticelli (1367); and Raimondo Castelli (1656), founder of the seminary.
From 1198 to 1214, Narni was in rebellion against Pope Innocent III, who temporarily suppressed its episcopal see. The churches of this city contain many paintings of the ancient Umbrian school.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.