Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli

The Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Italy. The diocese of Nardò was established in 1413. It is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lecce.Gabriel Chow, GCatholic.org, "Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli"; retrieved 4 December 2015. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli"; retrieved 29 February 2016.

History Western Schism and new diocese In 1378, a contested papal election produced a schism in the Church. All of the cardinals and much of the Church supported Cardinal Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII, and who soon returned with the papal Curia to Avignon. The rest supported the Neapolitan Bartolomeo Prignano, who took the name Urban VI. Initially the Kingdom of Naples supported Pope Clement, who chose to create a new diocese at Nardò. On 15 November 1379, the new bishop, the Sicilian Matteo de Castiello, arrived in Nardò to a decidedly mixed reception. His instructions were to make the monastery of S. Maria his cathedral and residence, and he therefore removed Abbot Guglielmo from governance over the territory of Nardò. Bishop Matteo was expelled in 1401 and the diocese of the Avignon Obedience suppressed, following a change in allegiance of the Kingdom of Naples after the death of Urban VI. A new abbot was elected in the person of Antonio de Perugia, who had been Archpriest of the cathedral. Abbot Antonio died in 1406, and was succeeded by Abbot Desiderius. Desiderius died on 27 July 1412, and on 22 July Giovanni de Epifanis succeed him."Chronicon Neritinum", in: Muratori, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores XXIV, p. 907-910. Lombardi, p. 438.

Diocese of the Roman obedience On 13 January 1413, the Diocese of Nardò was established, and made immediately subject to the Holy See (Papacy). The abbot of S. Maria was deposed, and S. Maria again became a cathedral.Ughelli, p. 1047. Its first bishop was appointed by Pope John XXIII on the same day.Ughelli, p. 1038. Cappelletti, p. 465. Lombardi, p. 440 column 2. He was Giovanni de Epifanis, who had just been deposed as abbot of S. Maria di Nardò.

A very great earthquake struck the area of Nardò on 5 December 1456, severely damaging the cathedral and causing the bell tower to collapse. On 20 February 1743, another major earthquake struck, bringing major damage to the Palazzo civico and the churches of S. Michele Arcangelo, S. Antonio da Padova, S. Gregorio Armeno, S. Domenico, and S. Francesco d'Assisi.Baratta, p. 232.

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral is administered by a Chapter. In 1617, the Chapter consisted of five dignities and twenty Canons.Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 257, note 1. In 1669, the Chapter was composed of six dignities and nineteen Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 286, note 1. The Chapter is currently (2019) headed by the Archpriest, with seven additional Canons, one of whom is the Penitentiary. The co-cathedral of S. Agata at Gallipoli is headed by the Primicerius-Theologus, and has a Cantor and one other member.Diocesi di Nardò-Gallipoli, "Capitoli"; retrieved 6 July 2019.

In 1647, during the rebellions against Spanish rule in the Kingdom of Naples, the Count of Conversano captured Nardò and executed four of the Canons of the cathedral Chapter.

Synods Synods of unknown dates were held by Bishop Giovanni Battista Acquaviva (1536–1569) and by Bishop Fabio Fornari (1583–1596). Bishop Girolamo de Franchis (1617–1634) held a diocesan synod in 1619;J. D. Mansi, L. Petit, J.B. Martin (edd.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIter (Arnhem-Leipzig: Hubert Welter 1924), pp. 75, 450. he held five other synods. At some point between 1652 and 1654, Bishop Calanio della Ciaja (1652–1654) held a diocesan synod.Mansi, Tomus XXXVIter, p. 329. A synod was held by Bishop Tommaso Brancaccio (1669–1677) in 1674.Anacephalaeosis constitutionum synodalium cathedralis ecclesiae neritonensis abb. Petro Antonio ab Alexandro s. th. et u. i. d. prothonotario apostolico, eiusdem cathedralis primo, atque item illustriss. et reverendiss. D. Thomae Brancatii olim abellinen. et frequentinen. nunc episcopi neritonen. vicario generali authore digesta, , Licii, apud Petrum Michaelem, 1674. Mansi, Tomus XXXVIter, p. 449. Bishop Orazio Fortunato (1678–1707) presided over a diocesan synod on 11 June 1680.

Twentieth century changes Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the Council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,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. the Episcopal Conference of Apulia petitioned the Holy See (Pope) that Lecce be made a metropolitan and that a new ecclesiastical province be created. After wide consultations among all affected parties, Pope John Paul II issued a decree on 20 October 1980, elevating Lecce to the status of metropolitan see. He also created the new ecclesiastical province of Lecce, whose constituent bishoprics (suffragans) were to be: Brindisi (no longer a metropolitanate, though the archbishop allowed to retain the title of archbishop), Otranto (no longer a metropolitanate, though the archbishop allowed to retain the title of archbishop), Gallipoli, Nardò, Ostuno, and Uxentina-S. Mariae Leucadensis (Ugento).Acta Apostolicae Sedis 72 (Città del Vaticano 1980), pp. 1076-1077.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat, which was accompanied in the next year 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. Otherwise Nardò and Gallipoli might have shared a bishop, as the Bishop of Nardo e Gallipoli. Instead, the Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Nardò and Gallipoli be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Neritonensis-Gallipolitana. The seat of the diocese was to be in Nardò, and the cathedral of Nardò was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in Galllipoli was to become a co-cathedral, and the cathedral Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Nardò, 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 Nardò and of Gallipoli.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 755-758.

Bishops of Nardò to 1700

Matthaeus (1387–1401) (Avignon Obedience)Matthaeus was an appointee of Clement VII in his struggle against Urban VI (Roman Obedience). At the time the Kingdom of Naples followed the Avignon Obedience. Ughelli I, p. 1038. Lombardi, p. 438. Cappelletti, p. 465. Eubel Hierarchia catholica I, p. 363. ... Joannes de Epiphaniis (1413–1423)Giovanni was a native of Nardò, and a descendant of the Princes of Benevento. He had been the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Nardò, since 22 July 1412. He resigned after ten years to return to the monastic life. Lombardi, p. 440 column 2. Eubel I, p. 363. Joannes Barella, O.Min. (1423–1435)Barella (or Barcula) was a native of Galatina, eight miles east of Nardò. He was appointed on 19 February 1423 by Pope Martin V. He governed the diocese for twelve years and nine months, and died in December 1435. Lombardi, p. 440 column 2. Eubel I, p. 363. Stephanus Agrinelli de Pendinellis (1436–1451)A native of Nardò, Stephanus de Pendinellis was appointed on 8 February 1436 by Pope Eugenius IV. He had been the spiritual advisor of the queen of Ferdinand I. On 16 June 1451, Bishop Stephanus was transferred to the diocese of Otranto by Pope Nicholas V. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1. Eubel II, pp. 166, 202. Ludovicus de Pinnis (1451–1483)De Pinnis was a Neapolitan, and a Doctor of Canon Law. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Nicholas V on 16 June 1451. He defended the Jews of his diocese against the attacks of Giovanni Antonio of Taranto. He restored the cathedral, which had been damaged by an earthquake, and established the dignity of Treasurer in the cathedral Chapter. He died in January 1483. Cappelletti, p. 466. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1. Eubel II, p. 202. Ludovicus de Justinis (1483–1491)A native of Città di Castello, De Justinis was appointed on 31 January 1483. Lombardi, p. 441, with note 1. Eubel II, p. 202. Gabriele Setario (1491–1507)Setario was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Innocent VIII on 12 December 1491. On 27 October 1507 Setario was transferred to the diocese of Avellino e Frigento by Pope Julius II. Eubel II, p. 202; III, p. 126. Antonio de Caro (1507–1517)Antonio de Caro (not 'de Laris') had been Bishop of Avellino, and was transferred to Nardò by Julius II on 27 October 1507. Cappelletti, pp. 466-467. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1, with note 1. Eubel III, pp. 123, 256. Cardinal Luigi d'Aragona (1517–1519) AdministratorThe Cardinal d'Aragona was the nephew of Ferdinando I of Aragon. He was appointed administrator of the diocese by Pope Leo X on 17 June 1517. He did not visit the diocese, but governed through a Vicar, Fra. Niccolò Melchiorri, O.P., titular Bishop of Cyrene. Cardinal Luigi died on 21 January 1519. Cappelletti, p. 466. Eubel III, p. 256. Cardinal Marco Cornaro (1519–1521) AdministratorCardinal Cornaro was appointed to the diocese of Nardò on 24 January 1519 by Pope Leo X. He resigned on the appointment of a bishop on 20 February 1521. He was appointed Suburbicarian Bishop of Albano on 21 May 1524, and Bishop of Palestrina on 15 June 1524, and died in Venice on 24 July 1524. Eubel III, pp. 55, 57, 256. Giacomo Antonio Acquaviva (1521–1532) Bishop-electAcquaviva was only 17 years old when appointed by Leo X on 20 February 1521. His father Bellisario had been named Marchese di Nardò. He resigned in January 1532, not having received episcopal consecration. Lombardi, p. 441 column 2. Eubel III, p. 256. Cardinal Giovanni Domenico de Cupis (1532–1536) AdministratorCardinal de Cupis was appointed Administrator of the diocese of Nardò on 15 January 1532 by Pope Clement VII. He resigned the Administratorship on the appointment of the new bishop on 22 May 1536. Lombardi, p. 442. Cappelletti, p. 467. Eubel III, p. 256. Giovanni Battista Acquaviva (1536–1569)G. B. Acquaviva was the brother of Giacomo Antonio Acquaviva. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Paul III on 22 May 1536. In his last year of life, he was sent an Apostolic Visitor by Pope Pius V in the person of the Bishop of Strongoli. He died in 1569. Lombardi, p. 442. Cappelletti, p. 467. Eubel III, p. 256.