Diocese of Tortona

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Bishop(s) Martino Canessa, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 2nd Century Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Genova {Genoa} Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Italy Square Kilometers: 2,350 (907 Square Miles) Conference Region: Liguria Mailing Address: Piazza Duomo 12, 15057 Tortona [Alessandria], Italia Telephone: 0131.81.66.11 Fax: 0131.81.66.07

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Carlo Maurizio Peiretti † (18 Jul 1783 Appointed - )
• Giovanni Negri † (15 Apr 1833 Appointed - )
• Vincenzo Capelli † (4 May 1874 Appointed - )
• Igino Bandi † (23 Jun 1890 Appointed - 1914 Died)
• Simone Pietro Grassi † (22 Dec 1914 Appointed - 1 Nov 1934 Died)
• Egisto Domenico Melchiori † (5 Dec 1934 Appointed - 2 Mar 1963 Died)
• Francesco Rossi † (21 Apr 1963 Appointed - 29 Nov 1969 Resigned)
• Giovanni Canestri (7 Jan 1971 Appointed - 8 Feb 1975 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title), Auxiliary of Roma {Rome})
• Luigi Bongianino † (6 Jun 1975 Appointed - 2 Feb 1996 Retired)
• Martino Canessa (2 Feb 1996 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2nd Century	Erected		Diocese of Tortona (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	299,000	300,000	99.7%	500	130	630	474		200	500	316	ap1951
1969	303,800	306,936	99.0%	370	86	456	666		177	704	265	ap1971
1980	295,000	297,000	99.3%	313	62	375	786		94	720	317	ap1981
1990	272,500	275,000	99.1%	254	70	324	841	12	104	715	315	ap1991
1999	276,000	280,000	98.6%	203	65	268	1,029	13	68	442	314	ap2000
2000	276,000	280,000	98.6%	198	63	261	1,057	12	66	435	314	ap2001
2001	276,000	280,000	98.6%	196	60	256	1,078	12	63	426	314	ap2002
2002	276,000	280,000	98.6%	188	59	247	1,117	12	62	417	314	ap2003
2003	270,980	278,500	97.3%	182	59	241	1,124	12	62	412	314	ap2004
2004	272,960	279,070	97.8%	173	59	232	1,176	15	63	365	314	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Martino Canessa (Bishop: 2 Feb 1996)
• Giovanni Canestri (Bishop: 7 Jan 1971 to 8 Feb 1975)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Carlo Angeleri † (Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Aug 1948 to 22 May 1979)
• Igino Bandi † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1890 to 1914)
• Luigi Bongianino † (Bishop: 6 Jun 1975 to 2 Feb 1996)
• Vincenzo Capelli † (Bishop: 4 May 1874)
• Simone Pietro Grassi † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1914 to 1 Nov 1934)
• Egisto Domenico Melchiori † (Bishop: 5 Dec 1934; Archbishop (Personal Title): 26 Feb 1949 to 2 Mar 1963)
• Giovanni Negri † (Bishop: 15 Apr 1833 - )
• Carlo Maurizio Peiretti † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1783)
• Carlo Perosi † (Priest: 8 Nov 1891 to 10 Feb 1928)
• Francesco Rossi † (Bishop: 21 Apr 1963 to 29 Nov 1969)
• Pierre-André Viganò, P.I.M.E. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 May 1909 to 1917)