Roman Catholic Diocese of Vieste

The Diocese of Vieste (Latin: Dioecesis Vestanus) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town in the province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. On 27 June 1818, the diocese of Viesti was granted to the archbishops of Siponto (Manfredonia) as perpetual Administrators. On 30 September 1986, the diocese of Viesti was suppressed, its territory incorporated into the archdiocese of Siponto, and renamed the Archdiocese of Manfredonia–Vieste. Its former cathedral, named in honor of the Assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, is now the Vieste Co-cathedral and, like nearly all cathedrals in Italy, a minor basilica.

Cathedral of the Assumption, Vieste

History

Pope Paschal II confirmed the Church of Vieste to be a suffragan of the archbishops of Siponto (Manfredonia). Paschal held a synod at Siponti in the spring of 1117, and it is suggested by Kehr that it was on this occasion that his confirmation of ecclesiastical privileges was made.^[1] Vieste was confirmed as a suffragan of the archbishops of Siponto in the time of Pope Alexander III (1159–1181).^[2]

The city of Viesti was destroyed in 1554 by a Saracen fleet.^[3]

After Napoleon

Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the Kingdom, as well as the confiscation of most Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution.

A concordat was finally signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand issued the concordat as a law on 21 March 1818.^[4] The re-erection of the dioceses of the kingdom and the ecclesiastical provinces took more than three years. The right of the king to nominate the candidate for a vacant bishopric was recognized, as in the Concordat of 1741, subject to papal confirmation (preconisation).^[5] On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which he reestablished the metropolitan archbishopric of Siponto (Manrfredonia), but with no suffragan dioceses at all. The diocese of Viesti was given to the archbishop of Siponto in perpetual administratorship.^[6]

Diocesan Reorganization

Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,^[7] Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy. Pope Paul VI ordered consultations among the members of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican Curia, the Italian Bishops Conference, and the various dioceses concerned.

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. 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 Siponto and Viesti be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Archidioecesis Sipontina-Vestana. The seat of the diocese was to be in Manfredonia, and its cathedral was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in Viesti was to have the honorary titles of "co-cathedral"; the cathedral Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Manfredonia, 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 suppressed dioceses of Viesti. The town of Rignano Garganico, however, was detached from the diocese, and assigned to the diocese of S. Severo.^[8]

Bishops of Vieste

to 1547

...

• Alfanus (attested c. 994 – 1035)^[9]

...

• Marandus (before 1170)^[10]

...

• Simeon (attested 1179)^[11]

...

• Petrus (c. 1225)^[12]
• Theoduinus (1227)^[13]

...

• Johannes (attested 1274–1275)^[14]

...

• Angelo (1291? – death 1302)^[15]

Gabriel, O.S.B. (1303) Bishop-elect^[16]

• Giovanni, Augustinian Order O.E.S.A. (1304 – ?)^[17]

...

• Elia Seguini, O.P. (1343.10.27 – 1349)
• Nicola, O.F.M. (1349 – 1361?)^[18]
• Cristoforo (1361 – 1371)^[19]
• Rainaldo di Monte Sant’Angelo, O.F.M. (9 June 1371 – 1385?)
• Samparinus (1385? – 1387)^[20]
• Antonio (13 August 1387 – 24 March 1390) Roman Obedience^[21]
• Guilelmus Simonelli (1387 – 1420) Avignon Obedience^[22]
• Samparino (1390 – death 1403) Roman Obedience^[23]
• Lorenzo de Gilotto (1403 – 1405) Roman Obedience^[24]
• Francesco (1405 – 1420?) Roman Obedience^[25]
• Giovanni de Ruvo (1420 – after 1440)^[26]

...

• Benedetto Bernardi, O.P. (1477 – 1495)^[27]
• Carlo Bocconi (1495.10.23 – death 1505)^[28]
• Latino Pio (1505 – 1514)^[29]
• Giovanni Francesco Salvini (1514 – 1516)^[30]
• Girolamo Magnani, O.F.M. (1518 – death 1527)^[31]
• Ludovico Buono (1527.02.18 – death 1528)^[32]
• Leonardo Bonafide, O.S.B. (1528.01.24 – 1529)^[33]
• Alfonso Albornoz Alarcon (Carilli) (3 Aug 1530 Appointed – 1547 Died)

1547 to 1818

• Pellegrino Fabio (1 Jul 1547 Appointed – 14 Sep 1551 Died)
• Giulio Pavesi, O.P. (1555.10.02 – 1558.07.20)^[34]
• Ugo Boncompagni (1558.07.20 – 1565.03.12)^[35]
• Antonio Ganguzia (1565.10.20 – death 1574.03.08)
• Anselmo Olivieri, O.F.M. (1574.03.20 – ?)
• José Esteve Juan (1586.03.17 – 1594)^[36]
• Thomas Cammerota, O.P. (1589.07.17 – death 1589)
• Maschio Ferracuti (1589.10.25 – death 1613.07.14)
• Muzio Vitali (1613.11.13 – death 1615)^[37]
• Paolo Palumbo, C.R. (1615.05.18 – 1617)^[38]
• Ambrogio Palumbo, O.P. (1618.02.12 – death 1641)
• Paolo Ciera, O.E.S.A. (1642.01.13 – death 1644.05.27)
• Giacomo Accarisi (1644.10.17 – death 1654)^[39]
• Giovanni Mastelloni (1654.10.19 – death 1668.07.28)
• Raimondo del Pozzo (1668.11.10 – death 1694.10.30)^[40]
• Andrea Tontoli (1695.02.07 – death 1696.10.21); previously Bishop of Alessano (1666 – 1695.02.07)
• Francesco Antonio Volturale (1697.01.14 – death 1697.10.18)^[40]
• Lorenzo Kreutter de Corvinis, O.S.B. Silv. (1697.11.20 – death 1701.07.14)^[40]
• Giovanni Antonio Ruggiero (1703.05.14 – death 1704.10.08)^[40]
• Camillo Caravita (1704.12.15 – death 1713.09.24)^[40]
• Giuseppe Grisconi, Sch. P. (1718.01.24 – death 1719.09.16)^[40]
• Marco Antonio De Marco (1720.04.15 – 1725.03.21); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Manfredonia (Italy) (1725.03.21 – death 1742.04)^[40]
• Nicola Preti Castriota (1725.04.18 – 1748.12.01)^[40]
• Nicola Cimaglia, O.S.B. Cel. (1748.12.16 – death 1764.05.27)
• Giuseppe Maruca (1764.08.20 – death 1784.12.27)
• Dominicus Arcaroli (1792.03.26 – 1817.11.10); previously Bishop of Lavello (1776.01.29 – 1792.03.26); emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Bostra (1817.11.10 – 1826.06.25)

Notes and references

1. Kehr, pp. 237, nos. 16, 18; 239; 268 no. 1. Philippus Jaffé (S. Loewenfeld ed.), Regesta pontificum Romanorum second edition, Volume I (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 766.
2. Ughelli VII, p. 354.
3. Kehr IX, p. 268.
4. F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19.
5. Torelli I, p. 9.
6. Bulliarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 58, § 11: "Ecclesia archiepiscopalis Sypontina nullam quidem habebit suffraganeam , hodierno tamen ac prò tempore existenti Sypontino antistiti episcopalis ecclesiae Vestanae administrationem perpetuo tribuimus , ac Sypontinum archiepiscopum et Vestanae episcopalis ecclesiae administratorem in posterum nuncupari decernimus.."
7. Christus Dominus 40. Therefore, in order to accomplish these aims this sacred synod decrees as follows: 1) The boundaries of ecclesiastical provinces are to be submitted to an early review and the rights and privileges of metropolitans are to be defined by new and suitable norms. 2) As a general rule all dioceses and other territorial divisions that are by law equivalent to dioceses should be attached to an ecclesiastical province. Therefore dioceses which are now directly subject to the Apostolic See and which are not united to any other are either to be brought together to form a new ecclesiastical province, if that be possible, or else attached to that province which is nearer or more convenient. They are to be made subject to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the bishop, in keeping with the norms of the common law. 3) Wherever advantageous, ecclesiastical provinces should be grouped into ecclesiastical regions for the structure of which juridical provision is to be made.
8. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 786-789.
9. Kehr IX, p. 268: "Primus enim episcopus quern novimus Alfanus in charta 1019 m. iun. data (Petrucci Cod. dipl. di Tremiti II 22 n. 7) annum 26 sui episcopatus computavit; sedit igitur inde ab a. cr. 994."
10. Ughelli VII, pp. 866, 826, 854: a decision taken by Pope Alexander III (1159–1181): "...et episcopus Vestanus in Sipontina Ecclesia consecraretur, sicut bon. memoriae Siffridus quondam Sipontinius Archiepiscopus Marandum Vestanum electum in Ecclesia Sipontina noscitur consecrasse." Siffredus was archbishop of Siponto c. 1155–1166, Giuliani, p. 93. Gams, p. 924.
11. Bishop Simeon attended the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III, in March 1179. Kamp, p. 541, with note 3.
12. Petrus: Kamp, p. 542.
13. Theoduinus: Kamp. p. 542.
14. Johannes: Kamp, p. 542, with notes 16-17.
15. An "electus Vestanus" occurs in 1291, who may have been Angelo. Eubel I, p. 524, note 1.
16. Gabriel had been abbot of the monastery of Pulsano. He was canonically elected by the Chapter, and did omne jus quod sibi competebat ex electione predicta. But he suddenly resigned to the Bishop of Albano, Leonardo Patrassi. Pope Benedict XI then entrusted Cardinal Landolfo, Deacon of S. Angelo, to find a suitable bishop. The cardinal proposed Fra Johannes O.E.S.A., whom the pope confirmed on 17 February 1304. Gams, p. 941, column 2. Eubel I, p. 524. Ch. Grandjean, Le registre de Benoît XI fasc. 2 (Paris: E. Thorin 1884), p. 349, no. 519.
17. Johannes was approved by Pope Benedict XI on 17 February 1304. Eubel I, p. 524.
18. Nicholas had been bishop of Chissamo (Kisamos, Crete). He was transferred to Vieste by Pope Clement VI on 17 June 1349. He died apparently in 1361; his successor was appointed on 17 November 1361. Gams, p. 941, gives the date 1380 Guliani, p. 104. Eubel I, pp. 185, 524.
19. Christopher had been bishop of Lavacen (Greece) in 1361. He was transferred to Viesti on 17 November 1361 by Pope Innocent VI. Eubel I, pp. 297, 524.
20. It is said that Samparinus (Samperinus) went over to the Avignon Obedience, and was deprived of the diocese by Urban VI, who appointed Antonius. Ughelli VII, p. 866 no. 11. Giuliani, pp. 104-105. Eubel I, p. 524, who says "prov. ab Urb. VI", rather than "priv." (deprived).
21. Bishop Antonius was transferred to the diocese of Ruvo (Italy) on 24 March 1390, by Pope Boniface IX. He died in 1398. Giuliani, p. 105. Eubel I, pp. 426, 524.
22. Guglielmo had been Archpriest of the church of Monte Gargano. He was appointed bishop of Viesti by [[antipope Clement VII]|Pope Clement VII] on 17 August 1387, following the death of Bishop Reginald (Albanés, p. 152, no. 433). He composed his differences with Boniface IX, from whom he received other benefices beginning in 1399. He was transferred to the diocese of Orange by Pope Martin V on 12 February 1420 (Albanés, p. 153, no. 435). On 29 November 1428, he was named Bishop of Cassano all’Jonio (Albanés, p. 155, no. 439). He died in 1432. Eubel I, pp. 118, 170, 524 with note 3; II, p. 119. Joseph Hyacinthe Albanés (1916), Gallia Christiana Novissima: Orange (Évêques, prévots), Société anonyme d'imprimerie montbéliardaise, 1916, pp. 152-156.
23. Samperinus was reappointed bishop of Viesti by Pope Boniface IX on 13 April 1390. He died in 1403. Ughelli VII, p. 866. Eubel I, p. 524.
24. Gilotto had been a canon of the cathedral of Foggia. He was appointed bishop of Viesti by Pope Boniface IX on 30 July 1403, in succession to Bishop Samparino. He was transferred to the diocese of Pozzuoli on 29 September 1405, by Pope Innocent VII. He died in 1434. Giulini, p. 105. Eubel I, pp. 410, 524.
25. Francesco had been Archdeacon of the cathedral of Tricarico. He was appointed bishop of Viesti by Pope Innocent VII on 29 September 1405. His subsequent career is unknown. Eubel I, p. 524.
26. Giovanni de Ruvo was appointed bishop of 12 February 1420 by Pope Martin V. Giuliani, p. 107, makes the date 15 March (perhaps the date of his possession). Leone Mattei-Cerasoli (1919), "Da archivii e biblioteche: Di alcuni vescovi poco noti". (in Italian). In: Archivio storico per le province Neapolitane 44 (Napoli: Luigi Lubrano 1919), p. 335. Eubel I, p. 524.
27. Bernardi was appointed by Pope Sixtus IV on 18 September 1477. Giuliani, p. 109, gives the date of his appointment as 1467, by Pope Paul II. Eubel II, p. 266.
28. Carolus was a native of Parma, and the private secretary of Cardinal Giovanni Giacomo Sclafenati. He was appointed bishop of Viesti on 23 October 1495, by Pope Alexander VI. He did not govern Viesti for thirty years, as Ughelli VII, p. 867, and Giuliani, p. 112, insist; they place his appointment in 1475. He died in 1495. Eubel II, p. 266.
29. Pio was appointed by Pope Julius II on 5 December 1505. He attended the Fifth Lateran Council in December 1512. He died in 1514. Ughelli VII, p. 867 no. 19. Eubel III, p. 332.
30. Salvini, a Florentine, had been Bishop of Spigant (Pegae, Turkey) from 1510 to 1514. He was transferred to Viesti by Pope Leo X on 4 August 1514. He was present at the Fifth Lateran Council in 1515. He died in February 1516. Eubel III, pp. 303, 332. A. Ferrajoli, "Il Ruolo della Corte di Leone X," Archivio della Società romana di storia patria 35 (Roma 1912), pp. 526-528.
31. A native of Padua, Magnani had been Bishop of Budua (Dalmatia) and Antibara (Epirus) from 1509 to 1518. He was appointed Bishop of Viesti on 26 February 1518 by Pope Leo X. He died in 1527. Giuliani, p. 113-114. Eubel II, p. 112; III, p. 113, 332.
32. Buono was appointed by Pope Clement VII on 18 February 1527. His successor was appointed on 24 January 1528. He held the diocese of Viesti for less than a year. Eubel III, p. 332.
33. A native of Florence, Bonafide had been abbot of the monastery of S. Teodaldo in the diocese of Cività Castellana. He was appointed bishop of Viesti on 24 January 1528. On 24 May 1529, Bishop Bonafide was appointed Bishop of Cortona. He resigned in 1538. Giuliani, pp. 116-117. Eubel III, pp. 179, 332
34. A native of the diocese of Brescia, Pavesi had previously been Bishop of San Leone (23 August – 2 October 1555). He was appointed bishop of Viesti on 2 October 1555, by Pope Paul IV. He was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorrento on 20 July 1558. He died on 11 February 1571. Eubel III, pp. 223, 306, 332.
35. Boncompagni was later created Cardinal-Priest of S. Sisto (1565.05.15 – 1572.05.13), and elected Pope Gregory XIII.
36. On 12 January 1594, Bishop Juan was transferred to the diocese of Orihuela (Spain). He died on 2 November 1603.
37. "Bishop Muzio Vitali" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016
38. On 17 April 1617, Bishop Palumbo was transferred to the diocese of Cassano all'Jonio (Italy). He was then named Bishop of Ariano (Italy) (1645–1647. He died in 1647.
39. "Bishop Giacomo Accarisi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved October 29, 2016
40. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 412.

Bibliography

Episcopal lists

• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. I (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. II (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. III (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo (in Latin). Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp. 852–853.
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol. V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol. VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio.

Studies

• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1870). Le chiese d'Italia: dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. vigesimo (20). Venezia: G. Antonelli. pp. 595–600.
• D'Avino, Vincenzo (1848). Cenni storici sulle chiese arcivescovili, vescovili, e prelatizie (nulluis) del Regno delle Due Sicilie (in Italian). Napoli: Ranucci. pp. [1].
• Kamp, Norbert (1975). Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien: I. Prosopographische Grundlegung, Bistumer und Bistümer und Bischöfe des Konigreichs 1194–1266: 2. Apulien und Calabrien München: Wilhelm Fink 1975.
• Kehr, Paulus Fridolin (1962). Italia pontificia. Regesta pontificum Romanorum. Vol. IX: Samnia – Apulia – Lucania Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Berlin: Weidmann. (in Latin). pp. 268-270.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, NIccolo (1721). Italia sacra sive De episcopis Italiæ, et insularum adjacentium (in Latin). Vol. Tomus septimus (7). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 866–878.