The Suburbicarian Diocese of Velletri–Segni is one of the Latin suburbicarian dioceses, Catholic dioceses in Italy close to Rome with a special status and a cardinal bishop, the bishop of Velletri–Segni. Historically, the see of Velletri was combined with the see of Ostia from 1060 to 1914. The cathedral in the city of Velletri is dedicated to Saint Clement. Segni was a small town, a former Roman colony, sited approximately halfway between Rome and Montecassino. In the 12th century, the diocese possessed only seven castelli, 37 churches, 3 chapels, and 3 cloisters.

Separation of Ostia and Velletri

By the beginning of the 20th century, it had become apparent to the papacy that the suburbicarian bishops had become overburdened with the responsibilities of their curial and diocesan duties. The increase in commerce, in roads and travel, and the migration of people to the city, as well as the increased burden of duties in the papal administration because of the mass and complexity of problems affecting the Church, made some sort of relief necessary. Pope Pius X therefore issued a document, Apostolicae Romanorum Pontificium, granting the bishops of Ostia, Porto, Palestrina, and Frascati each a suffragan bishop to carry the burden of their pastoral duties in their dioceses. The diocese of Sabina and Velletri are stated to already have had a suffragan bishop, whose powers were in any case henceforth augmented and regulated by Apostolicae Romanorum Pontificium. The appointment of the suffragan bishops was reserved to the Pope. They had full powers inside the diocese, subject to the cardinal bishop's approval, except for the power to ordain or consecrate, or the right to have a throne or display their coat-of-arms. In 1914, after consulting with the curial cardinals and with their agreement, he issued the document Edita a Nobis. Henceforth, the diocese of Velletri would no longer be permanently united to that of Ostia, so that the suburbicarian dioceses would be: Ostia, Porto and Santa Rufina, Albano, Palestrina, Sabina, Frascati and Velletri. However, by an additional provision a cardinal bishop promoted to the suburbicarian see of Ostia would also retain his previous suburbicarian see. As to financial aspects, in future the incomes of the cardinal bishops would be placed in a single fund, administered by the Office of Economic Affairs, to which each cardinal would render an annual account. Each year, after 6,000 Lire had been given to each suffragan bishop, the remaining money collected was to be divided into equal portions, the bishop of Ostia receiving two portions, and each of the other cardinal bishops one portion.

Joining of Velletri and Segni

In 1981, the Diocese of Velletri was combined with the Diocese of Segni. The Cardinal-Bishop is now the titular bishop of the diocese, while the diocesan bishop administers the diocese.

Reorganization of dioceses

In a decree of the Second Vatican Council, it was recommended that dioceses be reorganized to take into account modern developments. A project begun on orders from Pope John XXIII, and continued under his successors, was intended to reduce the number of dioceses in Italy and to rationalize their borders in terms of modern population changes and shortages of clergy. The change was made urgent because of changes made to the Concordat between the Italian State and the Holy See on 18 February 1984, and embodied in a law of 3 June 1985. The change was approved by Pope John Paul II in an audience of 27 September 1986, and by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops on 30 September 1986. The diocese of Segni was united to the diocese of Velletri. Its name was to be Dioecesis Veliterna-Signina. The seat of the diocese was to be in Velletri. The former cathedral in Segni was to have the honorary title of co-cathedral, and its Chapter was to be called the Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one episcopal curia, one seminary, one ecclesiastical tribunal; and all the clergy were to be incardinated in the diocese of Velletri-Segni. The territory of the diocese was to be the same as the two dioceses combined. The bishop of Velletri-Segni, Marin Gomiero, was given the authority to carry out the papal decree.

Bishops of Velletri and of Segni

Bishops of Velletri (465–1060)

Bishops of Ostia and Velletri (1060–1915)

to 1378

The western schism: Rome

The western schism: Avignon

(after 1415 restricted to Peñíscola)

The western schism: Pisa

Since the end of the schism

Bishops of Velletri (1914–1981)

Bishops of Segni (494–1981)

Bishops of Velletri-Segni (since 1981)

Cardinal-Bishops of Velletri-Segni

Diocesan Bishops of Velletri-Segni

Notes and references