Roman Catholic Diocese of Avezzano

Diocese of Avezzano Dioecesis Marsorum
Avezzano Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	L'Aquila
Statistics
Area	1,700 km2 (660 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2006) 115,137 109,000 (94.7%)
Parishes	95
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	9th Century
Cathedral	Cathedral of St. Bartholomew the Apostle (Avezzano)
Co-cathedral	Cocathedral of St. Mary of Grace (Pescina)
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Pietro Santoro
Map
Website
www.diocesidiavezzano.it

The Diocese of Avezzano (Latin: Dioecesis Marsorum) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in central Italy, carrying this name since 1986. Before it was known as the Diocese of Marsi. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of L'Aquila.

The diocese of Marsi had its original seat at Pescina.

According to legend, the Gospel was preached to the Marsican region in Apostolic times by Saint Mark, and Saint Rufinus, their bishop, was martyred about 240. The episcopal see was originally at Santa Sabina church in Marruvium, but, as this place was isolated and therefore insecure, Pope Gregory XIII permitted, in 1580, the removal of the bishop's residence to Pescina, where the cathedral was completed in 1596.

Among the bishops of the diocese was Saint Berardo of the family of the Counts of the Marsi. He was educated at Montecassino, and became pontifical governor of the Campagna. On account of his justice and of his severity in that office, he was imprisoned by Pietro Colonna, but Pope Paschal II made him a cardinal, and bishop of his native town.

Erected: 9th Century
Latin Name: Marsorum

Name Changed: 30 September 1986
Latin Name: Marsorum
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of L'Aquila

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton. 

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