The Bishops of the Diocese of Lucca

The legacy of Christian charity and works of mercy

The Diocese of Lucca, in addition to being a spiritual hub, has always kept alive the tradition of charity, embodied by its bishops and prolonged to the present day through contemporary initiatives. One of the most significant expressions of this spirit is the work of spazio + spadoni, an institution that, based at the Convent of San Cerbone, is dedicated to the promotion of works of mercy.

In close continuity with Lucca’s Christian heritage, spazio + spadoni rediscovers and revitalizes the practice of these works both locally and internationally, supporting missions and projects that aim to alleviate suffering and spread Christian love.

The works of mercy, at the heart of Lucca’s Gospel message and tradition, are manifested not only through caring for the poor and the sick, but also in welcoming the marginalized and supporting those in need. The mission of spazio + spadoni is a tangible testimony to the continuity between the past and the present, uniting the history of the diocese with the needs of the contemporary world.

The Archdiocese of Lucca covers most of the territory of the province, with some exceptions that underscore the historical complexity of its delimitation. These include part of the municipality of Altopascio, particularly the hamlet of Badia Pozzeveri, and Montecarlo, territories belonging to the diocese of Pescia. Other territories outside the archdiocese of Lucca include the municipalities of Barga, Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, Seravezza and part of Stazzema, which belong to the archdiocese of Pisa. There is also an interesting peculiarity related to the western portion of the municipality of Pescia, which, although located in the province of Pistoia, is under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Lucca, including parishes of great spiritual importance such as Collodi, Veneri, and others in the Valleriana area.

The archiepiscopal see is located in the heart of the city of Lucca, the ancient capital and symbol of the Catholic faith in the region. The territory of the diocese is divided into 362 parishes, grouped into 11 pastoral zones, each with its own identity and vocation, but united under the leadership of the archdiocese’s pastor.

A millennial legacy of faith

The diocese of Lucca has had a long and rich history, evidenced by the succession of its bishops who, from the first century to the present day, have left an indelible imprint on the spiritual, cultural and civic development of the Lucca community.

From its beginnings, with St. Paulinus, the first bishop of the diocese and founding figure of the Church of Lucca, the bishops of Lucca have embodied the spirit of Christian service and charity, following the example of the saints. Prominent among them are figures such as St. Frediano, bishop and patron of the city, known for his pastoral efforts and his legendary intervention to divert the course of the Serchio River, a symbol of both his spiritual and practical charisma.

Many other bishops have helped strengthen and broaden the diocese’s influence through periods of great challenge and growth, right up to the present day with current Archbishop Paolo Giulietti. The succession of bishops has forged the identity of the diocese not only as a center of faith, but also as the custodian of a thousand-year-old spiritual tradition that has withstood the changes of history.

List of bishops of Lucca

The following is a list of the bishops who have led the diocese over the centuries, from its founding to the present. Each name represents a period of growth, reflection and deep pastoral commitment:

• Saint Paulinus † (1st century)
• Saint Valerius †[4]
• Maximus † (mentioned c. 343)[5]
• Saint Theodore † (before the 7th century)[6]
• Lawrence † (mentioned c. 556)[7]
• Ossequentius †[8]
• Saint Fredian † (? – before 593 deceased)[9]
• Valerian †[10]
• Paterno † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Pisano † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Vindicius † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Probinus † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Aurelian † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Nunnosius † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Dicentius † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Aventius † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Abbundacius † (between 3rd and 7th centuries)
• Leto † (mentioned in 649)
• Eleutherius † (mentioned in 680)
• Felix † (before 685 – after 686)
• Balsarius † (mentioned in 700)
• Talesperian † (before 713/714 – after December 729)
• Walprand † (before 737 – after 754)
• Peredeus † (before September 755 – after February 779)
• John I † (before September 781 – after November 800)
• Jacopo I † (before July 801 – July-November 818 deceased)
• Peter I † (before June 819 – after January 834)
• Berengar I † (before November 837 – after June 843)
• Ambrose † (before December 843 – after February 852)
• Jeremiah Aldobrandeschi † (before December 852 – after November 867)
• Gherardo I † (before June 869 – after November 895)
• Peter II † (before October 896 – after October 932)
• Conrad † (before May 935 – after April 964)
• Aghino † (mentioned in 967)
• Adalongo † (before August 968 – after June 978)
• Guido I † (before February 979 – after October 981)
• Teudigrimo † (before May 983 – after May 987)
• Isalfredo † (before April 988 – after December 989)
• Gherard II † (before January 991 – after June 1003)
• Rodilando † (mentioned in 1005)
• Grimizzo † (before March 1014 – October 22, 1022 deceased)
• John II † (before September 1023 – May 28, 1056 deceased)
• Anselm I † (before March 23, 1057 – April 21, 1073 deceased) (in 1061 elected pope as Alexander II)
• Saint Anselm II † (April or May 1073 Appointed – 18 Mar 1086 Died)
• Gottifredo † (before 4 Jul 1091 Appointed – 28 Feb ? Died)
• Rangerio † (before 18 Aug 1097 Appointed – 25 Jan 1112 Died)
• Rudolf † (before 18 May 1112 Appointed – 1 Dec 1118 Died)
• Benedict I † (1 Dec 1118 Appointed – 15 Jan 1128 Died)
• Hubert † (before 3 Mar 1128 – after 7 Aug 1135 deposed)
• Guy II † (mentioned 1138)
• Otto † (before Sep 1139 – after Jul 1146 Died)
• Gregory † (before 9 Feb 1147 Appointed – 26 Feb 1164 Died)
• Pievano † (before 1159 – after 1166) (antibishop)
• Lando † (before 19 Dec 1167 – after 28 Jan 1176) (antibishop)
• William I † (before 1170 Appointed – after 23 Mar 1194 Died)
• Guy III † (before 18 May 1194 Appointed – 9 May 1202 Died)
• Robert † (before 31 Aug 1202 Appointed – 21 Sep 1225 Died)
• Ricciardo † (September 1225 – deceased ca. 1225) (bishop-elect)[11]

   

• Opizzone † (before Apr 1228 – 1231 deposed)
• See vacant (1231-1236)[12]

   

• Guercio Tebalducci † (12 Dec 1236 Appointed – 22 Nov 1256 Died)
• Henry I † (22 Nov 1256 Appointed – 21 Oct 1269 Died)
• Pietro Angiorello, O.P. † (21 Oct 1269 Appointed – 18 May 1274 Died)[13]

   

• Paganello da Porcari † (9 or 11 Aug 1274 Appointed – 9 Feb 1300 Died)
• Henry II, O.F.M. † (1 Aug 1300 Appointed – Aug 1323 Died)
• Guglielmo di Montalbano, O.P. † (26 Jan 1330 Appointed – 8 Apr 1349 Died)
• Berengar Blaxini † (21 Oct 1349 Appointed – 14 Jan 1368 Died)
• Guglielmo Lodart † (17 Aug 1368 Appointed – 16 Jun 1373 Died)
• Paolo Gabrielli † (9 Jan 1374 Appointed – 10 Sep 1380 Died)
• Antonio da Riparia † (29 Oct 1380 Appointed – 16 Aug 1383 Died)
• Giovanni Salvucci, O.F.M. † (9 Oct 1383 Appointed – 24 Sep 1393 Died)
• Niccolò Guinigi † (31 Jan 1394 Appointed – 15 Nov 1435 Died)
• Lodovico Maulini † (23 Dec 1435 Appointed – 24 Oct 1440 Died)
• Baldassarre Manni † (30 Jan 1441 Appointed – 18 Jan 1448 Died)
• Stefano Trenta † (4 Mar 1448 Appointed – 18 Sep 1477 Died)
• Giacomo Ammannati Piccolomini † (24 Sep 1477 Appointed – 10 Sep 1479 Died) (apostolic administrator)
• Niccolò Sandonnini † (15 Nov 1479 Appointed – 19 Jul 1499 Died)
• Felino Sandei † (19 Jul 1499 Succeeded – Nov 1499 Resigned)
• Giuliano della Rovere † (Nov 1499 Appointed – 29 Aug 1501 Resigned)
• Felino Sandei † (29 Aug 1501 Appointed – 6 Sep 1503 Died) (2nd time)
• Galeotto Franciotti della Rovere † (October or November 1503 – 11 Sep 1508[14] Died)
• Sisto Gara della Rovere † (11 Sep 1508 Appointed – 4 Mar 1517 Resigned) (Apostolic Administrator)
• Leonardo Grosso della Rovere † (4 Mar 1517 Appointed – 9 Mar 1517 Resigned)
• Raffaele Riario della Rovere † (9 Mar 1517 Appointed – 13 Nov 1517 Resigned) (Apostolic Administrator)
• Francesco Riario-Sforza † (13 Nov 1517 Appointed – May 1546 Died)
• Bartolomeo Guidiccioni † (26 May 1546 Appointed – 4 Nov 1549 Died)
• Alessandro Guidiccioni the Elder † (4 Nov 1549 Succeeded – 1600 Resigned)
• Alessandro Guidiccioni the Younger † (27 Nov 1600 Appointed – 16 Mar 1637 Died)
• Marcantonio Franciotti † (30 Mar 1637 Appointed – 31 Jul 1645 Resigned)
• Giavanbattista Rainoldi † (31 Jul 1645 Appointed – 26 Dec 1649 Died)
• Pietro Rota † (27 Jun 1650 Appointed – 12 Feb 1657 Died)
• Girolamo Buonvisi † (28 May 1657 Appointed – 20 Feb 1677 Died)
• Giulio Spinola † (8 Nov 1677 Appointed – 25 Sep 1690 Resigned)
• Francesco Buonvisi † (27 Sep 1690 Appointed – 22 Aug 1700 Died)
• Orazio Filippo Spada † (15 Dec 1704 Appointed – 17 Jan 1714 Appointed, Archbishop, personal title, of Osimo)
• Genesio Calchi † (28 May 1714 Appointed – 20 Jan 1720 Died)
• Bernardino Guinigi † (20 Dec 1723 Appointed – 13 Jan 1729 Died)
• Tommaso Cervioni † (7 Feb 1729 Appointed – 21 May 1731 Resigned & Appointed Titular Bishop of Porfireone)
• Fabio di Colloredo, C.O. † (19 Nov 1731 Appointed – 15 Nov 1742 Died)
• Giuseppe Palma † (28 Jan 1743 Appointed – 31 Oct 1761 Died)
• Vincenzo Torre † (5 Feb 1762 Appointed – 11 Mar 1763 Died) (Archbishop-elect)
• Giovanni Domenico Mansi, O.M.D. † (9 Apr 1764 Appointed – 27 Sep 1769 Died)
• Martino Bianchi † (12 Mar 1770 Appointed – 26 Dec 1788 Died)
• Paolino Francesco Bertolini † (1789 – 1789 resigned) (archbishop-elect)
• Filippo Sardi † (3 Aug 1789 Appointed – 8 Mar 1826 Died)
• Giuseppe De Nobili † (3 Jul 1826 Appointed – 29 Mar 1836 Died)
• Giovanni Domenico Stefanelli, O.P. † (11 Jul 1836 Appointed – 18 Dec 1844 Resigned)
• Pierluigi Pera † (21 Apr 1845 Appointed – 8 Jul 1846 Died)
• See vacant (1846-1849)
• Giulio Arrigoni † (5 Nov 1849 Appointed – 10 Jan 1875 Died)
• Nicola Ghilardi † (15 Mar 1875 Appointed – 20 Jul 1904 Died)
• Benedetto Lorenzelli † (14 Nov 1904 Appointed – 29 Apr 1910 Resigned)
• Arturo Marchi † (29 Apr 1910 Appointed – 4 Feb 1928 Died)
• Antonio Torrini † (15 Jun 1928 Appointed – 20 Jan 1973 Died)
• Enrico Bartoletti † (20 Jan 1973 Succeeded – 25 Mar 1973 Resigned)
• Giuliano Agresti † (25 Mar 1973 Appointed – 18 Sep 1990 Died)
• Bruno Tommasi † (20 Mar 1991 Appointed – 22 Jan 2005 Retired)
• Benvenuto Italo Castellani (22 January 2005 succeeded – 19 January 2019 retired)
• Paolo Giulietti, from 19 January 2019

Photo

• Image created digitally by spazio+spadoni

Source

• “L’Episcopato lucchese dall’anno 46 al 1996”
• Wikipedia