Diocese of Ozieri

The historical Diocese of Bisarchio (Bisarchensis, Gisarchensis) was located in the province of Sassari, district of Nuoro, with the episcopal residence at Ozieri. The first bishop mentioned is Costantino Madrone (c. 1102), who was succeeded in 1116 by Bishop Pietro. The cathedral was built in 1153. The bishop's residence changed several times, to Giracle, and again to Ardera. In 1170, Archbishop Alberto of Torres (Sassari) presided over a provincial synod, in which the bishop of Bisarchio, Giovanni Thelle, participated. In 1350, the Doria family of Genoa ceded their rights in Sardinia to the kings of Aragon. Peter IV of Aragon nominated Fra Francesco, the guardian of the Convent of Castellón (diocese of Gerona), to be bishop of Bisarchio; he was approved by Pope Clement VI, and became the first Franciscan bishop in Sardinia. In 1495, King Ferdinand II of Aragon submitted to Pope Alexander VI a plan for the diminution in the number of dioceses in Sardinia, and the consolidation of several of the dioceses, many of which were suffering financial difficulties. In 1503, at the death of Bishop Calcerando of Bisarchio, the diocese of Bisarchio was incorporated into the diocese of Alghero. Reestablishment of diocese of Bisarchio The diocese was reestablished by Pope Pius VII in his Bull, "Divina Disponente," of 9 March 1803. Eighteen months later, Giannantioco Azzei was appointed the first bishop of the restored diocese. In 1819, he was transferred to the archdiocese of Oristano, his birthplace. The episcopal residence was then definitely transferred to Ozieri. The change of name took place in 1915. ==Bishops==

Diocese of Bisarchio :11th cent. to 1503 • Constantinus de Matrona (1082) • Nicodemus (1082) • Gavinus • Petrus ( 1112–1127) • Marianus Thelle ( 1139–1146) • Joannes Thelle ( 1164–1179) • Joannes (1237) • Gennarius (1263) • Bernardus Carboni ( 1303–1328) • Comita (Conte) ( 1330–1341) • Marzocco Capra ( 1342–1348) • Joannes, O.Min. (1349–1350) • Franciscus, O.Min. (1350–1366) • Conradus (1366–1371) • Donatus, O.E.S.A. (1371– before 1386) • Antonius Antiochius (1386– ? ) • Simon Christophori de Jadra (1412– ? ) • Antonius de Penna (1421–1436) • Antonius Cano (1436–1448) • Sisinius (1448–1466) • Ludovicus de Santa Croce, O.Min. (1466–1485) • Michael Lopez de Lasorra, O.Min. (1485–1486) • Garsias Quixada, O.Min. (1486–1490) • Galcerandus de Andrea, O.Min. (1490–1499/1500) • Joannes, O.Min. (1500–1503) Diocese of Bisarchio o Bisarcio (Ozieri) :Erected: 9 March 1804 :Latin Name: Bisarchiensis • Giovanni Antioco Azzei (1804–1819) • Domenico Pes, Sch. P. (29 Mar 1819 – 8 Dec 1831 Died) • Serafino Carchero, O.F.M. Cap. (20 Jan 1834 – 31 Mar 1847 Died) • Serafino Corrias (24 Nov 1871 – 31 May 1896 Died) • Filippo Bacciu (1896 – 1914) : Diocese of Ozieri Name Changed: 12 February 1915 • Carmine Cesarano, C.SS.R. (1915 – 1918) • Francesco Maria Franco (1919 – 1933) • Igino Maria Serci (1934 – 1938) • Francesco Cogoni (3 Mar 1939 – 25 Apr 1975 Retired) • Giovanni Pisanu (4 Mar 1978 – 27 Mar 1997 Retired) • Sebastiano Sanguinetti (1997 – 2006) • Sergio Pintor (29 Sep 2006 – 10 Dec 2012 Retired) • Corrado Melis (18 Jul 2015 – ) == Notes and references ==