Roman Catholic Diocese of Ascoli Piceno
The Italian Catholic Diocese of Ascoli Piceno () in the Marche, has existed since the fourth century. Historically immediately dependent on the Holy See, it is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Fermo. There is, in 2015, one priest for every 1,074 Catholics. History. The traces of this bishopric appear in the fourth century with St. Emidius, martyred under Diocletian, c. 303; and Claudius, who was allegedly present at the Synod of Rimini in 359, when the Arian heresy was rejected. In the fifth century, Lucentius, who is said to have been present at  the Synod of Milan, which sent its synodal letter to Pope Leo I (440-461), was bishop of Ascoli. One of its bishops, Giulio de' Medici, afterwards became Pope Clement VII (1523–1534). On 11 March 2000, Pope John Paul II raised the bishopric of Pesaro to the rank of metropolitan archbishopric, and created the new ecclesiastical province of Picenum. Ascoli, which had always been directly subject to the Holy See, was assigned to the province of Picenum and placed under the supervision of the archbishop of Pesaro. Cathedral and Chapter. The beginnings of the cathedral are attributed archaeologically to the  5th or 6th century. The cathedral was administered by a corporate body called the Chapter. At Ascoli, the chapter originally consisted of twelve Canons, presided over by the Archdeacon. By 1179, there was also the Archpriest. Subsequently there were three additional dignities ("dignitates"): the Provost, the Primicerius, and the Mansionarius. After the Council of Trent there was also a Penitentiarius and a Theologus. There were also six (later nine) "mansionarii", who saw to the daily operations of the cathedral church, though they were not voting members of the Chapter. In 1737, there were six dignities and fourteen Canons. The Chapter  had the right to elect the bishop, and, when a vacancy occurred in the Chapter, the right to elect a successor. The election of 1284–1285. Bishop Raynaldus died in September 1284. A meeting was summoned for all persons concerned. The Archdeacon and Chapter decided to proceed to an election by scrutiny. Three scrutators were chosen, to collect, read, and make public the votes of the Canons. When the votes were announced, six of the twelve Canons had voted for Bonusjoannes, one (Bonusjoannes himself) had voted for Canon Azo, and four Canons had refused to cast a vote for anyone. One  of the scrutators, in his own name and in the name of those who had voted for Bonusjoannes, proclaimed him Bishop of Ascoli, and Bonusjoannes accepted his election. Bonusjoannes then proceeded to Rome to obtain papal approval for his election from Pope Martin IV. There one of the four Canons who had not voted, Abamons by name, contested the election. The Pope therefore handed the case over to Cardinal Giordano Orsini for examination. Orsini cited the persons concerned to appear in open court, and the issue was joined between Bonusjoannes and Abamons. In the event, nothing was produced by Abamons  against Bonusjoannes personally or against the electoral proceedings, and therefore Cardinal Orsini, having followed all of the requirements of the law, found in favor of Bonusjoannes. Procurators of Abamons, specially appointed for the purpose, then withdrew his objections to the election. Bonusjoannes was then examined as to his character and qualifications by a committee of cardinals, Latino Malabranca Orsini (Bishop of Ostia), Comes Giusianus (Cardinal Priest of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus), and Cardinal Giordano Orsini (Cardinal Deacon of S. Eustachio), who found "electionem ipsam ... de persona ydonea canonice celebratum". Pope Martin then, with the consent of the College of Cardinals , named Bonusjoannes Bishop of Ascoli, and instructed Cardinal Latino Malabranca Orsini to consecrate him a bishop. Unfortunately, before the bulls of approval and consecration could be issued, Pope Martin died, on 28 March 1285. Pope Honorius IV (Giacomo Savelli) was elected on 2 April 1285. Finally, on 13 December 1285, new bulls were issued for the Bishop-elect, and Pope Honorius granted him the administration of his Church. Diocesan synods. A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already  issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. Bishop Pietro Camaiani (1566–1579) presided over a diocesan synod in Ascoli on 22 April 1568. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Sigismondo Donati (1605–1641) on 19—21 November 1626. Cardinal Giulio Gabrielli (1642–1668) held a diocesan synod in 1649. Bishop Philippo Monti held a diocesan synod on 7—9 November 1677, and published its constitutions, as well as those of his predecessors  Girolamo Berneri, Giulio Gabrielli, and Sigismondo Donati. A diocesan synod was held on 12—14 September 1688 by Bishop Giuseppe Sallustio Fadulfi (1685–1699). Bishop Giovanni Gambi (1710–1726) held a diocesan synod in the cathedral on 15—17 May 1718. A diocesan synod was held in 1765 by Bishop Pietro Paolo Leonardi (1755–1792) Bishop Bartolomeo Ortolani (1877–1910) presided over a diocesan synod held in the cathedral on 28—30 October 1903.