The Diocese of Aversa () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Campania, southern Italy, created in 1053. It is situated in the Terra di Lavoro (Liburia), seven miles north of Naples, and eight miles south of Capua.Parente, p. 43, note 1. It is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Naples."Diocese of Aversa" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved April 16, 2016."Diocese of Aversa" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
History Medieval period
The city of Atella was destroyed in the Lombard invasions. The city of Aversa arose in the 11th century,The name "Aversa" first appears in a document dated 2 September 1022. Kehr, p. 279. near the destroyed Atella, and became the seat of the Norman invader Rainulf, who became a vassal of Duke Sergius of Naples. The Norman Duke Robert Guiscard built a fortification which in time became an urban centre. Duke Robert, becoming a vassal of the pope and supporting him in his struggle with the Holy Roman Emperor, obtained permission from Pope Leo IX to have the extinct diocese of Atella revived at Aversa. In 1058, Count Richard of Aversa became Prince of Capua. This led to an immediate and continual confrontation between Norman Capua and Lombard Naples, both politically and ecclesiastically. The archbishops of Naples claimed metropolitan status over Aversa, with the right to consecrate its bishops and receive oaths of loyalty from them. At the same time the Princes of Capua claimed that Aversa was a new foundation, thanks to their work for the Church, and in no case did the Norman Prince intend to recognize the jurisdiction of the Lombards over his principality.Kehr, p. 280.
In September 1089, Pope Urban II consecrated the monk Guitmund, who had been an agent of the Holy See, as Bishop of Aversa at the Synod of Melfi. An immediate protest was lodged by the Archbishop of Naples through his Archdeacon, and by the Prince of Salerno and Amalfi through his legate, humbly requesting that possession of the Church of Aversa be returned to them ("ut sibi tandem Aversane ecclesie possessio redderetur"). In his reply to the Archbishop, Pope Urban stated that he had consecrated Bishop Guitmund neither out of anger or hatred, but for the sake of equity and compelled by necessity, lest the Church of Aversa lose such a man as he had appointed.Kehr, p. 282, no. 5, 6. In a letter to Bishop Guitmund, Pope Urban stated that he and his advisors and the Roman leaders had debated the issue of the possession of the Church of Aversa for some time ("diu causam eventilavimus"), the unanimous decision was that the investiture of the possession of the Church of Aversa should be returned to the Archbishop and the Prince.C. Ewald, "Die Papstbriefe der Brittischen Sammlung," Neues Archiv der Gesellschaft fur altere deutsche Geschichtskunde V (Hannover 1879), pp. 356-357.
On 24 September 1120, Bishop Robertus (attested 1118–1226) obtained from Pope Calixtus II the bull "Sicut ex Fratrum", in which the Church of Aversa was recognized as being directly subordinate (a suffragan) of the Roman See, rather than the Archdiocese of Capua or the Archdiocese of Naples. Kehr, pp. 284-285, no. 16.
In a letter of reply (rescriptum) to the bishop of Aversa on 8 November 1298, Pope Innocent III remarked that the bishop and his predecessors had thus far (hactenus) been accustomed to obtain confirmation of their election and episcopal consecration from the archbishops of Naples, notwithstanding that Innocent's predecessor, Celestine III (1191–1198), had consecrated one "L" as bishop of Aversa himself "without prejudice to the Church of Naples", ordering that the new bishop should show reverence and obedience to the archbishop. If the bishop of Aversa wished to litigate the matter, the Pope would give him a hearing.J.P. Migne (ed.) Patrologiae Latinae cursus completus Tomus CCXIV (Paris 1846), p. 378. Kehr, p. 286, no. 21.
On 10 May 1298, Pope Boniface VIII issued a bull, confirming the privileges granted by Pope Calixtus II to the Church of Aversa, making the diocese directly subject to the Holy See.Georges Digard, Les registres de Boniface VIII Tome II (Paris: Ernest Thorin 1890), pp. 133-134, no. 2593. Eubel I, p. 122, note 1.
Cathedral and Chapter of Aversa The cathedral was begun thanks to the munificence of Duke Robert Guiscard, was carried forward and completed by his son Jordanus. It was dedicated to S. Paul of Tarsus. The high altar was dedicated by Pope Alexander IV on 3 June 1255.Kehr, p. 286.
The cathedral was served and administered by a corporate body, the Chapter, which was composed of four dignities (the Dean, the Cantor, the Archdeacon, and the Subcantor) and thirty Canons. Two dignities were later added, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent, designated the Theologus and the Penitentiarius. Pope Celestine III (1191–1198) granted the Chapter the right of electing their Dean.Kehr, p. 287, no. 4. The cathedral was one of the nine parishes inside the city, the care of which was assigned to the Canons prebendary. Attached to the cathedral were twelve beneficed clerics, whose duty it was to sing the Gregorian chant; two acolytes and six clerics for the sanctuary; and thirty chaplains. The members of the Chapter were paid out of a general fund (mensa canonicata), which was the subject of frequent complaint and litigation.Ughelli, p. 487. In 1600, it was agreed that the procurator of the Chapter would divide the income into eight portions, six of which would go to each of the six prebendary dignities.
Synods A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-727.
Bishop Pietro Orsini (1591–1598) presided over a diocesan synod at Aversa in 1594, and published its decrees. Bishop Carlo Carafa (1616–1644) held a diocesan synod on 19 June 1619, and published the decrees of the synod.Constitutiones dioecesanae synodi ab Illmo et revmo d(omi)no d(omino) Carolo Carafa, Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia Aversanae ecclesiae episcopus, celebratae IV Idus Iunij anno MDCXIX. Olmutz 1621. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Innico Caracciolo (1697–1730) on 4—6 November 1702.
In 1727, Cardinal Innico Caracciolo (1697–1730) issued a new set of Constitutions for the diocesan seminary of Aversa.
New ecclesiastical province 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. major changes were made in the ecclesiastical administrative structure of southern Italy. Wide consultations had taken place with the bishops and other prelates who would be affected. Action, however, was deferred, first by the death of Pope Paul VI on 6 August 1978, then the death of Pope John Paul I on 28 September 1978, and the election of Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1978. Pope John Paul II issued a decree, "Quamquam Ecclesia," on 30 April 1979, ordering the changes. Three ecclesiastical provinces were abolished entirely: those of Conza, Capua, and Sorrento. A new ecclesiastical province was created, to be called the Regio Campana, whose Metropolitan was the Archbishop of Naples. The diocese of Aversa became a suffragan of Naples.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Vol. 71 (Città del Vaticano 1979), pp. 562-563.
On January 15, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Angelo Spinillo, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Teggiano-Policastro, as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aversa. He succeeded Archbishop-Bishop Mario Milano, whose resignation was accepted by the Pope on the grounds that he had reached the canonical age of retirement of 75.
Bishops of Aversa
to 1400
Azolinus (1053– ? )Azzolino, the first bishop of Aversa, was consecrated a bishop by Pope Leo IX (1049–1054): "Siquidem dominus predecessor noster sancte memorie Leo papa nonus primum ibi episcopum, Azolinum videlicet, consecravit." Kehr, p. 284-285, no. 16. Orabona, pp. 13, 47, 104. Gams, p. 855, assigns Azzolino the dates of c.1049–1056. The authenticity of the bull of Pope Calixtus, which is found only in a bull of Pope Boniface VIII, has been challenged: Kehr, p. 285, n. [Guitmund I]In order to save all the references to Guitmund, scholars created a second and third Gutimund, rather than admit that some of the data were erroneous, faulty, or contradictory. Kehr, p. 282. [Guitmund II] ... Guitmund (1089–1094)Guimundus' election to the diocese of Rouen in 1079 was rejected by Pope Gregory VII, on the grounds that Guitmund was the son of a priest. He was consecrated bishop of Aversa by Pope Urban II, who had less rigid ideas. Orabona, pp. 13, 107. M. Dell'Omo, "Per la storia dei monaci-vescovi nell'Italia normanna del secolo XI: ricerche biografiche su Guitmondo di La Croix-Saint-Leufroy, vescovo di Aversa", in: Benedictina 40 (1993), pp. 9–34, at p. 19 (for consecration) and p. 33 (a successor attested in 1094). Ordericus Vitalis (Book IV) states that Guitmund left his monastery, with permission, and went to Pope Gregory VII, who made him a cardinal. August Prévost, Ordericus' editor, states: "Guitmond n'a jamais été élevé au cardinalat." Kehr, too (p. 282) denies the cardinalate: "fabulose narrat Guimundum a Gregorio VII cardinalem s. Rom. ecclesiae creatum et ab Urbano II iam probatum in multis metropolitanum Adversis urbis sollemniter ordinatum esse." Joannes (attested 1094–1101)Joannes: Kehr, pp. 283-284. Robertus (attested 1113)Robertus: Kehr, p. 284, no. 14. Robertus (attested 1118–1126)The second Robertus was consecrated a bishop by Pope Gelasius II. Kehr, VIII, p. 284-285, no. 15, 16; III, p. 323 no. 22. ... Gentilis (attested 1198–1217)Gentilis had been Bishop of Isernia e Venafra, but was driven out when the city of Venafro was burned by the troops of the Emperor Henry VI on 12 November 1192. K. Hampl, "Der schlimme Bischof Gentilis von Aversa," Mitteilungen aus der Capuaner Briefsammlung, III, (Heidelberg: C. Winter, 1911) [Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1911], p. 4. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 122. Basinthius Joannes Lambertus Fridericus Simone Paltanieri (1254– ? ) AdministratorSimone was named Bishop of Aversa by Pope Innocent IV on 17 November 1254. It was complained about Simone, when he was being invested as a cardinal in 1261, that he had not yet received any of the Holy Orders. Eubel I, p. 122, with note 4. Joannes (attested 1259) Fidentius (attested 1261–1274)Eubel suggests, p. 122 note 5, that Joannes and Fidentius are the same person.