Roman Catholic Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa

The Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa (Latin: Dioecesis Melphiensis-Rapollensis-Venusina, Italian: Diocesi di Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Basilicata, southern Italy. In 1986 the historic Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla was united with the Diocese of Venosa. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo.[1][2] The Abbey of the Santissima Trinità at Venosa comes under the Diocese.

Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa

Dioecesis Melphiensis-Rapollensis-Venusina

Diocesi di Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa
Melfi Cathedral
Location
CountryItaly
Ecclesiastical provincePotenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo
Statistics
Area1,316 km2 (508 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2019)
86,570 (est.)
80,580 (guess)
Parishes33
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established11th century
CathedralBasilica Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta (Melfi)
Co-cathedralConcattedrale di S. Andrea (Venosa)
Concattedrale di S. Michele Arcangelo (Rapolla)
Secular priests34 (diocesan)
6 (Religious Orders)
8 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopCiro Fanelli
Bishops emeritusGianfranco Todisco, P.O.C.R.
Map
Website
www.diocesimelfi.it
Co-cathedral in Venosa

History

On 23 August 1059, Pope Nicholas II (1059–1061) held a council in Melphi, with more than one hundred bishops in attendance. In the council, he deposed the bishop of Montepeloso for simony and adultery; the bishop of Tricarico for being underage; Bishop Johannes of Trani; and the Bishop of Ascoli Puglia. He also invested Robert Guiscard as duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily.[3]

The pope made the diocese of Melfi immediately dependent on the Holy See; its first bishop was Baldwin. Its cathedral, a work of Roger Borsa, son of Robert Guiscard (1155), was destroyed by the earthquake of 1851.

The second council to be held at Melfi was presided over by Pope Alexander II (1067–1073) in 1067, during the episcopacy of Bishop Balduinus. Guillaume, the son of Tancred, was excommunicated, along with his soldiers, for having conquered Salerno.[4] Bishop Balduinus was later suspended from his episcopal office by Pope Alexander, but was restored in March 1076, after due penance for his excesses, by Pope Gregory VII.[5]

In September 1089, Pope Urban II (1088-1099) held his first council at Melfi.[6] It legislated against simony and against clerical marriage.[7] The Norman Roger Borsa took an oath of fealty to Pope Urban, who invested him with the duchy of Apulia and Salerno.[8]

Pope Paschal II confirmed, in a bull of 29 September 1101 (Per Apostoli Petri), the privilege granted to the bishops of Melfi of being consecrated by the Roman pontiff.[9]

In 1528, Clement VII, in view of the scarcity of its revenues, united the Diocese of Rapolla to that of Melfi, "aeque principaliter".[10]

Bishop Lazzaro Carafino (1622–1626) held a diocesan synod in Melfi in 1624.[11] Bishop Deodato Scaglia (1626–1644) presided over a diocesan synod of Melfi and Rapolla in 1635.[12] A diocesan synod was held in Melfi on 11–13 October 1725 by Bishop Mondilio Orsini (1724 –1728).[13]

Diocesan reorganization

The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures.[14] These considerations applied to Melfi and to Rapolla, as the population migrated in the post-war period away from agriculture to jobs on the coast.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. Instead, the Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Melfi, Rapallo, and Venosa be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Melphiensis-Rapollensis-Venusina. The seat of the diocese was to be in Melphi, and the cathedral of Melfi was to serve as the cathedral of the merged dioceses. The cathedrals in Rapolla and Venosa were to become co-cathedrals, and the cathedral Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Melfi, and likewise one seminary, one College of Consultors, and one Priests' Council. The territory of the new diocese was to include the territory of the former dioceses of Melphi, Rapolla, and Venosa.[15]

On 11 February 1973, Pope Paul VI had promoted the diocese of Potenza e Marsico Nuovo to the status of an archdiocese, and made it immediately subject to the papacy, rather than to some other archdiocese in the regions of Basilicata or Lucania. It had been suffragan to the archdiocese of Acerenza. The bishop was given the rank of archbishop, and granted the right to use the processional cross and the pallium.[16] The diocese of Melphi-Rapolla-Venosa was made a suffragan of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo.

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral of Melfi, dedicated to the Taking Up of the Body of the Virgin Mary into Heaven (Assumption), was administered by a Chapter, composed of four dignities (the Cantor, the Primicerius, the Treasurer, and the Vice-Cantor) and sixteen canons.[17] In 1748, there were four dignities and twenty-two canons.[18]

The cathedral Chapter of Rapolla had three dignities and five canons.[19]

In 1764, Venosa had a population of about 4,000 persons. Its cathedral, dedicated to S. Andrew, had a Chapter composed of four dignities and twenty canons.[20] When Venosa became united to the diocese of Melfi in 1986, it had a population of less than 34,000, with only twenty priests to serve them.[21]

Bishops

Diocese of Melfi
  • Balduin (1059–1093)[22]
...
  • Radulfus (attested 1177–1179)[23]
...
  • Jacobus (attested 1183–1185)[24]
  • Guillelmus (attested 1193–1199)[25]
...
  • Jacobus[26]
  • R(---) (attested 1204?–1213)[27]
  • Richerius (attested 1218–1232)[28]
...
Sede vacante (1239–1240)[29]
...
  • Rogerius de Lentino (1252)[30]
...
  • Garnerus de Villari-Bello (1266) Bishop-elect)[31]
  • Francesco de Monaldeschis (attested 1278–1280)[32]
  • Sinibaldo, O.Min. (1280–1295)[33]
  • Saracenus (1295–1316)[34]
  • Constantinus of Reggio (1317-1324)[35]
  • Guillelmus (1324–1326)[36]
  • Alexander of San Elpidio (1326)[37]
  • Monaldus Monaldi, O.Min. (1326–1331)[38]
  • Jacobus (1331–1347)[39]
  • Petrus (1347–1348)[40]
  • Joannes
  • Nicolaus (1349)[41]
  • Nicolaus Caracciolo (1349–1362)[42]
  • Antonius
  • Pandulfus
  • Franciscus (1369– )
  • Elias (1384– ) Avignon Obedience[43]
  • Nicolaus Avignon Obedience[44]
  • Jacobus (1382– ) Roman Obedience[45]
  • Antonius de Samudia (1384– ) Roman Obedience[46]
  • Giovanni Dominici, O.P. (2 Mar 1412 –1412)[47]
  • Francesco Carosio (4 Jul 1412 –1418)[48]
  • Giacomo Isolani (1420 – 24 Jan 1425 Resigned)
  • Francesco Palombo, O.S.B. (12 Dec 1431 – 1437 Died)
  • Onofrio di Francesco di Sanseverino (11 Jan 1437 – 1450 Died)
  • Alfonso Costa (4 Sep 1450 Appointed – )
  • Gaspare Loffredi (17 Apr 1472 – 1480 Died)
  • Ottaviano Bentivoglio (15 Dec 1480 – 1486)[49]
  • Francesco Caracciolo (bishop) (Carazoli) (24 Jun 1486 – 1494 Died)
  • Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el menor (September 19, 1494/December 3, 1498 – August 1, 1503)
  • Jean Ferrier I (3 Dec 1498 – 1499)[50]
  • Raffaele di Ceva, O.F.M. (26 Jul 1499 – 1513 Resigned)
  • Lorenzo Pucci (12 Aug 1513 – 16 Mar 1528 Resigned)

Diocese of Melfi e Rapolla

Latin Name: Melphiensis et Rapollensis
United: 16 May 1528 with Diocese of Rapolla

  • Giannotto Pucci (16 Mar 1528 – 1537 Died)
  • Giovanni Vincenzo Acquaviva d'Aragona (7 Feb 1537 – 16 Aug 1546 Died)
  • Roberto Pucci (7 Dec 1546 – 17 Jan 1547 Died)
  • Mario Ruffino (7 Feb 1547 – 1548 Died)
  • Alessandro Ruffino (27 Apr 1548 – 1573 Resigned)
  • Gaspare Cenci (8 Jan 1574 – 1590 Resigned)[51]
  • Orazio Celsi (16 Jul 1590 – 1591 Died)
  • Marco Antonio Amidano (13 Sep 1591 – Nov 1591 Resigned)
  • Matteo Brumani, O.S.A. (13 Nov 1591 – 9 Aug 1594 Died)
  • Placido della Marra (6 Mar 1595 – 2 Dec 1620 Died)[52]
  • Desiderio Scaglia, O.P. (17 Mar 1621 – 14 Nov 1622 Appointed, Bishop of Como)
  • Lazzaro Carafino (19 Dec 1622 – 7 Jan 1626 Appointed, Bishop of Como)[52]
  • Deodato Scaglia, O.P. (19 Jan 1626 – 18 Apr 1644 Appointed, Bishop of Alessandria)[52]
  • Giacomo Raimondi (2 May 1644 – Dec 1644 Died)[52]
  • Gerolamo Pellegrini (16 Jan 1645 – 12 Apr 1648 Died)[52]
  • Luigi Branciforte (28 Sep 1648 – 1665 Died)[52]
  • Giulio Caracciolo, C.R. (1 Mar 1666 – 1671 Resigned)[52][53]
  • Tommaso de Franchi (1671–1696)[54]
  • Francesco Antonio Triveri, O.F.M. Conv. (24 Sep 1696 – May 1697 Died)[53]
  • Antonio Spinelli, C.R. (2 Dec 1697 – Oct 1724 Died)[53]
  • Mondilio Orsini, C.O. (20 Nov 1724 – 8 Mar 1728 Appointed, Archbishop of Capua)[53]
  • Giovanni Saverio Lioni (22 Nov 1730 – 5 Mar 1735 Died)
  • Domenico Rossi (Rosso e Colonna), O.S.B. (26 Sep 1735 – 8 Jul 1737 Appointed, Archbishop of Palermo)
  • Luca Antonio della Gatta (8 Jul 1737 – 25 Sep 1747 Died)
  • Pasquale Teodoro Basta (29 Jan 1748 – 27 Dec 1765 Died)
  • Ferdinando de Vicariis, O.S.B. (14 Apr 1766 – 19 Jun 1780 Died)
  • Filippo d’Aprile (27 Feb 1792 – Apr 1811 Died)
  • Gioacchino de Gemmis (26 Jun 1818 – 12 Dec 1822 Died)
  • Vincenzo Ferrari, O.P. (3 May 1824 – 4 May 1828 Died)
  • Luigi Bovio, O.S.B. (18 May 1829 – 6 Nov 1847 Died)
  • Ignazio Maria Selitti (5 Nov 1849 – 1880 Resigned)
  • Giuseppe Camassa (4 Aug 1881 – 15 Apr 1912 Resigned)
  • Alberto Costa (4 Jan 1912 – 7 Dec 1928 Appointed, Bishop of Lecce)
  • Luigi dell’Aversana (Orabona) (29 Jul 1930 – 6 Nov 1934 Died)
  • Domenico Petroni (1 Apr 1935 – 5 Oct 1966 Retired)
  • Giuseppe Vairo (5 Mar 1973 – 25 Oct 1976 Appointed, Bishop of Tricarico)
  • Armando Franco (25 Oct 1976 – 12 Sep 1981 Appointed, Bishop of Oria)
  • Vincenzo Cozzi (12 Sep 1981 – 13 Dec 2002 Retired)

Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa

Latin Name: Dioecesis Melphiensis-Rapollensis-Venusinus
United: 30 September 1986 with Diocese of Venosa

  • Gianfranco Todisco, P.O.C.R. (13 Dec 2002 – 21 Apr 2017 Resigned)
  • Ciro Fanelli (4 Aug 2017 –)

See also

Notes and references
  1. "Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 29, 2016
  2. "Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 29, 2016
  3. Philippus Jaffe (1885). S. Loewenfeld (ed.). Regesta pontificum romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII (in Latin) (secunda ed.). Leipzig: Veit. p. 560. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), pp. 919-922. Carl Joseph Hefele (1871), (tr. Delarc), Histoire des Conciles (in French) Volume 6 (Paris: Adrien Leclere), pp. 388-392.
  4. D'Avino, p. 330, column 1. Carl Joseph Hefele (1871), (tr. Delarc), Histoire des Conciles (in French) Volume 6 (Paris: Adrien Leclere), p. 440. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIX (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), pp. 1063-1064.
  5. Kehr IX, p. 497, no. 1.
  6. Robert Somerville, Stephan Kuttner (1996), Collectio Britannica Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996 (ISBN 0198205694, 9780198205692).
  7. D'Avino, pp. 330-331. Carl Joseph Hefele (1872), Histoire des Conciles (in French) Volume 7 (Paris: Adrien Leclere), pp. 9-10.
  8. Donald Matthew (1992), The Norman Kingdom of Sicily (Cambridge University Press 1992), pp. 27-30.
  9. Kehr IX, p. 498, no. 2: "sancit, ut episcopi Melfitanae eccl. a Romano pontifice consecrationis gratiam sortiantur." Ughelli I, p. 924. Araneo, pp. 210-211.
  10. Benigni, Umberto (1911). "Diocese of Melfi and Rapolla" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10.
  11. Synodus dioecesana ecclesiae Melphiensis, seu constitutiones editae à Lazaro Carafino, Cremonensi, episcopo Melphiensi et Rapollensi, in synodo celebrata, anno 1624, (in Latin) Roma: Alphonsus Ciacconius 1625.
  12. Melphiensis ac Rapollensis Ecclesiarum Synodales Constitutiones... A R.mo F. Deodato Scalia, (in Latin), Melfi: apud Andream Baba, 1638.
  13. Prima dioecesana synodus sanctarum Melphiensis et Rapollensis ecclesiarum ab Mundilla Ursino celebrata diebus 11. 12. & 13. octobris anni jubilei 1725, (in Latin), Typis archiepiscopali 1726.
  14. In its decree Christus Dominus, section 22, it stated: "Concerning diocesan boundaries, therefore, this sacred synod decrees that, to the extent required by the good of souls, a fitting revision of diocesan boundaries be undertaken prudently and as soon as possible. This can be done by dividing dismembering or uniting them, or by changing their boundaries, or by determining a better place for the episcopal see or, finally, especially in the case of dioceses having larger cities, by providing them with a new internal organization.... At the same time the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous."
  15. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 738–740.
  16. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 65 (Città del Vaticano 1973), pp. 131-133.
  17. Bishop Deodato Scalia, "De rebus ecclesiarum Melphien. & Rapollen. ad invicem unitarum," in: Melphiensis ac Rapollensis Ecclesiarum Synodales Constitutiones... A R.mo F. Deodato Scalia, ad fin.[Scalia's report to the cardinals of the SC of the Council of Trent, on 20 February 1634, during his ad limina visit to Rome.
  18. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 285, note 1. The city had a population estimated at 7,000.
  19. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 264, note 1. The city had a population of about 1,300 persons.
  20. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 437, note 1.
  21. David Cheney, "Diocese of Venosa," Catholic-Hierarchy.org; retrieved: 5 September 2022.
  22. Gams, p. 896, column 1.
  23. Bishop Radulfus was present at the Third Lateran Council in Rome in March 1179. Mattei-Cerasoli (1919), PP. 315-316.
  24. Jacobus: Kamp, p. 487.
  25. Guillelmus: Kamp, pp. 487-488.
  26. Jacobus is mentioned as the predecessor of Bishop R[---].
  27. Bishop R[---] was deposed and excommunicated by Pope Innocent III on 5 June 1213, after several attempts to correct and reform him. Innocent had received written complaints from several sources, including the cathedral Chapter, accusing the bishop of practically every crime and sin of omission and commmission. The Chapter of Melfi was empowered to find a suitable candidate to replace him. Ughelli I, pp. 926-929. Araneo, pp. 253-256. Kamp, pp. 488-489.
  28. Richerius: Kamp, pp. 489-491.
  29. Kamp, p. 492.
  30. Bishop Rogerius was in exile, due to fighting among the barons. Kamp, pp. 492-493.
  31. Garnerius was a cleric of King Charles of Anjou, and was appointed by Pope Clement IV. Kamp, p. 493-494.
  32. Francesco was a native of Balneoregio, of the Monaldeschi of Orvieto. He was appointed bishop of Melfi by Pope Nicholas III in 1278. Bishop Francesco was transferred to the diocese of Orvieto on 11 May 1280 by Pope Nicholas. Ughelli I, p. 929, no. 12. Gams, p. 896. Eubel I, pp. 334, 508.
  33. Ughelli I, p. 929, no. 13. Eubel I, p. 334.
  34. Saracenus was a canon of the cathedral Chapter of Melfi, and a chaplain of the Bishop of Sabina, Cardinal Petrus Roderici. On the death of Bishop Sinibaldo, the Chapter met to choose his successor, "de antiqua et approbata et hactenus observata consuetudine". A dispute arose, and two candidates were chosen by two factions: Sinibaldo and Gervasius de Mellomonte, a canon of Evreux. The two candidates placed the matter in the hands of Pope Boniface VIII, who chose Sinibaldo. The pope notified interested parties in a letter of 4 August 1295. Ughelli I, p. 930-931, no. 14. Antoine Thomas, Les registres de Boniface VIII Fascicule 1 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1884), p. 123, no. 350. Eubel I, p. 334.
  35. Constantinus: On 2 February 1317, Pope John XXII wrote a letter to the archbishop of Naples, empowering him to investigate the canonical election of Constantinus of Reggio, Dean of the church of Squillace, to the bishopric of Melfi. If he found the election irregular, he was ordered to void it; otherwise, he was to confirm the election with papal authority. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. I (Paris: Fontemoing 1904), p. 248, no. 2670. Eubel I, p. 334.
  36. Following the death of Bishop Constantinus, the Chapter of Melfi met and elected Guillelmus, the Provost of Riez and papal chaplain. The election was approved by Pope John XXII in a letter of 19 March 1324. Eubel I, p. 324. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. V (Paris: Fontemoing 1909), p. 93, no. 19156.
  37. Alexander had been Prior General of the Order of the Hermits of S. Augustine (O.E.S.A. Following the report of the death of Bishop Guillelmus, Pope John XXII provided (appointed) him to the reserved see of Melfi on 18 February 1326. Bishop Alexander died in Avignon before 6 October 1326. Eubel I, p. 324. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. VI (Paris: Fontemoing 1912), p. 106, no. 24426; p. 333, no. 26686.
  38. Monaldus was provided (appointed) by Pope John XXII on 6 October 1326. He died in 1331. Ughelli I, pp. 932-933, no. 18. Eubel I, p. 334. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. VI (Paris: Fontemoing 1912), p. 333, no. 26686.
  39. Following the death of Bishop Monaldus, Jacobus, Archdeacon of Aversa, in diaconal orders, was provided (appointed) Bishop of Melfi by Pope John XXII, in a letter of 21 December 1331. Ughelli I, p. 933, no. 19. Eubel I, p. 334. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Vol. XI (Paris: E. de Boccard 1931), p. 106, no. 56007.
  40. Petrus de Clusello had been Bishop of Chioggia (1346–1347). On 12 December 1347 he was transferred to the diocese of Melfi by Pope Clement VI. On 30 May 1348, he was transferred to the diocese of Concordia. He died on 25 October 1360. Ughelli I, p. 933, no. 19. Eubel I, pp. 201, 334.
  41. Nicholas held the bishopric of Melfi from 4 September 1349 to 21 October 1349. Eubel I, p. 334.
  42. On 14 December 1362, Nicolaus was transferred to the diocese of Cosenza by Pope Urban V. Eubel I, pp. 220, 334.
  43. Elias: Ughelli I, p. 935, no. 28. Eubel I, p. 335.
  44. Nicolaus: Eubel I, p. 335.
  45. Jacobus: Eubel I, p. 335.
  46. Antonius: Ughelli I, p. 935, no. 29. Eubel I, p. 335.
  47. On 21 April 1412, Dominici was appointed Administrator of Bova.
  48. On 26 January 1418, Carosio was appointed Archbishop of Trani. Ughelli I, p. 937, no. 31. Eubel I, p. 335 with note 12.
  49. On 10 May 1486, Bentivoglio was appointed Archbishop of Salerno.
  50. On 26 Jul 1499 Appointed, Archbishop of Arles)
  51. "Bishop Gaspare Cenci" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
  52. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 238.
  53. Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi (in Latin). Vol. V. Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. pp. 264–265.
  54. Franchi was born in Genoa in 1626, and held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the University of Genoa (1644). He was appointed bishop of Melfi by Pope Clement X on 24 August 1671. He died in May 1696. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 264 with note 3.

Bibliography

Studies

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