Caesariana (Cæsariana) was an Ancient city anddiocese inRoman North Africa. It is now only aRoman Catholictitular see.
It was one of over 120 cities in theRoman province ofNumidia that were important enough to become asuffragan bishopric of the metropolitan ofCarthage, but would fade away, plausibly at theseventh century advent of Islam.
Its ruins are atKessaria (obviously still named after Caesariana) in modernAlgeria.
Its only historically documented incumbent was not Catholic but the schismaticDonatist Cresconius, who attended theCouncil of Carthage of 411, where his heresy was condemned as such. Morcelli however attributes him (probably erroneously) toCaesarea in Numidia.
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latintitular bishopric of Cæsariana (Latin; Curiate Italian Cesariana).
It has had the following incumbents, of the fitting episcopal (lowest) rank, with two archiepiscopal exceptions:
- Fulton John Sheen (1951.05.28 – 1966.10.21) asAuxiliary Bishop ofNew York (NY, USA) (1951.05.28 – 1966.10.21); later Bishop ofRochester (USA) (1966.10.21 – 1969.10.06), emeritate asTitular Archbishop ofNewport (1969.10.06 – death 1979.12.09)
- Titular ArchbishopAngelo Felici (1967.07.22 – 1988.06.28) as papal diplomat and high Roman Curia official :Apostolic Pro-Nuncio (envoy) to theNetherlands (1967.07.22 – 1976.05.13),Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) toPortugal (1976.05.13 – 1979.08.27), Apostolic Nuncio toFrance (1979.08.27 – 1988.06.28); previously Undersecretary ofSacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs (1964.02.07 – 1967.07.22); later createdCardinal-Deacon ofSs. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari (1988.06.28 – 1999.01.09), Prefect ofCongregation for the Causes of Saints (1988.07.01 – 1995.06.13), President ofPontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" (1995.12.16 – 2000.04.14), promotedCardinal-Priest ofSs. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinaripro hac vice Title (1999.01.09 – death 2007.06.17)
- Titular ArchbishopGiovanni Lajolo (1988.10.03 – 2007.11.24) as papal diplomat:Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) toGermany (1995.12.07 – 2003.10.07), Secretary for Relations with States of Secretariat of State (2003.10.07 – 2006.09.15), Secretary of Interdicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe (2004.06.08 – 2006.09.15), President ofPontifical Commission for the Vatican City State (2006.09.15 – 2011.10.01), President ofGovernorate of the Vatican City State (2006.09.15 – 2011.10.01); previously Secretary ofAdministration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (1988.10.03 – 1995.12.07); later createdCardinal-Deacon ofS. Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio (2007.11.24 [2008.01.27] – ...)
- Yosafat Hovera = Josaphat Oleh Hovera (2008.01.15 – ...), asArchiepiscopal Exarch ofLutsk of the Ukrainians (Ukraine), no previous prelature
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