Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapolla

The Catholic diocese of Rapolla, in Basilicata, existed from the eleventh century until 1528. In that year it was united with the diocese of Melfi, to form the diocese of Melfi e Rapolla.[1][2] The diocese was suppressed in 1986.

History

The town of Rapolla is at a distance of 5.6km or 3.5mi south-southwest of Melfi, though a mountain pass intervenes. The earliest mention of the town occurs in 967, when Pandolfo the Lombard is called Prince of Conza and Rapolla.[3]

The Normans took Rapolla from the Greeks in 1042, and fortified it with works still to be seen. It appears that the town received its bishopric from Pope Nicholas II (1059–1061).[4] From the beginning, the diocese was directly subordinate to the pope.[5] The town was an episcopal see in the time of Pope Gregory VII.[6] In 1183 three barons of Rapolla, Liardo of Rapolla, Sansone of Rapallo, and Guido di Rocca, joined the expedition to the Holy Land. In 1254, Rapolla wanted to follow the party of the papacy against Manfred, for which the town was virtually destroyed by Galvano Lancia.[7]

In 1321, the diocese of Rapolla became the object of a scandal that reached from Benevento to Avignon. Bishop Bernardo (1316–1330) collected a force of soldiers and descended on the church of San Donato in the district of Ravella, which was in the possession of P. Nicolaus Guidonis di Rivacandida, who had obtained the post by a collation of Pope John XXII. Showing Nicolaus papal documents, Bishop Bernardo ejected him and threw him into prison, stating that he would never release Nicholas as long as the present pope was alive. Nicholas escaped, however, after seven months, and fled to Avignon. Pope John responded with indignation, and dispatched a letter on 4 September 1321 to Master Guillelmo Balaeto, the Rector of Benevento, mandating that he cite Bishop Bernardo to appear in his court. The outcome is unknown, but Bishop Bernardo remained bishop of Rapolla.[8]

The cathedral of Rapolla was dedicated to the Taking Up of the Body of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, and was administered by a Chapter composed of four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Cantor, the Treasurer, and the Vice-Cantor) and four canons. In 1748, there were three dignities and five canons.[9] The campanile of the cathedral had been partially destroyed in the earthquake of 1694, but was restored.[10] In December 1857, the old Lombard cathedral of Rapolla was destroyed by a major earthquake. Seventy people died in Rapolla.[11]

On 16 March 1528, the diocese of Rapolla was united with the diocese of Melfi, aeque personaliter.[12]

There was an evangelical church in Rapolla. In 1933 it was staffed by a former Roman Catholic priest, Antonio Fegatelli.[13]

On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Melfi, Rapolla, 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. The diocese of Rapolla was completely suppressed.[14]

Bishops

to 1300
  • Orso (1072–1079)[15]
...
  • Johannes (1091–1105)[16]
...
  • Rogerius (1141–1152)[17]
...
  • Nicolaus (1179–1180)
  • Hubertus (1180–1183)[18]
...
  • Richardus (c.1205–1209)[19]
  • [Unknown] (1215–1217)[20]
  • [Unknown] (1122)[21]
...
  • Johannes (1238–1263)[22]
Bartholomaeus (1266) Bishop-elect[23]
  • Ammirato (1269–1275)[24]
  • Rogerius (1275–1280)[25]
  • Rogerius (1290–1307)[26]

1300 to 1528
  • Pietro Scarrier, O.Min. (1308–1314)[27]
  • Bernardo (1316–1330)[28]
  • Bernardus di Palma (1330–1342)[29]
  • Joannes (1342–1346)
  • Geraldus, O.P. (1346–1348)
  • Nicolas de Cryptamaynarda, O.Min. (1348–1370)[30]
  • Benedetto Cavalcanti, O.F.M. (8 Jan 1371 – 1375 Died)
  • Angelo Acciaioli (1375–1386)[31]
  • Nicolas (attested 1383) Roman Obedience'[32]
  • Angelo Roman Obedience[33]
  • Antonius (1386– ? ) Avignon Obedience[34]
  • Thomas (c. 1390–1397) Roman Obedience[35]
  • Lucas (1398–1446) Roman Obedience[36]
  • Franciscus de Oliveto, O.S.B. (1447–1455)[37]
  • Pietro Minutolo (1455–1478)[38]
  • Vincentius Galeota (1478–1482)[39]
  • Colantonius Lentulus (1482)[40]
  • Malitia de Gesualdo (1482–1488)[41]
  • Troilo Carafa (1488–1497)[42]
  • Luigi de Amato (12 Sep 1497 –1506)[43]
  • Gilberto Sanilio (1506–1520)[44]
  • Raimondo Sanilio (1520–1528)[45]

References
  1. "Diocese of Rapolla" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  2. "Diocese of Rapolla" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  3. Angelo Bozza (1889), Il Vulture, ovvero Brevi notizie di Barile e delle sue colonie, Rionero: Torquato Ercolani, p. 117.
  4. Kehr IX, p. 500: "Rapolla una cum Melfitana civitate saec. XI med. a Nicolao II episcopali dignitate insignita esse videtur."
  5. Ughelli VII, pp. 878-879. Kehr IX, p. 500: "Rapollana ecclesia a principio Romanae sedi nullo mediante subiecta est, ut patet ex Libro censuum S. R. E."
  6. Umberto Benigni. "Melfi and Rapolla." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Retrieved: 2016-10-22.
  7. Angelo Bozza (1889), Il Vulture, ovvero Brevi notizie di Barile e delle sue colonie, Rionero: Torquato Ercolani, p. 117. Kamp, p. 501 with note 1.
  8. G. Mollat, Jean XXII: Lettres communes Tome III (Paris: Fontemoing 1906), p. 346, no. 14075. Vito Sibilio (2002), "Giovanni XXII e il messogiorno. Testimonianze di vita ecclesiastica dai suoi registri (1316-1324)," in: Rivista di storia della Chiesa in Italia Vol. 56, No. 2 (Luglio-dicembre 2002), pp. 377-399, at p. 390.
  9. Ughelli VII, p. 879. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 285, note 1.
  10. Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (in Italian) (Torino: Fratelli Bocca 1901), p. 176: "Rapolla — ruinata la Cattedrale, il campanile ed altre chiese, il palazzo baronale : 100 case distrutte : 3-4 morti."
  11. Robert Mallet (1862), Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Volume 2 (London: Chapman, 1862), pp. 112, 207-208
  12. Eubel III, p. 282, note 5.
  13. Kevin Madigan (2021), The Popes Against the Protestants: The Vatican and Evangelical Christianity in Fascist Italy, New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 191-192.
  14. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 738–740.
  15. Orso: Fortunato, p. 46.
  16. Johannes died on 5 February 1105, in the 14th year of his episcopate. Kehr IX, p. 501, no. 2, note. Fortunato, pp. 42-43, 46.
  17. Pope Eugenius III confirmed the possessions of the diocese of Rapallo for Bishop Rogerius, in a bull of 4 June 1152. Kehr IX, p. 501, no. 4.
  18. Uberto was in the fourth year of his episcopate in February 1183: Kehr IX, p. 502, no. 5, note. Kamp, p. 502.
  19. Riccardo: Fortunato, p. 46. Kamp, p. 502.
  20. The unnamed bishop attended the Fourth Lateran Council of Pope Innocent III in November 1215. Kamp, p. 502.
  21. The unknown bishop was consecrated by Pope Honorius III in 1222. Kamp, p. 502.
  22. Johannes: Eubel I, p. 412 with note 1. Kamp, p. 503-504.
  23. After a vacancy in the bishopric of Rapallo, which was directly subject to the Papacy, the Chapter elected one of their canons, Bartholomaeus, and submitted his name to Pope Clement IV for confirmation. On 10 June 1266, the pope ordered his legate, Cardinal Radulfus Grosparmi, the Bishop of Albano, to investigate the election as to its canonical validity and the candidate as to his suitability, and to confirm him; if otherwise, Radulfus is to find another candidate and confirm him. Édouard Jordan, Les Registres de Clement IV I (Paris: Thorin 1893, p. 86, no. 318. Kamp. p. 504. Kamp suggests that he was never confirmed by the papal legate Radulfus.
  24. Amirato: Eubel I, p. 412 note 2. Kamp, pp. 504-505.
  25. Rogerius had been Bishop of Laquedonia, and a supporter of Manfred. He was elected by the Chapter of Rapolla, and transferred to the diocese of Rapolla on 26 August 1275, by Pope Gregory X. Eubel I, pp. 293, 412. Kamp, p. 505-506 (who believes that Rogerius died c. 1288–1290).
  26. Rogerius had been Bishop of Strongoli (c. 1283–1289), but when Strongoli was completely destroyed by the Catalans in the wars of the Sicilian Vespers, Pope Nicholas IV ordered his legate, Cardinal Ber(n)ardus Callensis, Bishop of Palestrina, on 23 December 1289, to find another diocese for Rogerius. On the death of Bishop Rogerius of Rapolla, the Archdeacon and Chapter of the cathedral requested the pope to transfer Bishop Rogerius of Strongoli to the diocese of Rapolla. Pope Nicholas wrote to the papal legate on 11 November 1290, authorizing him to carry out the transfer, if all was in order. Ernest Langlois, Les registres de Nicolas IV I (Paris: Fontemoing 1905), p. 559-560, no. 3649. Eubel I, pp. 11, 412, 465 with note 2.
  27. Following the death of Bishop Rogerius, the cathedral Chapter elected Frater Petrus, O. Min., who, however did not obtain the license from his superiors, and did not carry out the necessary formalities at the Papal Court within the time limit. The election was therefore voided. However, so that the Church of Rapallo not be without a bishop for a protracted period, Pope Clement V preferred (appointed) Frater Petrus as Bishop of Rapallo, on 15 January 1308. Regestum Clementis papae V Tomus III (Rome: Typographia Vaticana 1886), p. 20, no. 2385. Eubel I, p. 412.
  28. On 14 November 1316, Pope John XXII confirmed the election of Bernardus, Archdeacon of Venosa, as bishop of Rapolla, carried out by the cathedral Chapter of Rapolla. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes, Vol. 1 (Paris: Fontemoing 1904) p. 180, no. 1897. Eubel I, p. 412.
  29. On the death of Bishop Bernardo, due to a special reservation made by Pope John XXII, he appointed Bernardus de Parma, a canon of Aversa, to the post of bishop of the diocese of Rapolla, on 22 October 1330. Bernardus was one of the executors of the Testament of King Robert of Sicily. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes, Vol. X (Paris: de Boccard 1930), p. 39, no. 51294. Eubel I, p. 412.
  30. Nicolas was appointed by Pope Clement VI on 10 November 1348. Eubel I, p. 412.
  31. Angelo had been a canon of the church of Patras. He was appointed Bishop of Rapolla by Pope Gregory XI on 3 December 1375. Eubel I, p. 412.
  32. Nicolas was appointed by Urban VI (1378–1389). Eubel I, p. 412.
  33. Angelo was appointed by Urban VI (1378–1389). Eubel I, p. 412.
  34. Antonius was appointed bishop of Rapolla by Pope Clement VII on 3 December 1386. Eubel I, p. 412.
  35. Thomas was appointed by Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404). Eubel I, p. 412.
  36. Lucas was appointed by Pope Boniface IX. Eubel I, p. 412.
  37. Francesco had been abbot of the monastery of Pantelea (diocese of Sabina). He was Bishop of Valva (1443–1447). He was transferred to the diocese of Rapolla by Pope Nicholas V on 14 June 1447. He died in 1455. Eubel II, pp. 220, 262 with note 1.
  38. Bishop Peter was transferred to the diocese of Eubel II, p. 220.
  39. Vincentius was transferred to the diocese of Squillace on 30 January 1482, by Pope Sixtus IV. Eubel II, pp. 220, 241 with note 1.
  40. Colanzio made his arrangements with the Apostolic Camera on 30 January 1482. He was dead in six months. Ughelli VII, p. 882, no. 21. Eubel II, p. 220.
  41. Malizia di Gesualdo was a maternal first-cousin (consobrinus) of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa (son of Francesco Carafa, grandson of Carlo "Malizio" Carafa). He had been a secretary of Pope Innocent VIII (1484–1492). He made his arrangements with the Apostolic Camera on 9 August 1482. He died in Rome in 1488, in his firty-first year, and was buried in Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Ughelli VII, pp. 882-883, no. 22. Chiaromonte (1849), p. 16. Eubel II, p. 220.
  42. Troilus, the nephew of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa (1467–1511), made his arrangements with the Apostolic Camera on 17 September 1488. He was transferred to the diocese of Gerace on 27 November 1497 by Pope Alexander VI. Ughelli VII, p. 883, no. 23. Eubel II, pp. 159, 220.
  43. On 19 September 1506, Bishop Luigi was transferred to the diocese of Lipari by Pope Julius II. Eubel II, p. 220. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Bishop Luigi de Amato"; retrieved 25 September 2016.
  44. Gilberto Sanilio: Eubel III, p. 282.
  45. Raimundo Sanilio: Eubel III, p. 282.

Bibliography
  • Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. Tomus 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
  • Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. Tomus 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
  • Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 3 (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. p. 915.
  • Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana.

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