Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cosenza-Bisignano


The Italian Catholic archdiocese of Cosenza-Bisignano in Calabria has been a metropolitan see since 2001.

History

The Gospel was first preached in Cosenza by missionaries from Reggio; its earliest known bishop is Palumbus, a correspondent of St. Gregory the Great. Cosenza was erected as a diocese in 700. Cosenza was raised to the dignity of an archbishopric about 1050. Among the best known Archbishops of Cosenza have been: Ruffo, who perished in the earthquake of 1184; the Cistercian Martino, a prolific but uncritical writer; Pirro Caracciolo, the friend of St. Francis of Paula; Bartolommeo Fleury, who died at Rome in Castle Sant' Angelo, where he had been imprisoned for forgery of pontifical documents; Taddeo, later Cardinal, Gaddi, who obtained from Paul IV the privilege by which the cathedral canons of Cosenza wear the choir habit of the Vatican basilica; and Giuseppe Maria Sanfelice, frequently charged by the Holy See with diplomatic missions.
In 1908, The diocese has a population of 159,500, with 109 parishes, 264 churches and chapels, 200 secular and 16 regular priests, 2 religious houses of men and 5 of women.
On April 4, 1979, the Archdiocese was united with the Diocese of San Marco e Bisignano as Cosenza e Bisignano retaining the former Diocese of Bisignano with remainder renamed as the Diocese of San Marco Argentano-Scalea. On September 30, 1986, the Archdiocese was renamed to Cosenza-Bisignano and was elevated to a Metropolitan See on January 30, 2001.

Minor Basilicas

Diocese of Cosenza

Erected: 7th Century
Latin Name: Cosentina

Archdiocese of Cosenza

Elevated: 1150
Latin Name: Cosentina
Immediately Subject to the Holy See
United: 4 April 1979 with the Diocese of San Marco e Bisignano
Latin Name: Cosentina et Bisinianensis
Name Changed: 30 September 1986
Metropolitan See