Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina

The Italian Catholic diocese of Cesena-Sarsina, in Emilia Romagna, has existed since 1986. In that year the diocese of Sarsina was united into the historic diocese of Cesena. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.^[1]

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 Rudolph of Hapsburg (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 the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.