sentences:  In 1817 the Diocese of Vercelli, then suffragan of the archbishopric of Turin (but previously of the archbishopric of Milan) was made an archdiocese, the first archbishop being Giuseppe di Grimaldi.Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB, Secretary of State (2006 onwards) served as archbishop of Vercelli (1991–1995).As per 2012, it pastorally served 174,200 Catholics (96.9% of 179,800 total) on 1,658 km² in 117 parishes with 103 priests (87 diocesan, 16 religious; i.e.