LIVORNO, Diocese of. - Diocese and capital city of the province of the same name in Tuscany.
Over an area of 290 sq. km., it has a population of 165,000 inhabitants, of whom 162,000 are Catholics. It has 39 parishes, served by 55 diocesan priests and 67 regulars, a seminary, 14 male religious communities and 45 female ones (Annuario Pontificio, 1951, p. 251).
An oratory dedicated to St. Mary already existed before the 12th century, since it is mentioned in a parchment of 30 March 1160, and it is likewise known that in 1267 it also took the title of another church, St. Julia, which had been destroyed, being called from then on the parish church of St. Mary and Julia. This church must have been built when Desiderius, king of the Lombards, while transporting the body of St. Julia, virgin and martyr, from Gorgona to Brescia, made a stop at L. It was in fact on that occasion (776) that St. Julia was chosen as protectress and patroness. After the church was demolished in 1534 to isolate the fortress, the church of St. Anthony was elevated to the Parish Church of Labrone or Livorna or Liburna (the first confused names of today's L.), and it also assumed, in remembrance, the title of St. Mary and Julia.
The village and later castle was part of Porto Pisano, of its fortresses and vassal territories, undergoing the alternating vicissitudes and fortunes of that Republic, but ecclesiastically it may be said to have always remained within the Pisan archdiocese. Indeed, in 1103, having been donated by Countess Matilda to the works of the cathedral of Pisa, it was after some years sold, for exactly 1000 lire, to the archbishop himself. Ferdinand I de' Medici, who wished to make of L. a city (it was proclaimed such on 19 March 1606), also completed in the Piazza d'Arme the church of St. Francis, larger than those already existing, so that it might be the new parish church. And it became so precisely in 1605, when the clergy moved there from St. Anthony, adding to St. Francis the old and dear title of St. Mary and Julia. Urban VIII raised the parish church to an illustrious collegiate church with a bull of 31 July 1629, but the first six canons and the provost, elected by the sovereign, took possession only on 23 Jan. 1632.
L. had in a short time become a city flourishing in commerce and trade, thanks in part to its having granted franchises, facilities and hospitality to people of other nationalities, religions and even of Oriental rites, both Catholic and schismatic, granting them their own quarters, churches and cemeteries. The community had several times asked to have a bishop, or at least that the archbishop of Pisa take the name of bishop of L., but this was not granted. Privileges were however accorded to the provost, so that in his insignia or in sacred functions he might not appear at a disadvantage, as regards ceremonial display, before the officiants of other cults and rites; thus, besides being a domestic prelate, he had the use of the pontificals (privileges that remained his until 3 May 1949, when, the care of souls having been taken from the provost of the Cathedral Chapter, he was reduced to domestic prelate). The diocese finally arose, by a bull of Pius VII, on 25 Sept. 1806, formed from the city, with then the parish church and six vice-parishes, and six other cures over an area of 290 sq. km. The first bishop was Msgr. Filippo Ganucci.
Various pontiffs visited and lodged in this city, especially because of their journeys, above all to France. Those remembered are: Innocent II, Alexander III, Urban V, Gregory XI, Urban VI, Eugene IV, Adrian VI, Clement VII, Pius VII, Pius IX.
Among the Livornese worthy of remembrance: Msgr. Girolamo Gavi (1775-1869), who, as provost of the city, on being elected bishop received the title of Milto in order to remain (for 21 years) apostolic administrator and provost of L. and to devote the revenues, the savings and his own patrimony to works of good and to the construction of the seminary which is in fact called "Gavi"; Father Pio Alberto Del Corona, Dominican, distinguished writer and preacher, bishop of San Miniato and later archbishop, titular of Sardica (1873-1912).
L. possessed no great works of art, and even what was notable there, though not of the highest value, has been disfigured by the destructions of the bombardments (170), which fell in particular upon the sacred buildings. There remain nevertheless: the Sanctuary of Montenero and, once they are repaired, the churches of St. Ferdinand, St. John, St. Catherine, St. Sebastian, the Madonna, all of some architectural value in their interiors, and the Cathedral, today a national monument.
SANTAIO DELLA MADONNA DI MONTENERO
The most notable event, and one that continues to be efficacious, is the discovery, on 15 May 1345, by a pious shepherd near the small river and the locality of Ardenza, of a valuable painting depicting the Madonna with the Child. The blessed Virgin is said to have told the old man, who was a cripple and was immediately healed, to carry her image to Montenero, where she wished a sanctuary dedicated to her to be built.
A great devotion immediately developed toward this Madonna delle Grazie, called of Montenero, and not only among the people of Livorno but also in the neighboring cities and populations, so much so that on 15 May 1947 she was proclaimed by Pius XII patroness of all Tuscany. The artistic present-day sanctuary, rich in marbles and valuable works, may be considered to date from the 18th century. It was elevated to a basilica in 1818. Its custodians are the Vallombrosan monks. Livorno, which has always obtained so many graces and protection from its Madonna, on 27 Jan. 1742 (the feast of the Vow), having been freed from earthquake and tidal wave, made a vow (and still keeps it) to postpone carnival until that date, to fast on that day, to offer at the expense of the Commune 10 pounds of wax to the sanctuary, and to hold a solemn thanksgiving service every year. - See plate XCIX.
