Roman Catholic Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli

The Italian Roman Catholic diocese of Conversano-Monopoli (Latin: Dioecesis Conversanensis-Monopolitana), in Apulia, has existed since 1986, when the diocese of Monopoli was united with the historic diocese of Conversano. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto.[1][2]

Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli Dioecesis Conversanensis-Monopolitana
Cathedral in Conversano
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Bari-Bitonto
Statistics
Area	1,099 km^2 (424 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2016) 252,707 249,650 (guess) (98.8%)
Parishes	56
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	5th Century
Cathedral	Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta
Co-cathedral	Basilica Cattedrale di Maria SS. della Mactia
Secular priests	94 (diocesan) 49 (Religious Orders) 17 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Giuseppe Favale
Map
Website
www.conversano.chiesacattolica.it

History

Conversano is the ancient Cupersanum. After the invasion of the Normans, it was for a while the seat of a duchy; later, however, it became a fief of the dukes of Atri.

Local tradition preserves the name of a bishop, Simplicius, who attended the Roman synod of 487 and died in 492, but he belongs to legend, not history.[3] Ferdinando Ughelli[4] prints the narrative of Francesco Giuliano of Conversano concerning Simplicius, but states that it seems to him to be highly suspect, and maybe deliberately invented falsehoods or corrupt, since there are some things found in it which cannot be true.[5]

The first alleged bishop of Conversano was Hilarius, present at the Roman synod of 501. His name however is a false reading of the acts of the synod; he actually belonged to Tempsa in the Abruzzi, not to Conversano in Apulia.

No other names are recorded up to the episcopate of Leo, mentioned in a document of 1088.

In 1670 (and 1744) the Chapter of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven was composed of four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Cantor and the Primicerius[6]) and twenty-six Canons.[7] In the city of approximately 7,000 inhabitants (1744) there were five religious houses for men and three monasteries for men.

Bishops

Diocese of Conversano

to 1400

...

• Leo (attested 1088)[8]

...

• Cafisius (attested 1179, 1180)[9]
• Guilelmus (attested 1188 – April 1202)[10]
• Ignotus (attested 1207)[11]
• Concilius (attested April 1212 – 9 October 1231)[12]
• Stefano, O.Cist. (attested 1267 – 1274)[13]

...

• Giovanni de Gropi (c. 1283)[14]

...

• Guillelmus (attested 1318, 1321)[15]
• Petrus Baccari (attested 1335, 1342)[16]
• Stefano (7 January 1351 – 1355?)[17]
• Petrus de Ytro (19 February 1356 – )
• Guilelmus (Avignon Obedience)
• Angelo de Cupersano, O.Min. (12 July 1393 – ) (Avignon Obedience)[18]
• Amicus (Antonius) (Roman Obedience)
• Jacobus ( – 22 December 1399) (Roman Obedience)[19]

1400 to 1600

• Franciscus
• Stefano de Alfano (9 March 1403 – 1423)[20]
• Antonio Guidotti (9 Sep 1423 – 1432 Died)[21]

• Marino Orsini (4 November 1432 – 29 April 1437) (Administrator)[22]

• Andrea Veroli (29 Apr 1437 – 25 Sep 1439)[23][24]
• Donato Bottini, O.E.S.A. (9 October 1439 – 4 September 1448)[25]
• Pietro de Miggola, O.M. (4 September 1448 – 1464)[26]
• Paolo de Torcoli (30 November 1465 – d. 1482)[27]
• Sulpicio Acquaviva d'Aragona (17 Feb 1483 – 1494 Died)[28][29]
• Vincenzo Pistacchio (1494 – 3 Nov 1499 Appointed, Bishop of Bitetto)[30]
• Donato Acquaviva d'Aragona (1499 – 1528 Died)[31][32]
• Antonio Sanseverino, O.S.Io.Hieros. (28 Jul 1529 – 11 Feb 1534 Resigned)
• Giacomo Antonio Carrozza (1534 – 1560 Died)[33]
• Giovanni Francesco Lottini (1560 – 1561 Resigned)
• Romolo de Valentibus (1561 – 1579 Died)[34]
• Francesco Maria Sforza (1579 – 1605 Died)[35]

1600 to 1800

• Pietro Capullio, O.F.M. Conv. (31 Aug 1605 – 24 Jun 1625 Died)[36]
• Vincenzo Martinelli (bishop), O.P. (18 Aug 1625 – 20 Sep 1632)[37]
• Antonio Brunachio (24 Nov 1632 – 1 Jan 1638 Died)[38]
• Agostino Ferentillo (19 Apr 1638 – 7 Sep 1641 Died)[39]
• Pietro Paolo Bonsi (26 May 1642 – 1658 Died)[40]
• Giuseppe Palermo (8 Dec 1658 – 1 Sep 1670)[41]
• Giovanni Stefano Sanarica (Senarega), O.S.B. (23 Feb 1671 – 16 Jun 1679 Died)[42]
• Andrea Brancaccio, C.R. (13 Jan 1681 – 18 Apr 1701)[43][44]
• Filippo Meda (23 Jan 1702 – 18 Jul 1733 Died)[45]
• Giovanni Macario Valenti (28 Sep 1733 – 10 Apr 1744 Died)[46]
• Filippo Felice del Prete (13 Apr 1744 – 22 Dec 1751 Died)[47]
• Michele di Tarsia, C.P.O. (24 Jan 1752 – 7 May 1772 Died)[48]
• Fabio Maria Palumbo, C.R. (7 Sep 1772 – 18 Mar 1786 Died)[49]
• Nicola Vecchi (27 Feb 1792 – 18 Dec 1797)[50]

1800 to 1986

• Gennaro Carelli (18 Dec 1797 – 3 Mar 1818 Died)[51]
• Nicola Carelli (21 Feb 1820 – 14 Apr 1826 Died)[52]
• Giovanni De Simone, C.M. (3 Jul 1826 – 13 Aug 1847 Died)
• Giuseppe-Maria Mucedola (11 Dec 1848 – 22 Mar 1865 Died)[53]
• Salvatore Silvestris, C.SS.R. (23 Feb 1872 – 14 Feb 1879 Died)
• Augusto Antonio Vicentini (12 May 1879 – 13 May 1881)[54]
• Casimiro Gennari (13 May 1881 – 6 Feb 1897)[55]
• Antonio Lamberti (19 Apr 1897 – 12 Aug 1917 Died)
• Domenico Lancellotti (14 Mar 1918 – 9 Jun 1930 Died)
• Domenico Argnani (30 Sep 1931 – 15 Jun 1935)[56]
• Gregorio Falconieri (12 Sep 1935 – 24 May 1964 Retired)
• Antonio D'Erchia (21 Jan 1970 – 30 Sep 1986) (Appointed Bishop of the renamed Conversano-Monopoli)

Co-cathedral in Monopoli

Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli

United: 30 September 1986 with Diocese of Monopoli

• Antonio D'Erchia (30 Sep 1986 – 11 Feb 1987 Retired)
• Domenico Padovano (13 Feb 1987 – 5 Feb 2016 Retired)
• Giuseppe Favale (5 Feb 2016 – )[57]

References

1. "Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
2. "Diocese of Conversano–Monopoli" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
3. Lanzoni, p. 303, who notes that his name is not found in the acta of that synod.
4. Italia sacra VII, p. 701.
5. ...mihi valde suspecta videtur, et forte commentitia vel corrupta, cum in ea aliqua sint apposita quae cum veritate esse non possunt.
6. Ughelli, p. 700.
7. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 note 1; VI, p. 181 note 1. Ughelli says there were twelve Canons.
8. Leo granted the spiritual jurisdiction of Castrum Puteneanum to the monastery of S. Stefano in Monopoli. Ughelli, p. 704. Graevius-Burmann, pp. 39, 69.
9. Ughelli, p. 704. Kamp, p. 626.
10. Ughelli, pp. 704-705. Kamp, p. 626.
11. Kamp, pp. 626-627.
12. Kamp, pp. 627-628.
13. Umberto Benigni. "Conversano." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. Retrieved: 2016-10-02. Ughelli, VII, pp. 705-708. Kamp, pp. 628-629.
14. Gropi: Ughelli, pp. 711-712. Eubel, I, p. 218.
15. Guillelmus: Gams, p. 877. Eubel, I, p. 218.
16. Petrus Baccari: Gams, p. 877. Eubel, I, p. 218.
17. Stefano: Eubel, I, p. 218.
18. Angelo had previously been Bishop of Polignano (1382–1393). Eubel, I, pp. 218, 405.
19. Jacobus was transferred to the diocese of Guardialfiera on 22 December 1399. Eubel, I, pp. 218, 269.
20. Stefano: Ughelli, p. 412. Eubel, I, p. 218.
21. Antonio was the son of Guidotti, a notary of Conversano. He was Archdeacon of Conversano when appointed bishop by Pope Martin IV. Ughelli, p. 412. Cappelletti, XXI, p. 42. Eubel, I, p. 218.
22. Orsini, son of Francesco Orsini, was a member of the aristocratic Roman family of the Orsini. He was a Doctor of Canon Law and a Protonotary Apostolic. On 4 July 1444 he was named Archbishop of Palermo, and then Archbishop of Taranto on 30 July 1445. He served as papal Nuncio in England. Jean Guiraud (1896). L'état pontifical après le grand schisme: étude de géographie politique (in French). Paris: A. Fontemoing. p. 116. Eubel, II, p. 136 with note 1; 211; 246.
23. Veroli was appointed Bishop of Boiano on 25 September 1439. Eubel, II, pp. 108, 135.
24. "Bishop Andrea Veroli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved May 10, 2017
25. A Neapolitan, Bishop Donato was transferred to the diocese of Valva on 4 September 1448. He was later Bishop of Urbino (1452), and Camerino (1464). Eubel, II, pp. 135, 262.
26. Pietro was a Spaniard, and had been papal Penitentiary Minor. Ughelli, VII, p. 713.
27. Torcoli was Capitular Vicar during the vacancy following the death of Bishop Pietro de Miggola. He was appointed bishop by Pope Paul II at the request of Count Giulio Acquaviva and Countess Catherine. Ughelli, p. 713. Eubel, II, p. 135.
28. Sulpicio Acquaviva was the son of Giulio Antonio Acquaviva and Caterina d'Atri. The family of Acquaviva had been Counts of Conversano since the fifteenth century: Casimiro : di S. Maria Maddalena padre (padre) (1729). Cronica della provincia de' Minori Osservanti Scalzi di S. Pietro d'Alcantara nel Regno di Napoli (in Italian). Naples: a spese di d. Lelio di Cabano. pp. 466–468. Pierfrancesco Rescio (2001). La Cattedrale di Conversano (in Italian). Rubbettino Editore. p. 51. ISBN 978-88-498-0094-4.
29. "Bishop Sulpicio Acquaviva d'Aragona" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
30. "Bishop Vincenzo Pistacchio" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
31. Donato was the brother of the Marquis de Bitonto and of Bishop Sulpicio Acquaviva. Donato d'Aragona was appointed Bishop of Conversano at the age of 24, and thus was only Administrator of the diocese for three years, until he reached the age of 27, when he could be consecrated in accordance with Canon Law. He held the rank of Protonotary Apostolic. Eubel, II, p. 135, with note 3.
32. "Bishop Donato Acquaviva d'Aragona" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016
33. "Bishop Giacomo Antonio Carrozza" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016
34. "Bishop Romolo de Valentibus" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016
35. Francesco Sforza was a native of Monopoli and a doctor of theology. Ughelli, VII, p. 715. Eubel, III, p. 177.
36. Capulli was a native of Cortone. He was regent of the school at the convent of the Franciscans at the Basilica XII Apostolorum in Rome. He was named bishop of Conversano by Pope Paul V on 31 August 1605, and consecrated by Cardinal Evangelista Palotto on 14 September 1605. He died on 24 June 1625. Ughelli, p. 715. Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 2.
37. Bishop Martinelli was transferred to the diocese of Venafro on 20 September 1632. He died in August 1635. Gauchat, IV, pp. 163 with note 3; 361 with note 3.
38. Brunachio: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 4.
39. Ferentillo: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 5.
40. Bonsi: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 6.
41. Palermo was transferred to the diocese of Santa Severina on 1 September 1670. He died in 1673. Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 7. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 355 with note 2.
42. Senarega was born in Albaro (diocese of Genoa). He held a doctorate in theology (Parma 1663). He was consecrated in Rome on 8 March 1671 by Cardinal Carlo Roberti. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 with note 2.
43. Appointed Archbishop of Cosenza. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 171 with note 3; 179 with note 4.
44. "Bishop Nicola Cirillo" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
45. Meda: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 with note 4.
46. Valenti: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 2.
47. Del Prete: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 3.
48. Born in 1696, Tarsia was a native of Conversano, and was Doctor in utroque iure (La Sapienza, Rome, 1752) at the age of 48. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 30 January 1752 by the titular Patriarch of Constantinople, Ferdinando Maria Rossi. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 4.
49. Palumbo was born in 1708 at Lecce. He taught theology in several houses of his Congregation. He was Vicar of the house of his Congregation at S. Andrea della Valle in Rome. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Ferdinando Maria Rossi on 13 September 1772. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 5.
50. Vecchi was appointed Bishop of Teano by Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies, on 24 October 1797, and confirmed by Pope Pius VI on 18 December 1797. Ritzler-Sefrin, pp. 181 with note 6; 399 with note 8.
51. Carelli was a native of Conversano. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Naples 1771). He was Canon, then Primicerius, and finally Archpriest of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Conversano. He was nominated bishop on 31 October 1797 by King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, and approved by Pope Pius VI on 18 December 1797. Carelli was consecrated in Rome on 24 December 1797 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Caprara. Luigi Valvalle, in D'Avino, p. 221. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 7.
52. Nicola Carelli was the brother of Bishop Gennaro Carelli.
53. Mucedola was born in San Paolo (diocese of Santa Severina) in 1807. As bishop, in 1861 he defended the right of the people to make their own political choices in a referendum on the Kingdom of Italy. Pietro Scoppola (1967). Chiesa e Stato nella storia d'Italia: Storia documentaria dall'Unitā alla Republica (in Italian). Roma: Ed. Laterza. p. 142. Cosmo Francesco Ruppi (1965). Giuseppe Maria Mucedola: vescovo-patriota di Conversano : con document inediti (in Italian). Molfetta (Bari): Scuola Tip. Istituto Provinciale Apicella.
54. Vicentini was born in L'Aquila in 1829. He was appointed Archbishop of L’Aquila on 13 May 1881. La Gerarchia cattolica 1882 (Rome: Monaldi 1882), p. 108.
55. Gennari was a native of Maratea (diocese of Policastro). He was the founder of the monthly journal Il Monitore ecclesiastico, and was a noted author of books on ecclesiastical topics. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 15 May 1881 by Cardinal Edward Howard. He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Naupactus on 6 February 1897, and was named a Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII on 15 April 1901. Gennari was a collaborator in the creation of the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law. As a Cardinal, and particularly as Prefect of the SC of the Council, he pressed for frequent reception of communion. He died on 31 January 1914. Joseph Dougherty (2010). From Altar-Throne to Table: The Campaign for Frequent Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Lanham MD USA: Scarecrow Press. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-8108-7092-5. Harris M. Lentz III (2001). Popes and Cardinals of the 20th Century: A Biographical Dictionary. Jefferson, NC USA: McFarland. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7864-4101-3. G. di Ruocco, Il Cardinale Casimiro Gennari. Pastore e giurista (1839–1914) (Naples: Laurentiana 1995).
56. Argnani was appointed Bishop of Macerata e Tolentino on 15 Jun 1935.
57. Diocesi di Conversano Monopoli, S. E. Mons Giuseppe Favale, retrieved: 2017-03-12.(in Italian)

Books

Reference Works

• Eubel, Conradus (ed.) (1913). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus (ed.) (1914). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) (in Latin)
• Eubel, Conradus (ed.) (1923). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp. 946–947. (Use with caution; obsolete)
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06. (in Latin)
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1968). Hierarchia Catholica medii et recentioris aevi sive summorum pontificum, S. R. E. cardinalium, ecclesiarum antistitum series... A pontificatu Pii PP. VII (1800) usque ad pontificatum Gregorii PP. XVI (1846) (in Latin). Volume VII. Monasterii: Libr. Regensburgiana.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Pirminus Sefrin (1978). Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi... A Pontificatu PII PP. IX (1846) usque ad Pontificatum Leonis PP. XIII (1903) (in Latin). Volume VIII. Il Messaggero di S. Antonio.
• Pięta, Zenon (2002). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi... A pontificatu Pii PP. X (1903) usque ad pontificatum Benedictii PP. XV (1922) (in Latin). Volume IX. Padua: Messagero di San Antonio. ISBN 978-88-250-1000-8.

Studies

• Avino, Vincenzio d' (1848). Cenni storici sulle chiese arcivescovili, vescovili, e prelatizie (nullius) del regno delle due Sicilie (in Italian). Naples: dalle stampe di Ranucci. pp. 220–221.
• Graevius, Joannes Georgius; Burmann, Peter (1723). Thesaurus antiquitatum et historiarum Italiae ...: Campaniae, Neapolis, Magnae Graeciae ... (in Latin). Tomi Noni, Pars Quinta (IX.5). Lugduni Batavorum: Petrus Vander Aa. pp. 68–76.
• 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. Berlin: Weidmann. (in Latin), pp. 358–368.
• Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604) (in Italian). Rome: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
• Rescio, Pierfrancesco (2001). La Cattedrale di Conversano (in Italian). Rubbettino Editore. ISBN 978-88-498-0094-4.
• Sante Simone (1885). Il mostro della Puglia: ossia, la storia del celebre Monastero di S. Benedetto di Conversano (in Italian). Bari: Tip. Fratelli Pansini fu S.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolò (1721). Italia sacra, sive De Episcopis Italiae (in Latin). Tomus septimus (VII). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 700–720.

Acknowledgment

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Conversano". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.