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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,[citation needed] 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]
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]
↑ Philippus Jaffe (1885). S. Loewenfeld (ed.). Regesta pontificum romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII (in Latin) (secundaed.). 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.
↑ 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.
↑ Robert Somerville, Stephan Kuttner (1996), Collectio Britannica Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996 (ISBN 0198205694, 9780198205692).
↑ D'Avino, pp. 330-331. Carl Joseph Hefele (1872), Histoire des Conciles(in French) Volume 7 (Paris: Adrien Leclere), pp. 9-10.
↑ Donald Matthew (1992), The Norman Kingdom of Sicily (Cambridge University Press 1992), pp. 27-30.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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."
↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 738–740.
↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 65 (Città del Vaticano 1973), pp. 131-133.
↑ Jacobus is mentioned as the predecessor of Bishop R[---].
↑ 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.
↑ Bishop Rogerius was in exile, due to fighting among the barons. Kamp, pp. 492-493.
↑ Garnerius was a cleric of King Charles of Anjou, and was appointed by Pope Clement IV. Kamp, p. 493-494.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ Nicholas held the bishopric of Melfi from 4 September 1349 to 21 October 1349. Eubel I, p. 334.
↑ On 14 December 1362, Nicolaus was transferred to the diocese of Cosenza by Pope Urban V. Eubel I, pp. 220, 334.
↑ Elias: Ughelli I, p. 935, no. 28. Eubel I, p. 335.
↑ 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
Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol.Tomus 1 (seconded.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol.Tomus 2 (seconded.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol.3 (seconded.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
Antonucci, Giovanni, "II vescovato di Melfi." (in Italian). in: Archivio storico per la Calabria e la Lucania 6 (1936) 35 ff.
Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1870). Le chiese d'Italia: dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol.vigesimoprimo (21). Venezia: G. Antonelli. pp.419–457.
Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolò (1717). Italia sacra, sive De Episcopis Italiae (in Latin). Vol.Tomus primus (secundaed.). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp.920–942.
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