Roman Catholic Diocese of Muro Lucano

The Latin Catholic Diocese of Muro Lucano, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, existed until 1986. In that year it was united into the archdiocese of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo.^[1][2]

History

Pope Leo IX (1049–1054), in naming the diocese of Conza a metropolitan archdiocese, confirmed that its suffragan dioceses were: Muro Lucano, Satriano, Monteverde, Lacedonia, S. Angelo de'Lombardi and Bisaccia.^[3]

The first Bishop of Muro Lucano of whom there is mention was Leo (1049). He was one of fifty-five bishops present in Rome on 2 May 1050, at the second Roman synod of Pope Leo IX.^[4]

On 5 June 1212, Pope Innocent III appointed a bishop of Muro Lucano, Monteguidonis, to carry out the deposition of the Bishop of Melfi.^[5]

In 1248, a scandal developed in the diocese of Muro. When the previous bishop had died, the Archpriest and the Chapter of the cathedral of Muro elected Palermus, one of the canons, as the new bishop. This was done before the interdict was imposed on the Kingdom of Sicily in Spring 1248,^[6] and it canonically and by general agreement. But, following a mandate of the Emperor Frederick, who did not die until 13 December 1250,^[7] a Tarentine cleric named Nicholas de Patrice intruded himself and had himself consecrated bishop. The bishop-elect Palermus would have had an appeal to the archbishop of Conza, who was the metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province, but the post was vacant at the time.^[8] He therefore appealed directly to the pope. Pope Innocent, on 12 June 1253, addressed the situation in a letter to the archbishop of Trani, ordering him to investigate the election, and if he found it canonical, and Palermus to be suitable, he should confirm the election with papal authority and consecrate Palermus. Otherwise, the election was to be voided. Nicholas was to be removed.^[9]

Bishop Antonio of Mura (1376–1386) became a partisan of the Pope Clement VII of the Avignon obedience; he was therefore driven to seek refuge at Polsino by Carlo of Durazzo, who supported Pope Urban VI of the Roman Obedience in exchange for the pope's receiving his oath of fealty for Naples and Sicily. Pope Clement VII created the diocese of Bolsino or Polsino (called Buccino by D'Avino) for him, since the diocese of Muro, under the influence of Charles of Durazzo, had declared for Urban VI (Roman Obedience). Antonius was transferred there on 1 July 1386. He died shortly thereafter.^[10]

On 27 July 1382,in the castle of Muro Lucano, on the orders of Charles of Durazzo, the deposed and imprisoned Queen Joanna of Anjou was suffocated to death with pillows.^[11]

One bishop of Muro was the poet Gian Carlo Coppola (1643), who later became Bishop of Gallipoli, his native town; another, Alfonso Pacello (1674), was the founder of a congregation of priests for the care of the sick of the diocese. The see was suffragan of the archdiocese of Conza.^[12]

Bishop Giovanni Carlo Coppola (1643–1652) summoned a diocesan synod in 1645.^[13] Bishop Domenico Antonio Manfredi (1724–1738) held a diocesan synod at Muro Lucano on 1–3 April 1728.^[14] Bishop Vito Moio (1744–1767) presided at the tenth diocesan synod at Muro Lucano on 15 August 1746.^[15] Bishop Tommaso Antonio Gigli, O.F.M. Conv. (1832–1858), held a diocesan synod in 1841.^[16]

Chapter and cathedral

The oldest cathedral was built on the citadel, immediately adjacent to the castle.^[17] Bishop Manfredi noted the existence of an inscription found on a stone which had been used in a step of the old high altar of the cathedral; it carried the date, in Roman numerals, 1009.^[18] From this report, he inferred that the cathedral was already in existence in 1009 or 1013. Marturelli is not sure of the inevitability of the deduction, and suggests that the building may have been older. Nor is it inevitable that the bishopric, the cathedral, and the Chapter were of the same exact date.^[19]

The original Chapter was composed of eleven persons: the five dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Primicerius, the Cantor, and the Treasurer) and six Canons. All the other priests of the city of Muro Lucano were "Capitularii"; they shared in the income of the cathedral, but did not enjoy the privileges of Canons.^[20] On 29 November 1566, Bishop Filesio Cittadini suppressed two of the positions capitulary priests and converted them into canonries; on 18 October 1606, Bishop Tommaso Confetti (1606–1630), in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent, promoted two canons into dignities, the Canon Theological (the cathedral preacher) and the Canon Penitentiary. On 26 August 1645, Bishop Giancarlo Coppola reformed the system, and reduced the number of those enjoying income from the cathedral income to twenty-four. On 14 December 1676, Bishop Alfonso Pacelli converted two of the portionarii into canons; there were then to be five dignities, twelve canons, and seven portionarii.^[21] Bishop Manfredo laid out in great detail the privileges and duties of each of the dignities and canons in an appendix to the Synodical Decrees on 1724.^[22]

A modern cathedral building, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, but now only a co-cathedral in the archdiocese of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo, was consecrated on 29 November 1888, by Bishop Raffaele Capone and Bishop Alfonso Maria Giordano of Teano e Calvi.^[23] On 23 November 1980, a severe earthquake destroyed the cathedral, the episcopal palace, the church of the Carmine, the church of the convent of the Capucines, and many other buildings in Muro Lucano.^[24]

Seminary

The Council of Trent, in its 23rd session in 1562, decreed that each diocese, to the extent that it was feasible, should have a diocesan seminary for the training of priests.^[25] Bishop Filesio Cittadini (1562–1571) began raising funds for a new seminary in Muro, first, with a decree of 27 September 1565, establishing the project; and second, with the imposition of a tax on all ecclesiastical benefices of whatever sort to endow the institution. On 27 April 1568, he assigned to the seminary the benefices of S. Elia and Santa Croce, followed by those of S. Maria dell'Incoronata, S. Paolo, and S. Domenica. He added a tax of 25% of the income of S. Giovanni delle Monache and of S. Pietro in Aquilone. On 27 June 1675, Bishop Alfonso Pacella (1674–1702) added the benefices of S. Tommaso a Cerrutoli and S. Potito, and Bishop Domenico Antonio Manfredi (1724–1738) added four more. These provided salaries for priest-teachers and for the needs of the students.^[26]

In his synod of 1728, Bishop Domenico Antonio Manfredi reported that the seminary had been founded next to the episcopal palace, in a building with a central courtyard, a chapel (which had been donated by Princess Giovanna Tolfa Frangipani, the mother of Pope Benedict XIII), two dormitories (downstairs, and upstairs), a dining room, a common room, a kitchen and pantries, a cantina, a garden, and two rooms in which ordinands could carry out their spiritual exercises. The institution had a Rector, a Vice-Rector, and a Master of the school. There were instructors in grammar, philosophy, theology, rhetoric, civil and canon law, gregorian chant, church accounting,^[27]

Under Bishop Tommaso Antonio Gigli (1832–1858), additional rooms were added to the seminary building in 1841 to accommodate the increasing number of students. During the revolution of 1860, however, the seminary had to be closed.^[28]

The Napoleonic disruption and restoration

From 1806 to 1808, Naples was occupied by the French, and Joseph Bonaparte was made king,^[29] after Napoleon had deposed King Ferdinand IV. Joseph Bonaparte was succeeded by Joachim Murat, from 1808 until the fall of Napoleon in 1815. Pope Pius VII was a prisoner of Napoleon in France from 1809 to 1815, and was both unable and unwilling to make new episcopal appointments. The French expelled all members of the mendicant orders, friars and nuns, and their property was confiscated for the "benefit of the people". The Jesuits were expelled from the kingdom; colleges of canons were also disbanded and their property seized.^[30]

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. Ferdinand, however, was not prepared to accept the pre-Napoleonic situation, in which Naples was a feudal subject of the papacy. Neither was he prepared to accept the large number of small dioceses in his kingdom; following French intentions, he demanded the suppression of fifty dioceses.^[31] Lengthy, detailed, and acrimonious negotiations ensued.^[32] On 17 July 1816, King Ferdinand issued a decree, in which he forbade the reception of any papal document without prior reception of the royal exequatur. This meant that prelates could not receive bulls of appointment, consecration, or installation without the king's permission.^[33]

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.^[34] 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).^[35] On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which the metropolitan church of Conza was reconstituted. It was to have as suffragans the dioceses of S. Angelo dei Lombardi, Laquedonia, and Muro Lucano.^[36]

Post-Vatican-II changes

Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,^[37] Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy. The decree "Eo quod spirituales" of 12 September 1976 created a new episcopal conference in the region called "Basilicata", to which were assigned all of the dioceses that belonged to the ecclesiastical province of Potenza, including Materana and Mons Pelusii; they had formerly belonged to the episcopal conference of "Apulia".^[38] 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. After twenty years, problems and objections were still apparent.

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 Potenza, Marsico Nuovo, and Muro Lucano be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Archidioecesis Potentina-Murana-Marsicensis. The seat of the diocese was to be in Potenza, and the cathedral of Potenza was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedrals in Marsico Nuovo and Muro Lucano were to become co-cathedrals, and their cathedral Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Potenza, 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 Marsico Nuovo and Muro Lucano.^[39]

Bishops of Muro Lucano

Erected: 11th Century
Latin Name: Muranus

to 1400

• Leo (attested 1050)^[4]
• Eustachius (attested 1059?)^[40]

...

• Gaudinus (attested 1101–1105)^[41]

...

• Robertus (attested 1169)^[42]

...

• Monteguidonis (attested 1212–1213)^[43]
• Joannes (attested 1217)^[44]

...

• Robertus (attested 1239)^[45]

...

• Nicolaus de Patricio (attested 1250–1253)^[46]
• Palermus (1253–1274)^[47]

...

• Nicolaus (attested 1322)^[48]
• Petrus ( ? –1332)^[49]
• Matthaeus (1332– ? )^[50]
• Nicolaus, O.Min. (attested 1340?–1344) ^[51]
• Enrico Marci (1344–1348)^[52]
• Guglielmo (1348–1357)^[53]
• Giacomo del Fosco (1357–1364)^[54]
• Domenico Johannis, O. Carm. (1364–1373) Avignon Obedience^[55]
• Simon (1373– ? )^[56]
• Antonio (1376–1386) Avignon Obedience^[57]
• Guglielmo (1395–1405) Roman Obedience^[58]

1400 to 1600

• Giovanni Bonifacio Panella (1407–1417) Roman Obedience^[59]
• Guiduccio della Porta (1418–1423 Died)^[60]
• Giovanni Sanfelice (1423–1443 Resigned)^[61]
• Barnaba de Molina (1443–1462 Died)^[62]
• Andrea Veroli (1463–1464)^[63]
• Meolo de Mascabruni (1464–1486)^[64]
• Nicolò Antonio Pesci (Piscibus) (1486–1517 Resigned)^[65]
• Antonio Camillo Pesci (1517–1521 Died)^[66]
• Cesare Carpano (1521–1528 Died)^[66]
• Matteo Griffoni Pioppi, O.S.B. (1528–1540 Appointed, Bishop of Trivento)^[66]
• Ascanio Parisani (1540–1541 Resigned)^[66]
• Silverio Petrucci (1541–1560 Died)^[66]
• Flavio Orsini (1560–1562 Resigned)^[67]
• Filesio Cittadini (1562–1571 Resigned)^[66]
• Giulio Ricci (1572–1575 Appointed, Bishop of Gravina)^[66]
• Daniel Vocatius, O.F.M. (1575–1577 Died)^[66]
• Vincenzo Petrolini (1577–1606 Died)^[66]

Vincenzo Correrio Malatesta da Cammerota (1595–1605) Coadjutor^[68]

1600 to 1800

• Tommaso Confetti (1606–1630 Died)^[69]
• Clemente Confetti (Confetto) (1630–1643 Appointed, Bishop of Acerno)^[69]
• Giovanni Carlo Coppola (1643–1652 Died)^[69]
• Ascanio Ugolini (1652–660 Died)^[69]
• Francesco Maria Annoni, C.R. (1660–1674 Died)^[69]
• Alfonso Pacelli (Pacelli) (1674–1702 Died)^[70]
• Andrea Sarnelli (1703–1707 Died)^[71]
• Giovanni Innocenzo Carussio (1707–1718 Died)^[72]
• Angelo Acerno (1718–1724 Died)^[73]
• Domenico Antonio Manfredi (1724–1738)^[74]
• Melchiorre Delfico (1738–1744 Died)^[75]
• Vito Moio (Mojo) (1744–1767)^[76]
• Carlo Gagliardi (1767–1778)^[77]
• Luca Nicola de Luca (1778–1792)^[78]
• Giuseppe Maria Beneventi, O.F.M. Conv. (1792–1794)^[79]

Sede vacante (1794–1797)^[80]

• Giovanni Filippo Ferrone (1797–1826)^[81]

1800 to 1986

• Filippo Martuscelli (1827–1831)^[82]
• Tommaso Antonio Gigli, O.F.M. Conv. (1832–1858 Resigned)^[83]
• Francesco Saverio d'Ambrosio, O.F.M. Cap. (1859–1883)^[84]
• Raffaele Capone, C.SS.R. (1883–1908)^[85]
• Alessio Ascalesi, C.Pp.S. (1909–1911 Appointed, Bishop of Sant’Agata de' Goti)
• Giuseppe Scarlata (1911–1935 Died)
• Bartolomeo Mangino (1936–1946 Appointed, Bishop of Caserta)
• Giacomo Palombella (1946–1951 Appointed, Bishop of Calvi e Teano)
• Matteo Guido Sperandeo (1952–1954 Appointed, Bishop of Calvi e Teano)
• Antonio Rosario Mennonna (1955–1962 Appointed, Bishop of Nardò)
• Umberto Luciano Altomare (1962–1970 Appointed, Bishop of Diano-Teggiano)
• Aureliano Sorrentino (1973–1977 Appointed, Archbishop of Reggio Calabria)
• Giuseppe Vairo (1977–1986)^[86]

See also

• Muro Lucano
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Marsico Nuovo

Notes

1. Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Muro Lucano". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. ^{[self-published]}
2. Chow, Gabriel. "Diocese of Muro Lucano (Italy)". GCatholic.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. ^{[self-published]}
3. Kehr, Italia pontificia, p. 506.
4. Kehr IX, p. 517. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, (in Latin) editio novissima, Tomus 19 (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 771.
5. F. Ughelli Italia sacra I, pp. 926-927. Kehr IX, p. 516. Kamp, pp. 488-489, 761.
6. Kamp, p. 763.
7. Frederick had been deposed, as far as Pope Innocent IV was concerned.
8. A new archbishop was not appointed until 24 April 1254. Eubel I, p. 202.
9. Élie Berger, Les registres d'Innocent IV Tome III (Paris: A. Fontemoing 1897), pp. 1247-1248, no. 6670.
10. Cappelletti XX, pp. 572-573. D'Avino, p. 419, no. 19.
11. Cappelletti XX, p. 571. Andreas Kiesewetter, "Giovanna I d'Angiò, regina di Sicilia," (in Italian) in: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 55 (2001). Martuscelli (1896), pp. 73-78.
12. Catholic Encyclopedia article^{[full citation needed]}
13. Manfredo, Prima diocesana synodus..., p. 13.
14. Prima dioecesana synodus Murana ab illustriss. & reverendiss. patre, & domino Dominico-Antonio Manfredo episcopo, ss. d.n. Benedicti pp. 13. praesule domestico, pontificioque solio assistenti. Celebrata Muri in cathedrali basilica diebus 1. 2. & 3. Maji, 1728. praesulatus anno 4 (in Latin) (Benevento: Typographia Archiep. 1728).
15. Murana decima dioecesana synodus prima vero... ab Vito Mojo episcopo murano ... Muri in Cathedrali Basilica celebrata die 15 Augusti 1746. (Neapoli: typis Joannis De Simone, 1748).
16. Martuscelli, p. 310.
17. Martuscelli (1896), pp. 328-329.
18. The inscription was lost. Manfredo (1728), in: Prima dioecesana synodus Murana, pp. 271 and 361: "egli principalmente raccoglienansi da una inscrizione lapidaria, ch'era in un gradino del vecchio Altar Maggiore, come ci attestano testimonii di veduta, giacche la pietra non più si trova.
19. Martuscelli (1896), p. 330: "A me pare però che la sua origine rimontasse ad epoca anteriore, in quanto che non è presumibile, pur ammettendo la esistenza della lapide suddetta di che, come altrove ho detto, è da dubitare, che siano surti contemporaneamente , nello stesso anno 1009 l' Episcopato , il Capitolo e il Duomo."
20. Manfredo, p. 272.
21. Manfredo, p. 271. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277, note 1.
22. Prima dioecesana synodus Murana, pp. 271-292.
23. Martuscelli, p. 351.
24. Basilicata: Potenza, Matera, il Pollino, la Magna Grecia, il Vulture, le coste tirrenica e jonica, Milano: Touring Club Italiano Editore 2004, p. 59.
25. The Council of Trent The Twenty-Third Session The canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical Council of Trent, Ed. and trans. J. Waterworth (London: Dolman, 1848), 170-92. "...all cathedral, metropolitan, and other churches greater than these, shall be bound, each according to its means and the extent of the diocese, to maintain, to educate religiously, and to train in ecclesiastical discipline, a certain number of youths of their city and diocese, or, if that number cannot be met with there, of that province, in a college to be chosen by the bishop for this purpose near the said churches, or in some other suitable place."
26. Martuscelli (1896), pp. 388-392; 403-405.
27. Prima dioecesana synodus Murana (in Latin) (Benevento: Typographia Archiep. 1728), pp. 230-235; 324; 398-425. Martuscelli (1896), pp. 405-406.
28. Martuscelli (1896), p. 407.
29. F. Artaud de Montor, Histoire du Pape Pie VII (in French) Vol. II, second edition (Paris: Adrien Leclerc 1837), pp. 132-140.
30. R.M. Johnston (1909), The Napoleonic Kingdom in Southern Italy and the Rise of the Secret Societies, Volume I (London: Macmillan), pp. 149. 161-162;
31. Francesco Scaduto (1887). Stato e chiesa nelle due Sicilie dai Normanni ai giorni nostri (in Italian). Palermo: A. Amenta. pp. 42–58, 74–78.
32. F. Artaud de Montor, Histoire du Pape Pie VII (in French) Vol. II, second edition (Paris: Adrien Leclerc 1837), pp. 507-509.
33. Vito Giliberti (1845), Polizia ecclesiastica del regno delle due Sicilie (in Italian), (Napoli: F. Azzolini), pp. 399-400.
34. F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19.
35. Torelli I, p. 9.
36. De Ulteriore §10. Bullarii Romani Continuatio Tomus decimus quintus (Vol. 15) (Rome 1853), p. 57. Torelli I, pp. 117-118.
37. 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.
38. The bull Eo quod spirituales (in Latin), in: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 68 (1976), pp. 678-680.
39. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 764-766.
40. Bishop Eustachius was present on 18 August 1059 at the consecration of the church of S. Michael in Monte Vulture, according to a document which is said to have been forged. He was the recipient of a letter of Pope Gregory VII (1073–1085), confirming a bull of Pope Alexander II (1061–1073) naming the archbishop of Salerno as the metropolitan of the churches of S. Angelo, Monte Viridi, and Muro Lucano. J. Pflugk-Harttung, Acta pontificum Romanorum inedita Volume II (Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer 1884), p. 139, no. 172. Kehr IX, pp. 517-518.
41. Gaudinus attended the consecration of the church of S. Sabino at Canosa. Kehr IX, pp. 340, 517.
42. Gams, p. 902. Kamp, p. 760 with note 6
43. Monteguidonis: Eubel I, p. 352. Kamp, p. 761.
44. Joannes: Kamp, p. 761. An unnamed bishop attended the Fourth Lateran Council of Pope Innocent III in November 1215.
45. Kamp, p. 761.
46. The family of Nicolaus was from Tarento. He had been appointed and ordered consecrated by Frederick II. He was deposed once Frederick had died. Kamp, pp. 761-762. Eubel I, p. 352, with note 1.
47. Palermus had been Sub-Cantor of S. Nicholas in Bari, Archpriest of the church of S. Felix, and was a canon of the cathedral of Muro Lucano. At the end of August 1274, he consecrated the church of S. Maria Maggiore in Diano, at the request of Count Roger of Marsico. Eubel I, p. 352, with note 3. Kamp, pp. 762-763.
48. Nicolaus: Cappelletti XX, p. 572. Eubel I, p. 352.
49. Bishop Petrus was transferred to the diocese of Sorrento by Pope John XXII on 20 October 1332. He died in 1341. Eubel I, p. 352, 469.
50. Matthew was a priest and canon of the cathedral of Sorrento. On 17 November 1332, Matthaeus promised to pay the customary dues to the College of Cardinals. He was consecrated in Avignon by Cardinal Petrus Després, Bishop of Palestrina. Cappelletti XX, p. 572. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes Vol. 12 (Paris: A. Fontemoing 1904). p. 41 no. 58795. Eubel I, p. 352.
51. Bishop Nicolaus was transferred to the diocese of Caserta on 13 June 1344. Gams, p. 902, column 1. Eubel I, pp. 169, 352.
52. Enrico of Caserta was a canon of the cathedral of Caserta. He was appointed bishop of Muro by Pope Clement VI on 14 June 1344, following the transfer of Bishop Nicholas to Caserta. His successor was appointed after his death, on 10 November 1348. Eubel I, p. 352 (Dates given by earlier authors are wrong by one year, as demonstrated by Vatican documents).
53. Guglielmo (Barbieri) was born in Muro in 1278, and became a familiar of Archbishop Matteo Orsini of Manfredonia in Avignon. Guglielmo was appointed Archpriest of the cathedral Chapter of Muro by Pope John XXII. He was appointed by Pope Clement VI on 10 November 1348, after having been requested (elected) by the Chapter. He died, according to D'Avino in 1356. His successor was appointed on 20 December 1357. D'Avino, pp. 418-419. Eubel I, p. 352.
54. Fusco had been Sub-Cantor of the Basilica of S. Nicolaus in Bari. He was requested (elected) by the cathedral Chapter of Muro, and appointed (provided) by Pope Innocent VI on 20 December 1357. He received his bulls of consecration on 6 November 1357. On 13 March 1364, he was transferred to the diocese of Potenza by Pope Urban V. He died in 1374. D'Avino, p. 419. Eubel I, p. 352, 407.
55. Fra Domenico had been bishop of Hierapetra, on Crete (1363–1364), an honorary title, since Crete was in the hands of the Turks. He was transferred to the diocese of Muro on 13 March 1364 by Pope Urban V. He was transferred to the diocese of Ariano by Pope Gregory XI. Eubel I, pp. 274, 352; cf. p. 106, where it is stated that Bishop Domenico was named bishop of Ariano by Pope Clement VII of the Avignon Obedience on 11 June 1386.
56. Formerly Primicerius of the cathedral chapter of Salerno, Simon, Bishop of Ariano (1372–1373), was transferred to the diocese of Muro by Pope Gregory XI on 27 April 1373. He was succeeded by Antonius under Gregory XI, c. 1376. Eubel I, pp. 106, 352.
57. Antonius: Pope Clement VII created the diocese of Bolsino (called Buccino by D'Avino) for him, since the diocese of Muro, under the influence of Charles of Durazzo, had declared for Urban VI (Roman Obedience). Antonius was transferred there on 1 July 1386. He died shortly thereafter. Pope Benedict XIII (Avignon Obedience) then appointed another Antonius, who held the title of Treasurer of the Church of Patras, as his successor. On 2 July 1403, this second Antonius was assigned the spiritual direction of the Church of Arles. Cappelletti XX, pp. 572-573. D'Avino, p. 419, no. 19. Eubel I, p. 352 with note 4.
58. Guglielmo was appointed by Pope Boniface IX, and was transferred to the diocese of Bishop of Capaccio on 13 April 1405 by Pope Innocent VII. He died on 10 September 1410. D'Avino, p. 419, no. 19. Eubel I, pp. 165, 352.
59. Panella was a papal chamberlain, and scriptor in the Apostolic Penitentiary. He had been bishop of Ferentino (1392–1395), archbishop of Durazzo in Epirus (1395–1399), and bishop of Capaccio (1399–1405). He was transferred to Muro Lucano by Pope Gregory XII on 23 February 1407. He had been transferred by Innocent VII, but the bulls had not been signed before Innocent's death. It is likely that these were all benefices for a working bureaucrat. Eubel I, pp. 165, 232, 246, 352 with note 5.
60. Della Porta was learned in the law, and held a canonry in the church of Sorrento. He was appointed bishop of Muro by Pope Martin V on 16 February 1418. He built the convent for the Friars Minor in Muro. He died in 1423. D'Avino, p. 419, no. 22. Eubel I, p. 352.
61. Sanfelice had been a canon in the cathedral of Melfi. He was appointed bishop of Alessano by Pope Innocent VII (Roman Obedience) on 12 October 1405. He was transferred to the diocese of Muro by Pope Martin V on 24 September 1423. His subsequent transfer to an unknown diocese was revoked by Pope Eugenius IV on 18 August 1431. In 1443 Eugenius assigned him a coadjutor, at which point Sanfelice resigned the diocese. D'Avino, p. 419, no. 23. Eubel I, pp. 83, 352 with note 6; II, p. 197 note 1.
62. Eubel II, p. 197.
63. Veroli, a Doctor in utroque iure, had been Bishop of Conversano (1437–1452), then Bishop of Bojano (1452–1462), then Bishop of Urbino (1462–1463). He was transferred to the diocese of Muro Lucano by Pope Pius II on 26 May 1463, "propter ejus duros et intolerabiles mores exosus et insupportabiles, ipsique ecclesiae inutilis pariter et infructuosus; and on 8 October 1464, he was transferred to the diocese of Camerino by Pope Paul II, though his name does not appear in the official catalogues of bishops of that see. Martuscelli, p. 257. Eubel II, pp. 108, 116, 135, 197.
64. Meolus had previously been Bishop of Telese (1459–1464). He was transferred to the diocese of Muro by Pope Paul II on 8 October 1464. He died in January 1486. His successor was appointed on 15 February. Martuscelli, pp. 257-258. Eubel II, pp. 197, 250.
65. Pesci had been a priest of the diocese of Benevento. On 15 February 1486, he was appointed bishop of Muro by Pope Innocent VIII. He resigned in favor of his nephew, Antonio Camillo Pesci, on 23 December 1517. Martuscelli, pp. 258-259. Eubel II, p. 250.
66. Eubel, Konrad (1923). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi. Vol. III (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 251. (in Latin)
67. Flavio's father was Ferdinando Orsini, 5th duke of Gravina; his mother was Beatrice Ferrillo, daughter and heiress of Giovanni Alfonso Ferrillo, Conte di Muro Lucano. He had been a papal referendary (judge), Auditor General of the papal treasury (under Pope Paul III). He was appointed bishop of Muro on 15 November 1560 by Pope Pius IV, resigning before 6 July 1562; his Vicar General was Ottaviano Moricone of Perugia. He was appointed Bishop of Spoleto on 16 December 1562. He was named a cardinal by Pius IV on 12 March 1565. He held the diocese of Cosenza as Administrator from 1569 to 1573. In 1572, he was papal nuncio in France. He died on 16 May 1581. Luigi Martuscelli (1896), pp. 263-265. Eubel III, p. 41, no. 36; 183-184, 251, 303.
68. Vincent Correrio Malatesta, of the monastery of S. Domenico Maggiore in Naples, at the age of 35 was appointed co-adjutor to the ailing Bishop Daniel and was named (titular) Bishop of Bethlehem on 20 November 1595. He did not enjoy the right of succession; resigned before 3 August 1605. Martuscelli (1896), pp. 267; 389-390. Eubel III, p. 251, note 12. Gauchat, p. 119.
69. Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi (in Latin). Vol. IV. Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. pp. 249–250.
70. Pacelli held a degree of Doctor in utroque iure. Martuscelli, pp. 276-278. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277 with note 3.
71. Sarnelli: Martuscelli, pp. 278-279. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277 with note 4.
72. Carussio: Martuscelli, pp. 279-281. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277 with note 5.
73. Acerno: Martuscelli, pp. 281-282. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277 with note 6.
74. Manfredi was transferred to the diocese of Boiano by Pope Clement XII on 3 March 1738. Martuscelli, pp. 282-286. Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 277 with note 7.
75. Delfico was born in Teramo in 1694, and held a degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Rome, Sapienza, 1719). He was a Canon and Vicar General of Teramo. He was Vicar General of Chieti. He was appointed bishop of Muro by Pope Clement XII on 5 May 1738. He died on 23 April 1744. Martuscelli, pp. 285-286. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 2.
76. Mojo was born in the village of Marano in the diocese of Naples in 1693. He died on 11 March 1767, at the age of 74. Martuscelli, pp. 286-292. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 3.
77. Gagliardi was born in the village of Bella in the diocese in 1710. He studied at the diocesan seminary, and was ordained in 1733. For a time he served as pro-Chancellor of the diocese. He worked in Naples as a teacher of Latin and Italian literature, attracting the attention of Msgr. Galiano, the principal chaplain of the royal chapel. He obtained a position at the papal nunciature, working for the Nuncio, Opizio Pallavicini, who later became a cardinal and papal secretary. He became professor of canon law at the University of Naples. He served as Vicar General of Capri. Through the influence of Cardinal Pallavicini, Pope Clement XIII named him bishop of Muro on 9 July 1767; he was consecrated in Rome on 12 July. He died in Naples on 1 July 1778. Martuscelli, pp. 292-297. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 4.
78. De Luca held the degree of doctor of theology (Naples, 1778). He was confirmed as bishop of Muro on 14 December 1778. He was transferred to the diocese of Trivento by Pope Pius VI on 26 March 1792. Martuscelli, pp. 297-298. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 5.
79. Beneventi was nominated by King Ferdinando IV on 20 January 1792, and approved (preconised) by Pope Pius VI on 26 March. He was consecrated on 9 April 1792 by Cardinal Francesco de Zelada. Martuscelli, pp. 298-299. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 6.
80. Beneventi died before 6 December 1794. Ferrone was nominated by the King on 31 October 1797, and confirmed on 18 December 1797.
81. Ferrone was nominated by the King on 31 October 1797, and confirmed on 18 December 1797. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Francisco Lorenzana on 21 December. Martuscelli, pp. 299-303. Ritzler and Sefrin VI, p. 298 with note 7.
82. Born in 1776, Martuscelli studied at the seminary of Muro, and became a parish priest. He was appointed canon penitentiary of the cathedral Chapter. He was named Rector of the seminary, where he also taught philosophy. He was Vicar General for Bishop Ferrone, his predecessor as bishop, on whose death he was elected Vicar Capitular to administer the diocese during the vacancy. He was named bishop of Muro by Pope Leo XII on 16 April 1827. He died in Muro on 16 July 1831. Martuscelli, pp. 302-307. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, p. 273.
83. Gigli died on 25 July 1865, at the convent of the Conventual Franciscans at Barra in Naples. Martuscelli, pp. 307-310.
84. D'Ambrosio was born in 1799 in S. Erasmo, a village near Nola. He joined the Capuchins at Maddaloni in 1819, became a priest in 1824, and was appointed lecturer in theology and philosophy in 1828. In 1829 he was appointed by the Provincial of the Naples province of his Order to open the monastery of Solofra. In 1835 he became secretary of the province, and in 1836 was appointed Provincial. He was then Custos General, Provincial a second time, and Custos a second time. On 3 May 1859, he was appointed Bishop of Muro by Pope Pius IX. Due to blindness on account of cataracts, he was assigned a coadjutor in 1874, and died on 28 January 1883. In Martuscelli, pp. 311-315. Ritzler and Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 396.
85. Capone had been Bishop d'Ambrosio's coadjutor, appointed on 22 December 1873, and consecrated titular bishop of Esbus on 11 January 1874. He died on 22 March 1908. Martuscelli, p. 315. Ritzler and Sefrin VIII, pp. 263, 396.
86. Vairo was born on 27 January 1910 in Paola (province of Cosenza), the fifth child of Francesco and Adelina Vairo. On 8 July 1961, Vairo was appointed titular bishop of Uthina and auxiliary bishop of Cosenza. He was transferred to the diocese of Muro Lucano He was appointed Archbishop of Potenza-Marsico Nuovo e Muro Lucano on 3 December 1977. He died on 25 July 2001. Giuseppe Vairo (1986), 25 anni di dialogo pastorale in tempi di Concilio e dopoconcilio, (in Italian) (Napoli: Laurenziana, 1986). Edmondo Soave, Mons. Giuseppe Vairo, Il “sequestrato di dio”, (in Italian) seconda edizione (Venosa: Osanna Edizioni 2012), ISBN 978-88-8167-460-2. Vito Cassese (2009), Mons. Giuseppe Vairo: partecipazione al Concilio vaticano II, tematiche conciliari e "questione meridionale ecclesiale" nel suo magistero episcopale, 1962-1993, (in Italian) Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino, 2009.

Books

• 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.
• 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.
• 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). Vol. VII. Monasterii: Libr. Regensburgiana.
• Remigius Ritzler; Pirminus Sefrin (1978). Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi... A Pontificatu PII PP. IX (1846) usque ad Pontificatum Leonis PP. XIII (1903) (in Latin). Vol. 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). Vol. IX. Padua: Messagero di San Antonio. ISBN 978-88-250-1000-8.

Studies

• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1870). Le chiese d'Italia: dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. vigesimo (20). Venezia: G. Antonelli. pp. 571–576.
• D'Avino, Vincenzio (1848). Cenni storici sulle chiese arcivescovili, vescovili, e prelatizie (nullius) del regno delle due Sicilie (in Italian). Naples: dalle stampe di Ranucci. pp. 417–421.
• Kamp, Norbert (1975). Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien. I. Prosopographische Grundlegung: 2. Apulien und Kalabrien. München: Wilhelm Fink Verlag. (in German) pp. 760–763.
• Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1962). Italia pontificia. Vol. IX: Samnium — Apulia — Lucania. Berlin: Weidmann. (in Latin) pp. 516–517.
• Martuscelli, Luigi (1896). Numistrone e Muro-Lucano: Note appunti e ricordi storici. (in Italian) Napoli: R. Pesole. [annotated list of bishops: pp. 239–319]
• Torelli, Felice (1848). La chiave del Concordato dell'anno 1818 e degli atti emanati posteriormente al medesimo. (in Italian) Volume 1, second edition Naples: Stamperia del Fibreno, 1848.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, NIccolo (1720). Italia sacra sive De episcopis Italiæ, et insularum adjacentium (in Latin). Vol. Tomus sextus (6). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 843–852.