SALUZZO, DIOCESE OF. - A city and diocese in the province of Cuneo, archdiocese of Turin. It extends into the upper valleys of the Maira, Varaita, and Po rivers and into the pre-Alpine plain area of the three valleys. Area: 4,450 sq km; population: 110,150 (150 non-Catholics) distributed across 103 parishes. There are 228 priests; a major and minor seminary. Ten male and female religious houses operate within the diocese.
The Saluzzo territory, originally inhabited by the Ligurian tribes of the Vagienni and Salluvii, passed under Roman rule (2nd century BCE); after the fall of the Empire, it appears to have belonged to the Lombards. The first certain mention of Saluzzo is found in a document dating to around the year 1000 (1064?).
The Saluzzo area was part of the county of Auriate (Caraglio) during the Carolingian period; it then passed to the Arduinici and, in 1091, to the marquises of the Vasto, later marquises of Saluzzo (see below). The city flourished especially in the 15th century (letters, arts, printing) but then declined in the 16th century due to the stifling influence of France.
The diocese was erected by Pope Julius II on 29 September 1511, carved out of the marquisate’s territory from the diocese of Turin; initially directly subject to the Holy See, it became a suffragan of Turin in 1728. For more than a century (1550–1700), heretical infiltrations (Waldensians and Huguenots) occurred in the upper valleys: a laborious evangelization effort succeeded in stemming and ultimately eliminating heresy entirely. In this regard, besides the secular clergy, the Capuchins (Saluzzo, 1594–1802; Casteldelfino, 1600–1802) and the Jesuits (Saluzzo, Verzuolo, and Dronero) earned particular merit. The diocese’s boundaries underwent numerous changes over the centuries: the most significant was made by Napoleon in 1803 with the addition of Pinerolo and many parishes in the plain; the current configuration dates to 1817. Notable abbeys included: Santissima Costanzo (9th–1803; Romanesque church preserved); Staffarda (1135–1802; monumental cloister preserved); both were male abbeys, and Rifreddo (1219–1592; female). In the late Middle Ages, the sanctuary of Boccetto was renowned; today, those of Valmala (Madonna della Misericordia) and Crissolo (San Chiaffredo, Theban martyr and patron saint of the diocese) are frequented, especially in summer.
Among the bishops who distinguished themselves in pastoral ministry were: F. Archini (1546–56), who held synods, visited the diocese, and participated in the Council of Trent (1547), later transferred to the archbishopric of Milan; G. M. Tapparelli (1568–81), who meticulously visited a diocese plagued by heresy and ensured the observance of the decrees of Trent; A. Pichot (1583–91), who held synods and visited the diocese; B. G. Ancina (IV) (1603–04), who visited the diocese, held a synod, laid the foundations of the seminary, and fostered Eucharistic devotion, initiating the celebration of Holy Tuesday (a unique Saluzzo festival); F. A. Della Chiesa (1642–62), a distinguished historian who convened three synods; and G. F. Porporato (1741–81), zealous and charitable. Besides Ancina, the following blessed figures worked in the Saluzzo area: Pietro di Ruffia (?–1365); Stefano Bandelli (1369–1450); Aimone Tapparelli (?–1495); Caterina of Racconigi (1485–1547). Notable figures include: P. Zaccaria Boverio (1568–1638); D. Denina (see); G. B. Bodoni (1740–1813); D. Mulletti (1755–1808), historian; Diodata Saluzzo (1775–1800), poetess; S. Pellico (1789–1854); G. Casalis (1781–1860); F. Savio (1848–1916) and C. F. Savio (1857–1948), historians. — See plate CIX.