Roman Catholic Diocese of Perpignan-Elne

The Diocese of Perpignan–Elne (Latin: Dioecesis Elnensis; French: Diocèse de Perpignan–Elne; Catalan: Bisbat de Perpinyà–Elna) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France.[1][2] The diocese comprises the Department of Pyrénées-Orientales. This see continues the old Diocese of Elne,[3] which was renamed and had its see relocated at Perpignan, in 1601 after a papal bull of Pope Clement VIII.[4] Its territory brought together the Diocese of Elne, part of the Spanish Diocese of Urgel known as French Cerdagne, three cantons of the Diocese of Alet, and two villages of the Diocese of Narbonne.

Diocese of Perpignan–Elne

Dioecesis Elnensis

  • Diocèse de Perpignan–Elne
  • Bisbat de Perpinyà–Elna
Location
Country France
Ecclesiastical provinceMontpellier
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Montpellier
Statistics
Area4,143 km2 (1,600 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
482,368
315,940 (65.5%)
Parishes231
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established6 October 1822
CathedralCathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Perpignan
Co-cathedralCo-Cathedral of St. Eulalia and St. Julia in Elne
Patron saintSaint John the Baptist
Saint Eulalia
Saint Julia
Secular priests57 (Diocesan)
11 (Religious Orders)
23 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopThierry Scherrer
Metropolitan ArchbishopNorbert Turini
Map
Website
Website of the Diocese
High altar of Perpignan Cathedral

The Diocese of Elne was a suffragan of the Diocese of Narbonne until 1511. Pope Julius II made the Diocese of Elne directly subject to the Holy See in 1511, but on 22 January 1517 Pope Leo X reversed the policy, and the Diocese of Elne became again a suffragan of the Diocese of Narbonne.[5] In 1482, by virtue of a Decree of the Council of Trent, Pope Gregory XIII made it a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tarragona.[6] After 1678 it was again a suffragan of the Diocese of Narbonne.

The department of Pyrénées-Orientales was united in 1802 to the Diocese of Carcassonne. The diocese was to be reestablished by the Concordat of 11 June 1817, but the French Parliament did not approve the treaty. The Diocese of Perpignan was therefore re-established by papal bull in 1822, and was made suffragan to the Archdiocese of Albi. Its see is the Perpignan Cathedral (French: Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Perpignan; Catalan: Catedral de Sant Joan Baptista de Perpinyà).

History

edit

The Diocese of Elne was created in the 6th century. The first known Bishop of Elne was Dominus, mentioned in 571 in the Chronicle of John of Biclarum. Among others are Cardinal Ascanio Maria Sforza (1494–1495), Cardinal Caesar Borgia (1495–1498), Cardinal Francisco Lloris y de Borja (1499–1506), Cardinal Jacques de Serra (1506–1512), Cardinal Girolamo Doria (1530–1533), and Bishop Olympe-Philippe Gerbet (1854–1864).

The Cathedral of Elne (eleventh century) and the adjoining cloister are rich examples of elaborate medieval ornamentation. In the later Middle Ages, and under the influence of Roman Law, Roussillon witnessed revivals of slavery; this is proved by numerous purchase deeds of Muslim and Christian slaves, dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

The diocese honours especially St. Vincent de Collioure, martyr (end of the third century); and St. Eulalia and St. Julia, virgins and martyrs (end of third century). In memory of former ties with the metropolis of Tarragona, the Church of Perpignan honours several Spanish saints: St. Fructuosus, Bishop of Tarragona, and his deacons Augurius and Eulogius, martyred at Tarragona in 259; some martyrs of the Diocletian persecution (end of third century); Justa and Rufina of Seville; Felix and Narcissus of Gerona; Aciselus and Victoria of Cordova; Leocadia, of Toledo; and St. Ildefonsus (607-667), Archbishop of Toledo.

After becoming Bishop of Elne in 1495, Caesar Borgia decided to raise the taxes on the clergy, resulting in an uprising in 1497. Those same taxes were cut in half the following year, after the clergy complained to the king.[7]

The Benedictine Dom Briard (1743–1828), who continued the series of Historiens de France, belonged to Perpignan. At Perpignan Pope Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna) held a council on 1 November 1408, to rally his partisans; they gradually melted away and on 1 February 1409, the eighteen remaining bishops advised the antipope to send ambassadors to Pisa to negotiate with Pope Gregory XII.

Numerous councils were held at Elne: in 1027 (the Synod of Toulouges),[8] 1058, 1114,[9] 1335, 1337, 1338, 1339, 1340, and 1380. The council held in 1027 decreed that no one should attack his enemy from Saturday at nine o'clock to Monday at one; and that Holy Mass be said for the excommunicated for a space of three months, to obtain their conversion. The author of l'Art de verifier les Dates wrongly maintains that the Council of Elvira was held at Elne.

The chief places of pilgrimage of the diocese are: Notre-Dame du Château d'Ultréra, at Sorède; Notre-Dame de Consolation, at Collioure; Notre-Dame de Font Romeu, at Odeillo; Notre-Dame de Forca-Réal, near Millas; Notre-Dame de Juigues, near Rivesaltes; and the relics of Sts. Abdon and Sennen at Arles on the Tech.

Bishops

edit

To 1000

edit
  • Domnus (c. 571)[10]
  • Benenatus (c. 589)[11]
  • Acutulus (c. 633 to 638)
  • Witaricus (c. 656)
  • Clarus[12] (c. 683)
  • Wenedurius (783–788)
  • Ramnon (825–826)
  • Salomó (832–836)
  • Audesinus (860–885)
  • Riculf I (885–915)
  • Almeraldus (Elmerald, Elmerat) (916–920)
  • Wadaldus (Guadaldus de Empuries-Rosselló) (920–947)
  • Riculf II (947–966)
  • Suniarius I (967–977)
  • Hildesindus (979–991)
  • Berenguer de Cerdanya-Besalú[13] (993–994) (son of Oliba Cabreta)
  • Fredelo (994–999)
  • Berenguer de Cerdanya-Besalú (999–1003) (second time)

1000 to 1300

edit
  • Fredelo (1003–1007) (second time)
  • Oliva de Besora (1009–1014)
  • Berenguer III. de Sendred de Gurb[14] (1019–1030)
  • Suniari II. (1031)
  • Berenguer IV. (1032–1053)
  • Artal I. (1054–1061)
  • Suniari III (1062)
  • Ramon I. (1064–1086)
  • Artal II. (1087–1096)
  • Armengol (1097–1111)
  • Petrus Bernardi (Pere Bernat) (1113–1129)
  • Udalgà de Castellnou (1130–1147)
  • Artal III. (1148–1171)
  • Guillem Jordà (1172–1186)
  • Berenguer V. (1187)
  • Guillem de Céret (1187–1197)
  • Artal IV. (1200–1201)
  • Guillem de Ortafa (1202–1209)
  • Ramon de Vilallonga (1212–1216)
  • Gualter[15] (1217–1221)
  • Arnald de Serrallonga (1223–1224)
  • Ramon III. (1225–1229)
  • Bernat de Berga (1230–1259)
  • Berenguer de Cantallops (1259–1280)
  • Bernat de Sala (1280–1281)
  • Berenguer de Sainte-Foi (1282–1289)
  • Ramon de Costa (1289–1310)

1300 to 1500

edit
  • Raimundus Costa (Ramón V)[16] (1311–1312)
  • Guillerm de Castelló, O.S.B. (1313–1317)[17]
  • Berenguer d'Argilaguers (1317–1320)
  • Berenguer Batlle (1320–1332)
  • Guido de Terrena (1332–1342)
  • Pere Seguier (1342–1346)
  • Bernat Hug de Santa Artèmia (1347–1348)
  • Bernat Fournier (1348–1350)
  • Estebe Malet (1350–1351)
  • Francesc de Montoliu (1352–1354)
  • Joan Jouffroi (1354–1357)
  • Ramon de Salgues (1357–1361)
  • Petrus de Flanella (Pere de Planella) (1361–1371)
  • Petrus de Cima, O.Min. (Pere Cima) (1371–1377)
  • Ramon d'Escales (1377–1380)
  • Dalmatius (Dalmaci) (1380–1384)
  • Bartholomeus Peyroni (Bartolomeu Peyró), O.Carm. (1384–1408)[18]
  • Raymond de Castella (Ramon de Descatllar y de Palassol) (1408) (transferred to Gerona)[19]
  • Francisco Ximenes (Francesc Eiximenis), O. Min.[20] (1408–1409)
  • Alphonsus de Tous (Alfons d'Eixea) (1409–1410)[21]
  • Jerònim d'Ocó (1410–1425)
  • Joan de Casanova[22] (1425–1431)
  • Galcerà d'Albert[23] (1431–1453)
  • Joan de Margarit[24] (1453–1462)
  • Antoni de Cardona[25] (1462–1467)
  • Joan Pintor (1468–1470)[26]
  • Charles de Saint-Gelais (Carles de Sant Gelai)[27] (1470–1473)
  • Charles de Martigny (Carles de Martiny)[28] (1475–1494)
  • Ascanio Maria Sforza (1494–1495) (never took possession)
  • Cesar Borja (1495–1498) (never consecrated)
  • Francisco Lloris y de Borja[29] (1499–1506)

From 1500

edit

Bishops of Perpignan

edit
  • Joan de Palau
  • Antonio Gallart y Traginer (1609–1612)
  • Francisco de Vera Villavicencio, O. de la Merced[31] (1613–1616)
  • Federico Cornet (1617)
  • Ramón Ivorra (1617–1618)
  • Rafael Ripoz, O.P. (1618–1620)[32]
  • Francisco de Santjust y de Castro, O.S.B. (1621–1622)
  • Pedro Magarola Fontanet (1622–1627)
  • Francisco López de Mendoza (1627–1629)
  • Gregorio Parcero de Castro, O.S.B. (1630–1634)
  • Gaspar Prieto Orduña, O. de M. (1636–1637)
  • François Perez Roy (Francisco Pérez Roy, Francesc Pères i Roi) (1638–1643) (transferred to Guadix)[33]
    • Joseph du Vivier de Saint-Martin (1643) (Vicar-General, not Bishop)[34]
  • Vacant (1643–1668)
  • Vincent de Margarit, O.P.[35] (1668–1672)
    • Jean-Louis de Bruelh (1673–1675) (Bishop-elect)[36]
    • Jean-Baptiste d`Étampes de Valençay (1675–1680)[37]
  • Louis Habert de Montmort[38] (1682–1695)
  • Jean Hervé Basan de Flamenville (1695–1721)[39]
  • Antoine Boivin de Vaurouy (1721)
  • Vacant (1721–1726)
  • Jean Mathias Barthélemy de Gramont de Lanta (1726–1743)
  • Charles-François-Alexandre de Cardevac D'Havrincourt (1743–1783)
  • Jean Gabriel D’Agay (1783–1788)
  • Antoine-Félix de Leyris D'Esponchez (1788–1790) (1801)
    • Gabriel Deville (1791–1793) (Constitutional Bishop of Pyrénées Orientales)[40]
    • Dominique-Paul Villa (Constitutional Bishop) (1798–1801)[41]
  • Jean-François de Saunhac-Belcastel[42] (1822–1853)
  • Philippe-Olympe Gerbet (1853–1864)
  • Etienne-Emile Ramadié[43] (1864–1876)
  • Joseph-Frédéric Saivet (1876–1877)
  • Jean-Auguste-Emile Caraguel (1877–1885)
  • Noël-Mathieu-Victor-Marie Gaussail (1886–1899)
  • Jules-Louis-Marie de Carsalade du Pont[44] (1899–1932)
  • Henri-Marius Bernard (1933–1959)
  • Joël-André-Jean-Marie Bellec (1960–1971)
  • Henry-Camille-Gustave-Marie L'Heureux (1972–1981)
  • Jean Chabbert, O.F.M. (1982–1996)
  • André Louis Fort (1996–2002)
  • André Marceau (2004–2014)[45]
  • Norbert Turini (18 October 2014 – 9 July 2022)[46]
  • Thierry Scherrer (11 April 2023[47]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Diocese of Perpignan-Elne" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016[self-published source]
  2. ^ "Diocese of Perpignan-Elne" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  3. ^ Or diocese of Elna, Catalan name.
  4. ^ Perpignan-Elne (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy][self-published source]
  5. ^ Gallia christiana VI (1739), Instrumenta, pp. 492-497.
  6. ^ Gallia christiana VI (1739), p. 1030.
  7. ^ Cárdenas, Fabricio (2014). 66 petites histoires du Pays Catalan [66 Little Stories of Catalan Country] (in French). Perpignan: Ultima Necat. ISBN 978-2-36771-006-8. OCLC 893847466.
  8. ^ Kathleen G. Cushing (2005). Reform and the Papacy in the Eleventh Century: Spirituality and Social Change. Manchester UK: Manchester University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7190-5834-9.
  9. ^ The meeting, which was a judicial assembly, summoned by mandate of Pope Paschal II, and presided over by Bishop Petrus Bernardi of Elne, was held on 2 January 1114: J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio Tomus XXV, pp. 90-91.
  10. ^ Jean Capeille, Dictionnaire de biographies roussillonnaises (1914)
  11. ^ He was present at the Third Council of Toledo: Frank Riess (2013). Narbonne and Its Territory in Late Antiquity: From the Visigoths to the Arabs. New York: Routledge. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-317-09070-0.
  12. ^ Bishop Clarus sent his Vicar Veremundus to the Council of Toledo in 683. Gallia christiana VI, p. 1032.
  13. ^ Gallia christiana VI, p. 1038-1039.
  14. ^ Puiggari, pp. 19-21.
  15. ^ As Bishop-elect he was summoned to Rome by Pope Honorius, who planned to sort out the chaos in the Duchy of Narbonne: Rebecca Rist (2009). The Papacy and Crusading in Europe, 1198-1245. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4411-7952-4. Bishop Gualterus was consecrated in Rome by Pope Honorius: Puiggari, p. 41.
  16. ^ Bishop Raymond, under orders from the Archbishop of Narbonne, and with materials and instructions provided by Pope Clement V, conducted trials of the Templars of Mas Deu. The bishop's court exonerated them. Malcolm Barber (2012). The Trial of the Templars. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 237–239. ISBN 978-1-107-39466-7.
  17. ^ Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 238.
  18. ^ Eubel, I, p. 262.
  19. ^ The transfer of Raimundus de Castella from Elne to Gerona was approved in Consistory by Pope Benedict XIII of the Avignon Obedience on 19 December 1408. He died on 5 May 1415: Eubel, I, p. 262. He had been bishop of Elne for less than three months.
  20. ^ Francesc was confessor to King Peter III of Aragon. He was invited by Benedict XIII to the Council of Perpignan in 1408. He was made Patriarch of Jerusalem and Bishop of Elne (19 December 1408). He died on 23 January 1409, after a reign of five weeks. Mary Carruthers; Jan M. Ziolkowski (2003). The Medieval Craft of Memory: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 189. ISBN 0-8122-1881-7.
  21. ^ Alfonso was Canon of Barcelona when his appointment to Elne was approved in Consistory by Benedict XIII on 15 May 1409. He was transferred to the diocese of Vich on 23 May 1410: Eubel, I, p. 526. He had been Bishop of Elne for 53 weeks.
  22. ^ Casanova was named a cardinal on 8 November 1430 by Pope Martin V: Eubel I, p. 34. He received the red hat and the titulus of S. Sisto from Eugenius IV on 11 July 1431. He died in Florence on 1 March 1436.
  23. ^ Francisco José Morales Roca (1999). Prelados, abades mitrados, dignidades capitulares y caballeros de las órdenes militares habilitados por el brazo eclesiástico en las cortes del principado de Cataluña: dinastias de Trastamara y de Austria : siglos XV y XVI (1410-1599) (in Spanish). Vol. Tomo I. Madrid: Ediciones Hidalguia. p. 77. ISBN 978-84-89851-15-3.
  24. ^ Puiggari, pp. 77-78. In March 1458 he was sent by King John II of Aragon to congratulate Pope Pius II on his election. He was named Bishop of Gerona on 23 September 1461: Eubel, II, p. 159.
  25. ^ Puiggari, p. 79. On 15 November 1462 Cardona was named Councillor to the King of France, with an annual pension of 1,500 livres Tournois.
  26. ^ Puiggari, p. 80. Pintor took possession of his diocese in June 1479. He died on 28 February 1470 in the Episcopal Palace in Perpignan.
  27. ^ Puiggari, pp. 80-81. He resigned in 1475, and was named titular bishop of Maragha in Persia: Eubel, II, p. 185
  28. ^ Puiggari, pp. 81-84. Martigny was Louis XI's resident ambassador in England from 1477 to 1480, when he was brought to trial for treason, for having exceeded his powers and signed an unfavorable treaty. It was actually a diplomatic maneuver on the part of Louis XI to avoid acceptance of the treaty: S. H. Cuttler (2003). The Law of Treason and Treason Trials in Later Medieval France. Cambridge University Press. pp. 232–. ISBN 978-0-521-52643-2. He continued his diplomatic work for Louis XI and for Charles VIII.
  29. ^ Salvador Miranda, Librarian Emeritus, Florida International University, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary - Consistory of May 31, 1503 Lloris, a nephew of Pope Alexander VI, acted as Commissary General of the papal armies of Alexander VI for Cesare Borgia.
  30. ^ Eubel, III, p. 192.
  31. ^ Matute y Gaviria, Justino (1886). Memorias de los obispos de Marruecos y demás auxiliares de Sevilla ó que en ella han ejercido funciones episcopales (in Spanish). Sevilla: En la oficina de El Órden. pp. 32–34. He had previously been Auxiliary Bishop of Seville and titular Bishop of Medaura. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 227.
  32. ^ "Bishop Rafael Ripoz, O.P." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016[self-published source]
  33. ^ Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 198: 3 August 1643.
  34. ^ Tolra de Bordas, p. 223. It is said that he was designated by Louis XIII to succeed Perez Roy, but Louis XIII died on 14 May 1643, before the actual vacancy.
  35. ^ Nominated by Louis XIV on 4 May 1668, approved by Clement X on 12 November 1668: Ritzler, V, p. 193.
  36. ^ De Bruelh was appointed by Louis XIV, but he died before ever receiving his bulls of appointment from Rome: Puiggari, p. 114.
  37. ^ He was nominated by Louis XIV, but was transferred to Marseille before he ever visited Perpignan-Elne: Puiggari, p. 115. He is not listed by Ritzler, V, p. 193. In the struggle between Innocent XI and Louis XIV, the Pope was refusing to confirm royal appointments. In addition, the Pope wanted to transfer Elne-Perpignan from being a suffragan to direct control from Rome (Michaud, II, pp. 319-320; III, p. 139). Étampes did not receive his bulls for Marseille until 1682: Ritzler, p. 260, where there is no mention of Elne-Perpignan.
  38. ^ Habert was appointed by Louis XIV on 2 November 1680; he was not consecrated, however, until 12 August 1682, since his bulls were not signed until 12 January 1682: Puiggari, p. 116. Ritzler, V, p. 193.
  39. ^ Bishop Basan was nominated by Louis XIV on 8 September 1695, and approved by Pope Innocent XII in Consistory on 12 December 1695. He died on 5 January 1721. Ritzler, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 194, and n. 4.
  40. ^ Paul Pisani (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils. pp. 396–400. He publicly renounced the Catholic faith on 29 November 1793, and died on 17 May 1796.
  41. ^ Pisani, pp. 400-403. He died in 1814.
  42. ^ His death notice: L'Ami de la religion (in French). Vol. 162. Paris: Librairie Ecclésiastique d'Adrien le Clerc et cie. 1853. p. 682.
  43. ^ Gérard Colvy, "Gallicans et Ultramontains. Mgr. Ramadié successeur de Mgr. Gerber à Perpignan (1864)," Jean-Dominique Durand; Régis Ladous (1992). Histoire religieuse: histoire globale, histoire ouverte : mélanges offerts à Jacques Gadille (in French). Paris: Editions Beauchesne. pp. 301–316, at p. 305. ISBN 978-2-7010-1245-2.
  44. ^ Eugène Cortade (1994). Juli de Carsalade du Pont: bisbe de Perpinyà i defensor de Catalunya (in Catalan). Curial. ISBN 978-84-7256-968-3.
  45. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 06.03.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 09.07.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 11.04.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2022.

Bibliography

edit

Reference works

edit

Studies

edit
edit

42°42′02″N 2°53′44″E / 42.70056°N 2.89556°E / 42.70056; 2.89556

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Perpignan". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.