Roman Catholic Diocese of Sant'Agata de' Goti

Not to be confused with Ancient Diocese of Agde.

The former Roman Catholic Diocese of Sant'Agata de' Goti, in the Province of Benevento, Campania, southern Italy, was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Benevento from its creation in 969. In 1986, it was merged into the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti, which continued as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Benevento.^[1][2]

The bishops of Sant'Agata de' Goti were also barons of Bagnoli, from the 12th century to the 19th. From 1818 to 1854, the bishop of Sant'Agata de' Goti was also bishop of Acerra.

Façade of Cathedral of the Assumption

History

Fief

The castle of Sant'Agata was held by a Lombard gastaldo, dependent upon the duchy of Benevento, who was promoted to the rank of count by Duke Arechis II of Benevento in 758.^[3] In 866, Emperor Louis II captured it from the Byzantines, who had taken it from the Longobard Duchy of Benevento.

The fief of Sant'Agata was held, around the end of the first millennium, by the Lombard prince of Capua, Landolfo. In 1066 it fell into the hands of the Normans. Even at the beginning of the Norman rule, it remained in the hands of a Lombard, Rainulfo II (1181), who was named Count of S. Agata by King William II of Sicily.^[4]

When the French conquered the kingdom of Sicily, King Charles I granted the county of S. Agata to the Artus family,^[5] which held the fief until Ladislaus d'Artus was killed in 1411 in a rebellion against King Ladislaus of Naples. Subsequently, the fief passed to the Orilia family, then the Della Ratta, the Acquaviva, and the Ram. In the 1500s it became a duchy under the Cossa, and then in 1674 under the Carafa, who held it until the abolition of feudalism in the mid-19th century.^[6]

The name Sant'Agata de' Goti of the See is derived by tradition from a body of Goths who took refuge there after the battle of Vesuvius (552);^[7] the church of the Goths in Rome, too, was dedicated to St. Agatha.^[2] In the diocese, there are also parish churches called Sant'Agata sopra la Porta and Sant'Agata de Marenis.^[8]

Diocese

The consecration of a bishop for Sant'Agata is first mentioned in the papal bull of 970, by which Pope John XIII elevated the diocese of Benevento to the status of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Benevento. The bull authorized the new metropolitan to nominate and consecrate the bishops of the assigned suffragans, including Santa'Agatha. The bull describes precisely the territory of Benevento.^[9] In December 970, Archbishop Landulf of Benevento issued a bull in favor of Bishop Madelfridus of Sant'Agata, defining the diocesan limits.^[10]

Around 1100, under the patronage of Count Robert,^[11] the city began the construction of the monastery of San Menna, a 6th-century hermit, whose remains had been discovered in 1094.^[12] The church was personally consecrated by Pope Paschal II on 4 September 1110.^[13]

In 1181, Count Rainulf II of S. Agata granted Bishop Urso the local fief of Bagnoli, which brought with it the temporal rank of Baron. The bishops continued to enjoy the title until the abolition of feudalism in the 19th century.^[14] By 1714, the castle of Bagnoli was nearly deserted, due to banditry and pestilence.^[15]

The city was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1456.^[16]

In 1703, there were some sixty priests in the city, and twenty-five clerics. The population was 3,164.^[17] In 1885, the city of Sant'Agata claimed a population of 8,014; the entire diocese had 34,812 Catholics.^[18] In 1980, just before its suppression, the diocese had a Catholic population of 36,332.

Two diocesan synods were held by Bishop Feliciano Ninguarda, O.P. (1583–1588) in 1585 and in 1586.^[19] Bishop Giacomo Circio presided over a diocesan synod in the cathedral of Sant'Agata on 12–14 August 1681.^[20] Bishop Filippo Albini (1699–1722) held a diocesan synod in 1706.^[21]

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral in Sant'Agata de' Goti is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with the commendation of S. Stephen the Protomartyr and S. Agatha.^[22]

The cathedral is administered and served by a corporation called the Chapter. In 1703, the Chapter consisted of thirty members, headed by five dignities (the Archdeacon, the Dean, the Penitentiary, two Primicerii, and the Treasurer). The Treasurer acted as the parish priest of the cathedral parish. There were six other parishes in the city and immediate suburbs. There were two religious houses for men inside the city, one of the Conventual Franciscans, the other of the Brothers of S. John of God, who had a hospital. The abbey of S. Mennas no longer had its own abbot, or even a commendatory abbot, but was under the administration of the Scottish College in Rome; the Rector was obliged to swear obedience to the bishop and accept his visitation.^[23]

Restoration of 1818

Following the expulsion of the French and the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, a concordat was 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.^[24] 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).^[25] On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which he reestablished the metropolitan archbishopric of Benevento and its suffragans, including Sant'Agata de' Goti.^[26] The diocese of Acerra and the diocese of Sant'Agati de' Goti were united under one and the same bishop, aeque personaliter.^[27]

On 30 November 1854, following the death of Bishop Francesco Iavarone of Sant'Agata and Acerra (1849–1854), Pope Pius IX reversed the action of Pius VII with regard to the union of those two dioceses aeque personaliter, and separated them again into two distinct and different dioceses, each complete with all the powers of its own bishop and the institutions of its own diocese. Sant'Agata continued as a suffragan of Benevento; Acerra became (again) a suffragan of Naples.^[28]

Diocesan Reorganization

 

Location of Sant'Agata de' Goti

Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,^[29] Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy, beginning with consultations among the members of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican Curia, the Italian Bishops Conference, and the various dioceses concerned.

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 Diocese of Telese-Cerreto Sannita and S. Agatha Gothorum be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Cerretana-Thelesina-Sanctae Agathae Gothorum. The seat of the diocese was to be in Cerreto, whose cathedral was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in S. Agatha Gothorum was to have the honorary title of "co-cathedral"; the Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Molfetta, 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 diocese. The new diocese was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Benevento.^[30]

Bishops of Sant'Agata de' Goti

Erected: 10th Century
Latin Name: Sanctae Agathae Gothorum

to 1500

• Madelfridus (appointed 970)^[31]

…

• Adelardus^[32]

…

• Bernardus (attested 1059, 1075, 1101)^[33]
• Enrico (1108–1143?)^[34]
• Andrea (1152?–?)
• Giovanni (John) (? – death 1161)
• Urso (1161 – death 1190)^[35]
• Giovanni (1190 – 1213)^[36]
• Giovanni (1213–?)
• Giovanni (1234?–?)
• Pietro, O.F.M. (1254–1262?)^[37]
• Nicola del Morrone (1262 – death 1282)
• Eustachio, O.P. (17 September 1282 – death 1294?)^[38]

Joannes de Castrocoeli (1294–1295) Administrator^[39]

• Guido da San Michele, O.F.M. (14 November 1295 – ?)^[40]
• Francesco (1304?–?)^[41]
• Roberto Ferrari (1318 – 1327)^[42]
• Pandolfo (1327 – death 1342)
• Giacomo Martono (4 February 1344 – 23 March 1351)^[43]
• Nicola (23 March 1351 – death 1386?)^[44]
• Nicola (1386 – 1391) Roman Obedience^[45]
• Antonio di Sarno, O.F.M. (19 June 1391 – 1394 deposed) Roman Obedience^[46]
• Giacomo Papa (1394 – 1399) Roman Obedience^[47]
• Pietro de Gattula (1400 – 1423) Roman Obedience^[48]
• Raimondo degli Ugotti, O.S.B.I. (23 July 1423 – 1430)^[49]
• Giosuè Mormile (18 December 1430 – 23 July 1436)^[50]
• Antonio Bretoni (1437.02.06 – 1440)^[51]
• Galeotto de la Ratta (27 April 1442 – death 1455)
• Amorotto (12 September 1455 – death 1468.03)
• Pietro Mattei (1469.04.17 – 1472.06.05)^[52]
• Manno Morola (1472 – 1487)^[53]
• Pietro Paolo Capobianco (1487–1505 Died)^[54]

1500–1818

• Alfonso Carafa (1505–1512)^[55]
• Giovanni Di Luigi, O. Carm. (1512–1519 Resigned)^[56]
• Giovanni de Gennaro (Guevara) (1523–1556)^[57]
• Giovanni Beraldo (1557–1565)^[58]
• Felice Peretti Montalto, O.F.M. Conv. (1566–1571)^[59]
• Vincenzo Cisoni, O.P. (1572–1583 Died)^[60]
• Feliciano Ninguarda, O.P. (1583–1588)^[61]
• Giovanni Evangelista Pelleo, O.F.M. Conv. (1588–1595 Died)^[62]
• Giulio Santuccio, O.F.M. Conv. (1595–1607)^[63]
• Ettore Diotallevi (1608–1635 Appointed, Bishop of Fano)^[64]
• Giovanni Agostino Gandolfo (1635–1653 Died)^[64]
• Domenico Campanella, O. Carm. (1654–1663 Died)^[64]
• Biagio Mazzella, O.P. (1663–1664 Died)^[64]
• Giacomo Circio (1664–1699 Died)^[65]
• Philippus Albini (1699–1722)^[66]
• Muzio Gaeta (iuniore) (1723–1735)^[67]
• Flaminio Danza (1735–1762)^[68]
• Alfonso Maria de Liguori (1762–1775)^[69]
• Onofrio Rossi (1775–1784)^[70]
• Paolo Pozzuoli (1784–1799)^[71]

Sede vacante (1799–1818)

Bishops of Sant'Agata de' Goti e Acerra

• Orazio Magliola (1818–1829 Died)^[72]
• Emanuele Maria Bellorado, O.P. (1829–1833 Died)^[73]
• Taddeo Garzilli (Garzillo) (1834–1848 Died)
• Francesco Iavarone (1849–1854 Died)

Bishops of Sant'Agata de' Goti

1855–1986

• Francesco Paolo Lettieri (1855–1869 Died)
• Domenico Ramaschiello (1871–1899)^[74]
• Ferdinando Maria Cieri (1899–1910 Died)
• Alessio Ascalesi, C.Pp.S. (1911–1915)^[75]
• Giuseppe de Nardis (1916–1953 Retired)
• Costantino Caminada (1953–1960 Appointed, Titular Bishop of Thespiae)
• Ilario Roatta (1960–1982 Retired)
• Felice Leonardo (1984–1986)^[76]

30 September 1986: United with the Diocese of Telese o Cerreto Sannita to form the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti

See also

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Acerra
• List of Catholic dioceses in Italy

References

1. "Diocese of Sant'Agata de' Goti" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved October 29, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
2. "Diocese of Sant'Agata de' Goti" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved October 29, 2016.^{[self-published source]}
3. Luigi de Silva & G. De Martino (2002), "Il recupero di una «civitas» medioevale in termini di urbanistica moderna: Sant'Agata dei Goti," (in Italian), in: U. Cardarelli (ed.), Studi di urbanistica, Volume I (Bari: Edizioni Dedalo 2002), p. 35.
4. Luigi de Silva & G. De Martino (2002), in: U. Cardarelli (ed.), Studi di urbanistica, Volume I, p. 35.
5. Giacinto de' Sivo (1865), Storia di Galazia campana e di Maddaloni, (in Italian), 1865, pp. 139, 144-145, 151-153.
6. Bishop Filippo Albini. "Relatio of 1703", in: Orlandi, p. 15: "Civitas in temporalibus olim subiecta ducibus de familia Cossa, ea extincta, subiecta fuit ducibus Magdaloni de domo Carrafa, qui a Rege Catholico investituram obtinuerunt." Luigi de Silva & G. De Martino (2002), p. 36.
7. Bishop Filippo Albini states in his Relatio of 1703: "Civitas S. Agathae a Gothis incolis, seu [ ... ] ad locum montium coronis munitum refugii nomen suscepisse traditur." Orlandi, p. 10.
8. [F. Viparelli,] (1841). Memorie istoriche..., p. 21.
9. Kehr IX, p. 54, no. 54; p. 120.
10. [F. Viparelli,] (1841). Memorie istoriche..., pp. 29-31.
11. Roberto Quarrel, Conte di Caiazzo, nephew of Riccardo, first Norman prince of Capua. Carrelli, pp. 222-223.
12. Kehr IX, p. 123.
13. Cappelletti XIX, p. 307. Kehr IX, p. 123, no. 1.
14. [F. Viparelli,] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p. 47. Giuseppe Bertolotti (1885), Statistica ecclesiastica d'Italia, Savona: tipografia di A. Ricci, 1885, p. 600. Carrelli (1923), p. 225.
15. Orlandi, p. 32: "Castrum Balneoli, cujus episcopus baro est, et in quo civilem et mixtam jurisdictionem habet, a sexaginta et ultra annis, sive ex latronum incursionibus, sive a pestilentia ab incolis derelictum fuit."
16. M. Baratta (1901), I terremoti d'Italia, (in Italian), Torino: Fratelli Bocca (1901), p. 72.
17. Orlandi, p. 14.
18. Giuseppe Bertolotti (1886), Statistica ecclesiastica d'Italia tipografia di A. Ricci, 1886, pp. 600-601.
19. Julii Caponi, Jurisc. Neapolitani, Theologi, Philosophi, Ac Comitis Palatani, Disceptationum Forensium, Ecclesiasticarum, Civilium, Et Moralium, Pluribus in Casibus decisarum Vol. 3 (Cologne: Pellissari 1737), p. 416, column 1. Cappelletti XIX, p. 313.
20. Synodus dioecesana Agathensis, ab illust(rissi)mo et rev(erendissi)mo domino domino Iacobo Circio, a Monte Regali, episcopo Sanctae Agathae Gothorum, habita in eius cathedrali ecclesia, sub diebus duodecima, decimatertia et decimaquarta augusti anni millesimi sexcentesimi octuagesimi primi. (Romae: Typ. Reverendae Camerae Apostolicae 1682.
21. Orlandi, p. 26.
22. Orlandi, p. 11: "Ecclesiae praedictae titulus est Assumptionis B.M. Virginis, cuius patrocinio commendata est, prout SS. Prothomartyris Stephani et Agathae."
23. Orlandi, pp. 11-14.
24. F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19.
25. Torelli I, p. 9.
26. " neventana dominio Sedis apostolicae etiam in temporalibus subjecta suffraganeas habere perget episcopales in regia ditione citra Pharum existentes ecclesias Avellinam, Arianensem, Bovinensem, Lucerinam, sancti Severi, Cerretanam et Thelesinam unitas, Bojanensem, Thermularum, Larinensem, et sanctae Agathae Gothorum."
27. Bulliarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 58, § 11: "Episcopali vero ecclesiae sanctae Agathae Gothorum alteram ecclesiam episcopalem Acerrarum ut supra aeque principaliter in perpetuum unimus."
28. The Bull "Nihil est", in: Collezione degli atti emanati dopo la pubblicazione del Concordato dell'anno 1818, (in Italian and Latin), Parte decimaquarta (Napoli: Stamperia dell'Iride, 1857), pp. 77–91.
29. 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.
30. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 803-805.
31. Cappelletti XIX, p. 307, no. I. Klewitz, p. 44. Kehr IX, p. 120: "...bulla lohannis XIII a. 969 data... licentiam acceperat consecrandi episcopum in loco s. Agathae. Eodem privilegio nisus Madelfrido primo ep. a se consecrato fines dioecesis determinavit, qui partem parochiae Sessulanae antiquae includunt."
32. A metrical epitaph of Adelardus is preserved in the Church of the Misericordia, which he founded and embellished. The claim is that he ruled the diocese for 24 years, 4 months, and 15 days. Cappelletti XIX, pp. 307-308. Klewitz, p. 44.
33. Bernardus attended the Lateran synod of Pope Nicholas II. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus 19 (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 912. Kehr IX, p. 120.
34. Bishop Enrico was an ally of Pope Innocent II against Pope Anacletus II in the schism of 1130–1138. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 41-46. Carrelli, pp. 223-224. Klewitz, p. 44.
35. Orsone: [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 46-47.
36. Joannes (or Jacobus) Ati was a native of Sant'Agata. He had been secretary of the Emperor Henry VI, and was archdeacon of the cathedral of Sant'Agata. In 1191, the emperor Henry began the reconquest of the kingdom of Naples from Count Tancred of Lecce, during which Telese was burned and Sant'Agata damaged. Bishop Joannes restored the cathedral and the episcopal palace. He died in 1213. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 47-51. Eubel I, p. 75.
37. Pietro had been the Provincial Minister of the Franciscans. He probably introduced his mendicant order in the city. Williell R. Thomson (1975), Friars in the Cathedral: The First Franciscan Bishops 1226-1261, Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, p. 233.
38. Bishop Eustachio died in 1293. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p. 57.
39. Following the death of Bishop Eustachio, Pope Celestine V appointed Cardinal Giovanni of S. Vitalis, Archbishop of Benevento, as apostolic administrator; he died on 22 February 1295. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p. 57-58. Eubel I, p. 12, no. 13.
40. In considering a replacement for Bishop Eustachio, Pope Boniface had interposed a reservation in his own favor. When Cardinal Joannes died, therefore, the Pope moved, on 14 November 1295, to appoint the Franciscan Guido da San Michele. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 58-59.
41. Franciscus: Gams, p. 478.
42. In 1318, discord between two factions in the cathedral Chapter produced two candidates for the succession: the archdeacon of the diocese and a native of Sant'Agata, Roberto Ferrario; and Pietro Monte de Novione, a chaplain of King Roberto. The matter was referred to Avignon, where Pope John XXII chose Archdeacon Robert. Bishop Roberto governed until his death in 1327. Eubel I, p. 76 with note 5.
43. , next Bishop of Caserta (Italy) (1351.03.23 – death 1371)
44. , previously Bishop of Muro Lucano (Italy) (1340? – 1345.07.16), Bishop of Caserta (Italy) (16 July 1345 – 23 March 1351)
45. A Frenchman, Nicholas was appointed by Pope Urban VI on 25 August 1386, but fell afoul of the strife between Ladislaus, son of Charles of Durazzo, and Louis d'Anjou. He withdrew temporarily, but made an arrangement with Ladislaus; but he was unwilling to follow the directions of Otto of Brunswick, who supported Ladislaus. He fled to Rome, where he lived for three years. In 1391, Pope Urban's successor, Pope Boniface IX (Tommacelli) transferred him to the diocese of Vannes, not Vence (France). Since both French dioceses were loyal to the Avignon Obedience, Nicholas' appointment was only notional. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 62-63. Eubel I, p. 76.
46. Antonius was appointed by Pope Boniface IX to replace Bishop Nicholas. He was deposed by Cardinal Antonius of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, according to Ughelli VIII, p. 350, the only source (There was no such person; perhaps Cardinal Angelo Acciaioli of Florence is meant). [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p. 63. Eubel I, p. 76.
47. Giacomo (Jacobus, Jacobellus, Biellus) was a canon of the cathedral of Gaeta. He was appointed by Pope Boniface IX on 26 October 1394. He died in 1399. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 63-64. Eubel I, p. 76.
48. A Neapolitan, Gattula was named bishop of Sant'Agata by Boniface IX on 8 January 1400. He regained for the bishops the fief of Bagnoli, which had been alienated by Charles d'Artois, Count of Sant'Agata. On 17 May 1423, Gattula was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Brindisi–Oria by Pope Martin V. He died in 1437. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 63-64. Eubel I, p. 76.
49. On 18 December 1430, Ugotti was appointed Bishop of Boiano by Pope Martin V. On 3 July 1439, he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Conza on 3 July 1439 by Pope Eugenius IV. He died in 1455.
50. Mormile was previously Bishop of Monopoli (Italy) (9 March 1413 – 18 December 1430); he was appointed Bishop of Tropea by Pope Eugenius IV (23 July 1436 – 1445)
51. On 18 April 1440, Bretoni was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorrento by Pope Eugenius IV. On 23 July 1442, he was named Archbishop-Bishop of Orange (France). He died in 1450.
52. , next Bishop of Giovinazzo (Italy) (1472.06.05 – death 1496?)
53. Morolo was a native of Capua, and had been Bishop of Giovanazzo. He died on 2 (or 12) February 1487. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p. 68. Eubel II, p. 81 with note 2.
54. Eubel, Konrad (1923). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi. Vol. III (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 97. (in Latin)
55. Carafa was the sixth son of Alberico, first Conte di Marigliano, and then Duke (a first-cousin of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa); and Giovanna di Molise, daughter and heir of Paolo di Molise. Alfonso was the brother of Bernardino Carafa, Patriarch of Alexandria. On 27 August 1512, Carafa was appointed Bishop of Lucera in Apulia by Pope Julius II. He died in 1534. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 72-73. Eubel III, pp. 97, 111, 229.
56. A native of Aversa, Joannes de Aloysiis (Degli Aloisi) had been the Provincial of the Naples province of the Carmelites. He was appointed bishop of Capri in 1491, by Pope Innocent VIII; then Bishop of Lucera in 1500, by Pope Alexander VI; and then Bishop of Sant'Agata by Pope Julius II, on 27 August 1512. He resigned (or died) in 1520 (or 1523). [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 73-74. Cappelletti XIX, p. 312. Eubel II, pp. 117, 181; III, p. 97.
57. A Neapolitan patrician, Giovanni Guevara was the son of Alfonso Guevara and Giovanna Cantella of the lords of Arpaja. He was curate of the church of S. Tommaso Apostolo in Paolisi when appointed bishop of Sant'Agata by Pope Alexander VI on 19 June 1523. He elevated the church of S. Michele Archangelo in Arpaja to the rank of collegiate church, and rebuilt and extended the episcopal palace in Sant'Agata. He suppressed several parish churches, to the benefit of the cathedral. He died suddenly at lunch on 25 August 1556, of an apopletic stroke. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 73-74. Cappelletti XIX, p. 312. Eubel III, p. 97.
58. A member of the nobility of Palermo, Beraldo had previously been a canon of Naples (which he was allowed to retain) and Bishop of Telese (1548–1566). In 1550, he was present in Rome during the Sede vacante following the death of Paul III, and gave an impressive address to the College of Cardinals on the election of a new pope. He was transferred to Sant'Agata by Pope Paul IV on 1 October 1557. He attended the Council of Trent in 1561 and 1562. On his return from Trent, he began the business of opening a seminary for the training of clergy, and contributed his own money to acquire an appropriate house. In 1565, a papal inquiry was launched into the crimes of Bishop Beraldo. He died in 1565, according to Eubel, in 1566 according to Viparelli and Cappelletti. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 76-77. Eubel III, p. 97 with note 7.
59. Peretti had been Vicar General of the Conventual Franciscans, when he was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata by Pope Paul IV on 15 November 1566. He was consecrated a bishop in Naples on 12 January 1567, and took possession of his diocese on 29 January. He set off for Rome on 2 May 1567, he departed for Rome, where he still had business as Vicar-General of his Order, returning to Sant'Agata in 1568. On 12 December 1568, he was in Rome again, where he participated in the consecration of the bishop of Alife. On 17 May 1570, he was named a cardinal by Pope Pius V. He was named Bishop of Fermo by Pope Pius V on 17 December 1571. He was elected Pope Sixtus V in 1585. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 77-80. Eubel III, pp. 44, no. 12; 48; 97; 196.
60. Cisoni was a native of Lugo (Province of Ravenna). He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata on 6 February 1572, by Pope Pius V. He died on 17 January 1583. He published a set of Constitutions for the cathedral Chapter, and conducted a diocesan visitation. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., p, 81. Eubel III, p. 97 with note 11.
61. A native of Morbino (Como) and master of theology in his Order, Ninguarda was appointed Vicar General of his Order in Germany, and attended the Council of Trent as a theologian and as representative of the archbishop of Salzburg. He was appointed Bishop of Scala by Pope Gregory XIII, on 25 February 1577. He was sent as a papal nuncio to Bavaria, to encourage monastic reform. He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata while still in Germany, on 31 January 1583. He was named Bishop of Como by Pope Sixtus V on 3 October 1588. He died on 5 January 1595. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 81-83. Eubel III, pp. 97, 183, with note 10; 294 with note 5. Alexander Koller, "Ninguarda, Feliciano," Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 78 (2013) (in Italian); retrieved: 16 August 2018.
62. Pelleo was a native of Forcio (Marches). He had been General of the Conventual Franciscans. He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata by Pope Sixtus V on 17 October 1588. He conducted three diocesan visitations, and refurbished the episcopal palace. In 1593 he created the office of Penitentiary in the cathedral Chapter. He improved the finances of the seminary by transferring income from various benefices. He died suddenly in 1595. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 83-84. Eubel III, p. 97 with note 13.
63. A native of Monte Filacciano (or Filatrano), Santuccio was a professor of theology in the University of Rome, and a consultant to various congregations in the Roman Curia. He was appointed bishop on 11 December 1595 by Pope Clement VIII. He died in 1607. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 84-85. Eubel III, p. 97. Gauchat, p. 71
64. Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi (in Latin). Vol. IV. Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. p. 71.
65. A native of Monte Reale (Rieti), Circio held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (JUD), and became a consistorial advocate in the Roman Curia. He was named bishop of Sant'Agata on 21 July 1664, by Pope Alexander VII (Chigi). In 1681, he presided over a diocesan synod. He died on 7 March 1699. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 92-93. Gauchat, p. 71 with note 7.
66. Albini was born in 1649. in Benevento, to which his family had migrated from Rome. On his mother's death, his father became a priest, rising to be Primicerius of the cathedral of Benevento, and Capitular Vicar. Filippo studied in Benevento, Naples and Rome, where he was granted the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (JUD) (Sapienza 1676). He practiced as a lawyer for 26 years, becoming a voting member of the Tribunal of the Two Signatures. He was appointed Auditor General of the papal treasury (Apostolic Camera). He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata on 5 October 1699, by Pope Innocent XII. Albini made his ad limina visit in 1703, and left a full account of the diocese. He died on 26 October 1722. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 93-99. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 71 with note 3. Orlandi (1969), pp. 8-9.
67. Born in Naples in 1686, Gaeta was the son of Ottavio, Duke of S. Nicola. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (JUD) (Naples 1707), and was a canon of Naples. He was named bishop of Sant'Agata on 20 January 1723, and consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Fabrizio Paluzzi on 24 February. He was transferred to the archdiocese of Bari on 19 December 1735, and to the archdiocese of Capua on 16 September 1754. He died in Naples on 19 March 1764. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 100-101. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 71 with note 4. Orlandi (1969), p. 42: "Non sembra che nel suo episcopato a Sant'Agata si sia distinto in maniera particolare."
68. Danza was an absentee for the last eleven years of his tenure. [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 101-102: "Mori in Arienzo , ove avea fissata la sua dimora, a' 11 febbrajo 1762; e per gli ultimi 11 anni di sua vita fu continuamente assente da questa città." Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 69 with note 2.
69. Liguori: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 69 with note 3.
70. Rossi: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 69 with note 4.
71. Pozzuoli was born in the village of Vitulazio (Capua) in 1740. He died on 8 March 1799. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 69 with note 5.
72. Magliola: [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 108-109. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 63; VII, p. 61.
73. Bellorado: [F. Viparelli] (1841), Memorie istoriche..., pp. 110-118. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, pp. 61, 141. 321.
74. Born in 1813, Ramaschiello had been a priest of Nocera dei Pagani, and a canon in the cathedral. He was President of the Congregation de' casi morali e delle sagre missioni. He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata on 22 December 1871. He was consecrated in Rome in the church of S. Alfonso on the Quirinal by Cardinal Carlo Sacconi. He died on 22 January 1899. La Gierarchica Cattolica (Roma: Monaldi 1880), p. 99. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 80.
75. In 1915, Bishop Ascalesi was appointed Archbishop of Benevento by Pope Benedict XV.
76. In 1986, the diocese of Sant'Agatha was suppressed by Pope John Paul II, and its territory incorporated into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti. Leonardo became the bishop of the new diocese.

Bibliography

Episcopal lists

• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. I (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. II (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Eubel, Conradus; Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. III (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. pp. 845–846.
• 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 (in Latin). Vol. VII (1800–1846). Monasterii: Libreria Regensburgiana.
• Remigius Ritzler; Pirminus Sefrin (1978). Hierarchia catholica Medii et recentioris aevi (in Latin). Vol. VIII (1846–1903). Il Messaggero di S. Antonio.
• Pięta, Zenon (2002). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentioris aevi (in Latin). Vol. IX (1903–1922). Padua: Messagero di San Antonio. ISBN 978-88-250-1000-8.

Studies

• Cappelletti, Giuseppe (1864). Le chiese d'Italia: dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni (in Italian). Vol. Tomo decimonono (19). Venice: G. Antonelli. pp. 341–349.
• Carrelli, G. (1923), "I conti Normanni di S. Agata dei Goti," (in Italian), in: Rivista dell Collegio Araldico Vol. 21 (Roma 1923), pp. 221–225.
• D'Avino, Vincenzo (1848). Cenni storici sulle chiese arcivescovili, vescovili, e prelatizie (nulluis) del Regno delle Due Sicilie (in Italian). Napoli: Ranucci. pp. 606–612.
• Kamp, Norbert (1973). Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien. Prosopographische Grundlegung. Bistümer und Bischöfe des Königreichs 1194-1266. 1. Abruzzen und Kampanien. (in German) Munich 1973, pp. 286–290
• Kehr, Paulus Fridolin (1962). Italia pontificia. Regesta pontificum Romanorum. Vol. IX: Samnia – Apulia – Lucania. (in Latin). Berlin: Weidmann. (in Latin). pp. 120–124.
• Klewitz, Hans-Walter (1933). "Zur geschichte der bistumsorganisation Campaniens und Apuliens im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert", (in German), in: Quellen und Forschungen aus italienischen archiven und bibliotheken, XXIV (1932–33), p. 44.
• Orlandi, Giuseppe (1969). "Le relazioni «ad limina» della diocesi di Sant'Agata de' Goti nel secolo XVIII," (in Italian) in: Spicilegium Historicum 17 (1969), parts I pp. 3–82; & II pp. 189–214.
• Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolo (1721). Italia sacra, sive De episcopis Italiae et insularum adjacentium (in Latin). Vol. Tomus octavus (8). Venice: Apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 344–358.
• [Viparelli, F.] (1841). Memorie istoriche della citta di S. Agata dei Goti. (in Italian). (Naples: M. Avallone 1841).

External links

• Gabriel Chow, GCatholic, "GCatholic, with Google satellite photo"