Chiavari became an episcopal see in 1892, but until 1896 it was administered by Tommaso Reggio, the Archbishop of Genoa, to which diocese it originally belonged, through his auxiliary bishop and vicar general, Fortunato Vinelli, titular bishop of Epiphania (Cilicia, Ottoman Empire).[3] The first bishop of Chiavari was Fortunato Vinelli.[4] He was officially transferred from Genoa to the diocese of Chiavari by Pope Leo XIII on 29 March 1896.[5]
The creation of a new diocese, a rare event in the modern Church in Italy, was a solution to the rapid growth of population in Genoa due to industrialization.[6] In the bull Romani Pontifices Pope Leo notes that the city of Chiavari had a population surpassing 12,000, and that requests for the creation of a diocese also came from Rapalla, Lavania, and Santa Margharita. In fact, pressure had been building for more than a decade. A not inconsequential factor, as the Pope admits, came from the testamentary bequest in 1884 of one-third of the estate of Francesco Bancalari, a priest of Chiavari, which was earmarked for the creation of a diocese of Chiavari, if and when the Holy See acted positively.[7] A final consideration, as far as timing was concerned, was the death of the Archbishop of Genoa, Salvatore Magnasco, on 12 January 1892. Arrangements could be made for the new diocese with a new archbishop, who was appointed on 11 July, without insult or diminution of the status and powers of the recently deceased Archbishop.
The first diocesan synod was held by Bishop Vinelli in 1899, with 240 priests participating. The second synod was held by Bishop Casabona in 1921, and the third on 17–19 October 1933. The Fourth Diocesan Synod was held by Bishop Daniele Ferrari in 1987.[8]
On 5 July 1899 the new seminary, named in honor of Leo XIII, was blessed by Archbishop Reggio of Genoa. The old seminary had been established by the Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini (1819–1830).
Cathedral and Chapter
The church which was designated as the new cathedral was built between 1613 and 1633 as a shrine for the image of the Virgin Mary which was given credit for stopping the pestilence of 1493. Administration of the church was put in the hands of the Discalced Carmelites, until all religious orders were suppressed under orders of the French occupation authorities in 1797. A reconstruction was begun in 1823, with a façade designed by an architect called Luigi Poletti.[9] The new façade and pronaos of the Cathedral was blessed by Cardinal Andrea Ferrari in 1907.
In accordance with the bull of erection of Leo XIII, the Cathedral Chapter was to consist of ten Canons. It was to be presided over by a Provost, and there was to be a Canon Theological and a Canon Penitentiary.[10] The cathedral was granted the status of a minor basilica by Pope Pius X on 27 November 1904.[11]
The current bishop is Giampio Luigi Devasini, appointed on 10 April 2021 by Pope Francis.
The diocese has 139 parishes, all within the province of Genoa, including several parishes transferred from the diocese of La Spezia (and several transferred to La Spezia) on 26 July 1959.[21] The diocesan web site maintains a current list of parishes, divided into five Vicariates.[22]
Borzonasca: S. Bartolomeo Apostolo, S. Giovanni Battista, S. Margherita V, S. Maria Assunta, S. Vincenzo e Anastasio, S. Rocco, S. Maria Assunta, S. Andrea Apostolo, S. Lorenzo, S. Martino
Carasco: S. Marziano, S. Pietro, S. Eufemiano, S. Nicolò, S. Quirico, S. Maria
Casarza Ligure: Nostra Signora della Speranza, S. Lorenzo, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino, S. Michele Arcangelo, S. Bernardo e SS. Concezione
Castiglione Chiavarese: S. Antonino Martire, S. Pietro, S. Rocco e Gaetano, S. Michele, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino
Chiavari: N. S. della Pace e di S. Bernardo, S. Andrea, S. Giacomo di Rupinaro, S. Giovanni Battista, S. Giuseppe, S. Maria e S. Biagio di Bacezza, S. Michele, S. Margherita, S. Martino, S. Pietro, San Pier di Canne, S. Antonino Martire
Cicagna: S. Giovanni Battista, S. Rocco, S. Bartolomeo
Cogorno: S. Antonino Martire, S. Lorenzo, S. Maria, S. Colombano, S. Salvatore
Favale di Malvaro: S. Vincenzo Martire, S. Martino, S. Bernardo, Lavagna, S. Giulia, S. Maria del Ponte, S. Maria Madre della Chiesa, S. Stefano, S. Pietro, S. Concezione, S. Maria Assunta
Rapallo: S. Andrea, S. Anna, S. Maria del Campo, S. Martino, S. Massimo, S. Pietro, Quirico
San Colombano Certenoli: S. Maria, S. Maurizio, S. Michele, S. Stefano, S. Trinità, S. Bernardo, S. Maria Assunta, S. Martino del Monte, S. Colombano, S. Giacomo di Corte, S. Margherita, S. Siro, S. Maria Assunta, S. Lorenzo della Costa
Sestri Levante: S. Antonio, S. Bartolomeo della Ginestra, S. Bernardo, Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth, Sestri Levante, San Nicolò dell'isola di Sestri Levante, S. Stefano del Ponte, S. Giacomo, S. Paolo, S. Pietro, S. Vittoria, S. Sabina
Zoagli: S. Ambrogio, S. Martino, S. Pietro, S. Giovanni Battista
^Each synod is noted in the biography of the bishop who presided over it: Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Raimondo Spiazzi (ed.) (1995), Nostra Signora dell'Orto in Chiavari. Memorie e testimonianze a cura del Santuario, Chiavari 1995. (in Italian)
^Vinelli was born at Santa Margherita Ligure in 1832. He studied at the seminary of Chiavari, and was ordained a priest in 1857. He became a notable preacher in Genoa and many cities of northern Italy. He became a friend of Cardinal Gaetano Alimonda, Archbishop of Turin, also a vigorous preacher and polemicist, and dedicated several books to him. He was a canon of the Basilica of Carignano was named a bishop by Pope Leo XIII on 29 July 1892. Vinelli died on 26 December 1910. La settimana religiosa periodico religioso di Genova (in Italian). Genova: Tipografia della Gioventù. 1892. p. 599. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 209, 261.
^Gamberoni was born in 1868, and ordained a priest of the diocese of Milan in 1891. He had served as spiritual director in the seminary of the diocese of Milan. He was appointed Bishop of Chiavari by Pope Pius X on 10 April 1911. He was transferred from Chiavari to the archdiocese of Vercelli on 22 March 1917 by Pope Benedict XV. He died there on 17 February 1929. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. Supplement 1. New York: Encyclopedia Press. 1922. p. 185.
^Born in Genoa in 1861, Serafino had been Mitred Abbot of Nostra Signora del Rimedio in Genoa, when he was appointed Bishop of Biella on 2 December 1912 by Pope Pius X. He was transferred to the diocese of Chiavari on 22 March 1917, but resigned and was granted the honorary title of Bishop of Tricala (Thessaly, Greece) on 4 August 1917. He died in 1924. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). Vol. IV. Rome: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis. 1912. p. 698. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. Supplement 1. New York: Encyclopedia Press. 1922. p. 185. Annuario pontificio (Roma 1921), p. 319. Pięta, Hierarchia catholica IX, p. 95.
^Casabona was born at Camogli (diocese of Genoa) in 1867, and served as a parish priest and as a spiritual director of students at the seminary of Genoa, and then at the Pontifical Lateran College in Rome. He was appointed Bishop of Chiavari on 3 November 1917 by Pope Benedict XV. He founded the diocesan newspapers, and the retirement home for priests at Rapallo. He was a vigorous supporter of "Catholic Action". He died on 6 March 1948. Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Marchesani was born in Scannabue, a small commune northwest of Crema in Lombardy in 1889. He had been private secretary of Cardinal Dalmazio Minoretti, Archbishop of Genoa (1925–1938). He was appointed Bishop of Cava and Sarno, near Salerno, on 30 January 1939 by Pope Pius XI. He was transferred to the diocese of Chiavari on 22 April 1948 by Pope Pius XII. Marchesani participated in the Second Vatican Council. He died on 4 July 1971. Annuario pontificio (in Italian). Rome: Tipografia poliglotta vaticana. 1942. p. 123. Roberto P. Violi (1990). Episcopato e società meridionale durante il fascismo (1922-1939) (in Italian). Roma: A.V.E. p. 108. ISBN9788882845063. Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Maverna was born at Landriano (Pavia) in 1920. He was consecrated a bishop at Pavia on 17 October 1965, given the titular diocese of Vannida, and named Auxiliary Bishop of La Spezia, where he became Rector of the seminary at Sarzana. In 1966 he was named Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Chiavari, and in 1971 was appointed Bishop of Chiavari. In 1972 he was named General Assistant of Catholic Action, and in 1976 the General Secretary of the Italian Bishops' Conference. He was appointed Archbishop of Ferrara and Bishop of Comacchio on 25 March 1982. He reached the mandatory retirement age and submitted his resignation on 8 September 1995. He died on 1 June 1998. Annuario Diocesano 1984. Arcidiocesi di Ferrara (in Italian). Ferrara: Archidiocesis Ferrariensis. 1984. p. 13. GGKEY:7AFHLUS3BS8. Annuario Pontificio (Roma 1990), p. 218. Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Ferrari was born at Comunnouvo near Bergamo in 1920. He held degrees in the Arts and law. He was ordained a priest in 1943, and served as assistant pastor at Filago and Comunnuovo. In 1949 he was named spiritual director at the regional seminary in Benevento, and then in 1953 at the seminary in Siena, and then in 1961 at the major Roman seminary. In 1970 he was appointed titular bishop of Velia and made Auxiliary Bishop of Gaeta; he was consecrated bishop in Rome by Cardinal Angelo Dell'Acqua on 25 October 1970. He was transferred to the diocese of Chiavari on 22 February 1973. He submitted his compulsory resignation on reaching retirement age, which was accepted by Pope John Paul II on 24 September 1995. He died in Genoa on 20 December 2006. Bortolo Belotti (1989). Storia di Bergamo e dei bergamaschi (in Italian). Vol. 8. Bergamo: Edizioni Bolis. p. 58. Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Careggio was born at Tonengo di Mazzè (Torino) in 1937. He was a Canon of the Collegiate Church of Ss. Pietro e Orso in Aosta (1982), and was director of the "Corriere della Valle d'Aosta" from 1982-1984. On 5 August 1995 Careggio was appointed Bishop of Chiavari by Pope John Paul II. He was transferred to the diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo, from which he retired on 25 January 2014. Annuario Pontificio (Città del Vaticano 2004), p. 149. Diocesi di Chiavari, I vescovi della diocesi di Chiavari; retrieved: 2018-12-05. (in Italian)
^Tanisini was born in Ravenna in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1969. He was appointed titular bishop of Suelli and Auxiliary Bishop of Genoa on 2 July 1996. He was consecrated on 14 September by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri. He served as Administrator of the diocese between the transfer of Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi to Milan, and the arrival of Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone. Tanasini was transferred to the diocese of Chiavari on 20 March 2004, and made his official entry into the diocese on 16 May. Diocesi di Chiavari, Vescovo: Biografia Mons. Alberto Tanasini; retrieved: 2018-11-05. (in Italian)
^Source for parishes: CCI (2008), Parrocchie, Chiesa Cattolica Italiana, archived from the original on 2007-11-19, retrieved 2008-03-14.
^Diocesi di Chiavari, Parrocchie; retrieved: 2018-05-12. (in Italian)
