Roman Catholic Diocese of Geneva

A legend holds that Nazarius (Saint Lazarus), the follower of Simon Peter and Pope Linus, was the first Bishop of Geneva.

However, this is explained as based on an error, arising from the similarity of the Latin names Genava (Geneva in Switzerland) and Genua (Genoa in Italy).

[9][10] Eucherius of Lyon, in his prologue to the "Passion of the Saints of Agaune," indicates that Isaac of Monteluco (c. 400 AD) was Bishop of Geneva.

[15] When Dormitianus (before 500 AD) was bishop, Princess Sedeleuba van Bourgondië,[16] a sister of Queen Clotilde, had the remains of the martyr, Victor of Solothurn moved to Geneva.

Sovereignty passed to the Emperor Conrad II (1027–1039), who was crowned king of Burgundy on 2 February 1033.

In 1034, he entered Burgundy with his army, and received the submission of its cities, including Geneva, where he was again elected king.

[21] On 17 January 1154, the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa received Bishop Ardicius at his court at Speyer, and appointed and invested him as a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1387, Bishop Adhémar Fabry granted Geneva its charter ensuring the city's rights and institutional continuity.

On 19 February 1416, King Sigismund of Germany granted the counts of Savoy the title "Duke".

[26] The counts repeatedly maneuvered to elevate their family members to the Bishop of Geneva's diocesan staff.

Their most notable success came when the former Duke Amadeus VIII, who had been elected Pope Felix V by the Council of Basel, became Administrator of the diocese of Geneva in March 1444, and held the office until his death in 1451.

[27] The City of Geneva responded to the successes of the House of Savoy by making an alliance with the Old Swiss Confederacy, an Eidgenossenschaft.

[10] In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation caused great change in the religious and political life of Geneva.

Prior to the reformation, the Diocese of Geneva extended well into Savoy, as far as Mont Cenis and the Great St Bernard Pass.

On 2 August 1527, Bishop Pierre de la Baume,[28] harassed both by the people of Geneva and by the Duke of Savoy, fled the city for some property in Burgundy.

[29] He and the cathedral Chapter of Geneva settled in Annecy in 1535, and, despite their own efforts and encouragement from Pope Clement VII, they were not able to persuade the Genevans to allow a return.

Electors, who did not have to be Catholic or even Christian, were to meet and elect a bishop, who would be required to take the usual oaths to the French Constitution.

[36] On 9 June 1815, in Article LXXX of the general treaty at the Congress of Vienna, the Canton of Geneva was extended to cover 15 Savoyard and 6 French parishes, ceded by the King of Sardinia.

[10] In 1819, Pope Pius VII united the City of Geneva and twenty parishes with the Diocese of Lausanne.