Roman Catholic Diocese of Alet

The papal bull, Sane Considerantes, issued on 20 August 1317, envisioned the creation of the new diocese with its seat at Limoux, and the promotion of the Church of Saint-Martin into a cathedral.

The Chapter was secularized on 17 November 1531 by the papal bulla Ad Exequendum of Pope Clement VII, at the request of Bishop Guillaume de Joyeuse and at the suggestion of King Francis I.

The Pope explained in the bull that the problem was twofold: the number of people seeking to become monks had greatly decreased; and the financial situation of the Chapter had severely deteriorated.

The priories which had belonged to the Chapter had gradually been appropriated by the bishop who appointed commendatory abbots and priors, causing money to be directed away from the monastic foundations.

[7] Pope John XXII also secularized one of the monasteries in the new diocese, Saint Paul de Fenouillèdes, converting it into a Collegiate Church, administered by a Chapter composed of three dignitaries, twelve Canons and thirty semi-prebends.

[9] After the signing of the Concordat of 1801 with First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, the diocese of Alet was not revived, but abolished by Pope Pius VII in his bull Qui Christi Domini of 29 November 1801.