The Diocese of Drivasto or Diocese of Drivast (Latin: Dioecesis Drivastensis) was a Roman Catholic bishopric with see in the town of Drivasto (modern day Drisht in Postribë, 16 km north of Scutari, northern Albania) from circa 400 to 1650 and is now a Latin Catholic titular see.[1] It was suppressed in 1650 (merged into the Diocese of Shkodrë) but restored as Latin titular see.[1]
History
Established probably in the fifth century (certainly no later than the ninth) as the Diocese of Drivasto (Curiate Italian) / Drisht (Shqipetar) / Drivasten(sis) (Latin), without direct precursor [1] It was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Doclea (Albania; later united with Antivari) in the papal sway, and part of the twelfth century a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ragusa.
Unknown (877) - in 877 the anonymous incumbent attends a council at Dumno (concilium Delmitanum).[3]
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Unknown (1062) - The see is mentioned (not its incumbent) in various papal documents starting with a letter from Pope Alexander II (1061–1073) to Metropolitan Petrus (Pietro) of the united archbishoprics of Doclea and Antivari, and lists Drivastum, in 1062, amongst its suffragans. The letter is dated 18 March 1067. This is confirmed on 8 January 1089 by Pope Clement III.[4]
Michael Paoli (1428.10.11 – death 1445?),[12] previously Bishop of Balecio (1424.09.01 – 1428.10.11)
Paulus Dussus (1445.12.22 – from 1454 in commendam – death? 1455), gifted politician, sympathized with the oriental rites, mediator between Giorgio Castriota Scanderbeg and his adversaries, instructed by the Holy See concerning a crusade against the Ottoman Turks;[13] previously Bishop of Svač (1440.11.16 – 1445.12.22), from 1454 Bishop of Krain (Carniola, Slovenia)
Girolamo Lucich, Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (3 March 1636 – death 2 January 1648),[1] was appointed as (last) residential bishop, but never took up residence and consented on 20 April 1641 to hand the diocesan administration to the Diocese of Scutari.
Titular see
During the Ottoman rule from 1489, the see was truly in paribus infidelium, and Rome appointed titular bishops who usually served as auxiliary bishop in some residential diocese;
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin Titular bishopric of Drivastum (Latin) / Drivasto (Curiate Italian) / Drivasten(sis) (Latin adjective).[1]
It has had the following incumbents, of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank, with a few archiepiscopal exceptions :[1]
Cipriano Cassini (趙信義), Jesuits (S.J.) (1936.12.23 – 1946.04.11) as last Apostolic Vicar of Bengbu 蚌埠 (PR China) (1937.01.15 – 1946.04.11), next promoted first Bishop of Bengbu 蚌埠 (1946.04.11 – 1951.06.11)
Daniel Liston, Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.) (born Ireland) (1947.03.13 – 1949.12.19) as Coadjutor Bishop of Port-Louis (Mauritius) (1947.03.13 – 1949.12.19), next succeeding as Bishop of Port-Louis (1949.12.19 – retired 1968.04.23), emeritate as Titular Bishop of Summa (1968.04.23 – resigned 1970.12.07), died 1986
Rafael Barraza Sánchez (1979.10.26 – 1981.10.19) as Auxiliary Bishop of Durango (Mexico) (1979.10.26 – 1981.10.19), later Bishop of Mazatlán (Mexico) (1981.10.19 – retired 2005.03.03)
Titular Archbishop: Traian Crisan (born Romania) (1981.12.07 – death 1990.11.06), Secretary of Congregation for the Causes of Saints (1981.12.07 – 1990.02.24); previously Undersecretary of Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints (1979 – 1981.12.07)
Bruno Bertagna (Italian) (1990.12.15 – 2007.02.15 see below), as Secretary of Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State (1990.12.15 – 1994), Secretary of Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (1994 – 2007.02.15), Auditor General of Apostolic Camera (2006.12.18 – 2010.10.12); previously Cleric Prelate of Apostolic Camera (1989.02.28 – 1990.12.15)
Titular Archbishop: Bruno Bertagna (see above 2007.02.15 – death 2013.10.31) as Auditor General of Apostolic Camera (2006.12.18 – 2010.10.12), Vice-President of Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (2007.02.15 – 2010.10.12) and as emeritate
Acta et diplomata res Albaniae mediae aetatis illustrantia, ed. Ludovicus de Thallóczy, Constantinus Jireček e Emilianus de Sufflay, Vol. I, Vienna 1913 - Vol. II, Vienna, 1918
Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Leipzig, 1931, pp. 406, 408
Konrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, vol. 1, p. 227; vol. 2, p. 145; vol. 3, pp. 187–188; vol. 4, p. 177
Malaj, Edmond (2021), Hulumtime mbi historinë e krishtërimit në Shkodër e rrethina gjatë mesjetës, Botime Françeskane, ISBN978-9928-331-17-5