Biella (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Roberto Farinella, Bishop
Gabriele Mana, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 1 June 1772
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Vercelli
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Italy
Square Kilometers: 804 (310 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Piemonte
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesi.biella.it/
Mailing Address: Via Vescovado 10, 13900 Biella, Italia
Telephone: 015.22.721
Fax: 015.09.92.195

Past and Present Ordinaries

Giulio Cesare Viancini † (7 Sep 1772 Confirmed - 22 Oct 1796 Died)
Giovanni Battista Canaveri, C.O. † (24 Jul 1797 Confirmed - 1803 Resigned)
Bernardino Giovanni Battista Bollati, O.F.M. Obs. † (21 Dec 1818 Confirmed - 11 Jun 1828 Died)
Placido Maria Tadini, O.C.D. † (28 Sep 1829 Confirmed - 2 Jul 1832 Confirmed, Archbishop of Genova)
Giovanni Pietro Losana † (30 Sep 1833 Confirmed - 14 Feb 1873 Died)
Basilio Leto † (25 Jul 1873 Appointed - 19 Dec 1885 Resigned)
Domenico Cumino † (15 Jan 1886 Appointed - 29 Jun 1901 Died)
Giuseppe Gamba † (16 Dec 1901 Appointed - 13 Aug 1906 Appointed, Bishop of Novara)
Giovanni Andrea Masera † (30 Aug 1906 Appointed - 2 Dec 1912 Resigned)
Natale Serafino † (2 Dec 1912 Appointed - 22 Mar 1917 Appointed, Bishop of Chiavari)
Giovanni Garigliano † (22 Mar 1917 Appointed - 10 Oct 1936 Died)
Carlo Rossi † (7 Dec 1936 Appointed - 15 Feb 1972 Retired)
Vittorio Piola † (15 Feb 1972 Appointed - 15 May 1986 Resigned)
Massimo Giustetti † (3 Dec 1986 Appointed - 13 Jul 2001 Retired)
Gabriele Mana (13 Jul 2001 Appointed - 27 Jul 2018 Retired)
Roberto Farinella (27 Jul 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1 June 1772	Erected	Diocese of Vercelli	Diocese of Biella (erected)
1 June 1803	Suppressed	Diocese of Biella (suppressed)	Diocese of Vercelli
17 July 1817	Restored	Diocese of Vercelli	Diocese of Biella

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1821 98,848 .0% OTC

1835 100 OTC

1886 152,282 .0% 267 0 133 OTC

1950 148,327 149,361 99.3% 224 48 272 545 118 686 123 ap1951

1959 197,703 198,649 99.5% 199 28 227 870 96 490 124 ap1960

1970 201,850 202,115 99.9% 198 19 217 930 24 452 126 ap1971

1978 200,250 200,700 99.8% 180 23 203 986 46 384 126 ap1981

1990 202,000 203,000 99.5% 150 30 180 1,122 11 48 400 114 ap1991

1999 180,000 180,356 99.8% 140 31 171 1,052 25 52 352 114 ap2000

2000 180,000 180,356 99.8% 141 31 172 1,046 28 54 352 114 ap2001

2001 180,000 180,356 99.8% 135 31 166 1,084 27 54 352 114 ap2002

2002 175,000 180,000 97.2% 134 31 165 1,060 27 54 352 114 ap2003

2003 171,000 175,000 97.7% 135 31 166 1,030 26 52 293 114 ap2004

2004 171,000 175,000 97.7% 130 31 161 1,062 26 52 286 114 ap2005

2006 172,700 179,800 96.1% 126 34 160 1,079 25 59 235 114 ap2007

2012 164,000 176,500 92.9% 125 41 166 987 28 60 192 114 ap2013

2015 164,500 176,600 93.1% 109 37 146 1,126 26 85 219 114 ap2016

2018 160,000 169,000 94.7% 110 26 136 1,176 24 73 196 114 ap2019

2020 159,400 168,380 94.7% 105 25 130 1,226 26 67 187 114 ap2021

2022 158,682 167,664 94.6% 99 27 126 1,259 29 61 119 114 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1821		98,848	.0%									OTC
1835											100	OTC
1886		152,282	.0%			267	0				133	OTC
1950	148,327	149,361	99.3%	224	48	272	545		118	686	123	ap1951
1959	197,703	198,649	99.5%	199	28	227	870		96	490	124	ap1960
1970	201,850	202,115	99.9%	198	19	217	930		24	452	126	ap1971
1978	200,250	200,700	99.8%	180	23	203	986		46	384	126	ap1981
1990	202,000	203,000	99.5%	150	30	180	1,122	11	48	400	114	ap1991
1999	180,000	180,356	99.8%	140	31	171	1,052	25	52	352	114	ap2000
2000	180,000	180,356	99.8%	141	31	172	1,046	28	54	352	114	ap2001
2001	180,000	180,356	99.8%	135	31	166	1,084	27	54	352	114	ap2002
2002	175,000	180,000	97.2%	134	31	165	1,060	27	54	352	114	ap2003
2003	171,000	175,000	97.7%	135	31	166	1,030	26	52	293	114	ap2004
2004	171,000	175,000	97.7%	130	31	161	1,062	26	52	286	114	ap2005
2006	172,700	179,800	96.1%	126	34	160	1,079	25	59	235	114	ap2007
2012	164,000	176,500	92.9%	125	41	166	987	28	60	192	114	ap2013
2015	164,500	176,600	93.1%	109	37	146	1,126	26	85	219	114	ap2016
2018	160,000	169,000	94.7%	110	26	136	1,176	24	73	196	114	ap2019
2020	159,400	168,380	94.7%	105	25	130	1,226	26	67	187	114	ap2021
2022	158,682	167,664	94.6%	99	27	126	1,259	29	61	119	114	ap2023