The Diocese of Matelica (Latin: Dioecesis Mathelicensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Matelica in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region of Marche. [1] [2]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2019) |
Camillo Acquacotta conjectures that it was around 578 that the first epoch of the diocese of Matelica came to an end, as a result of the massive destruction of the Lombard invasions. [3]
On 8 July 1785, the diocese of Matelica was revived by Pope Pius VI, its territory was separated from that of the diocese of Fabriano, and it was united aeque principaliter with the Diocese of Fabriano to form the Diocese of Fabriano e Matelica, two dioceses joined by the fact of having one bishop. The Collegiate Church of S. Maria e S. Bartolomeo was erected into a cathedral church, and made immediately subject to the Holy See (Papacy). Its Chapter was appointed to be the cathedral Chapter, consisting of an Archpriest and thirteen Canons, two of whom would fill the offices of Theologus and Penitentiary. The rights of the bishop and diocese of Camerino over the city and territory of Matelica were extinguished. The bishop of Fabriano e Matelica would be expected to live part of the year in Fabriano and part in Matelica. [4]
In a decree of the Second Vatican Council, it was recommended that dioceses be reorganized to take into account modern developments. [5] The diocese of Matelica was united with the diocese of Fabriano as part of a project initiated by Pope John XXIII and continued by his successors. This project aimed to reduce the number of dioceses in Italy and rationalize their borders in response to modern population changes and shortages of clergy. The change was approved by Pope John Paul II during an audience on September 27, 1986, and formally decreed by the Sacred Congregation of Bishops of the Papal Curia on September 30, 1986. The unified diocese was named Dioecesis Fabrianensis-Mathelicensis, with its seat established in Fabriano. Matelica's former cathedral received the honorary title of co-cathedral, and its chapter became the Capitulum Concathedralis. This union additionally resulted in a single episcopal curia, one seminary, and one ecclesiastical tribunal, with all of the clergy to be incardinated in the new Diocese of Fabriano-Matelica. [6]