Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela

The Archdiocese of Messina () is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church. It was founded as the Diocese of Messina but was raised to the level of an archdiocese on 30 September 1986 with the merging with the former Diocese of Lipari (5th century)"Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 25 September 2016."Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 25 September 2016. and the Territorial Prelature of Santa Lucia del Mela (1206), and as suffragans the Diocese of Patti and Diocese of Nicosia.

History

In the war between King Charles II of Naples and Frederick III of Sicily for the crown of Sicily, Messana supported Frederick, even under attack by the fleet of Charles in 1298. Sicily was under papal interdict because it rejected the candidate supported by the Pope.Pirro, pp. 408-409.

Canon Antonio Amico wrote extensively on the history of Messina in the seventeenth century.Thomas Shahan. "Antonio Amico." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Retrieved: 7 March 2024.

Messina has the misfortune of being situated on a major tectonic plate boundary, between the European plate and the African plate. On 11 January 1693, a major earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sicily from Messina to Syracuse; twenty-nine people died, and destruction extended to the Royal Palace, the Episcopal Palace, the Seminary, and there was severe damage to the Church of S. Francesco. The bell towers of the cathedral and the church of SS. Anunziata were destroyed. In February 1783, Messina was stricken by a major destructive earthquake. At least 617 persons died in the city. The cathedral, Episcopal Palace, seminary, a large part of the hospital, most of the palazzi in the Teatro Maritima, and convents and monasteries (including the Certosa of S. Bruno and the Convent of S. Dominico Soriano) were damaged or destroyed. Baratta, pp. 268–292, esp. 288. On 28 December 1908 a major earthquake struck Messina, destroying the cathedral, the seminary, and numerous other buildings. It is estimated that 91% of the buildings in Messina were destroyed. The quake was accompanied by a destructive tsunami. Some 75,000 people lost their lives. G. Campione (ed.) (2009), La furia di Poseidon. Messina 1908 e dintorni, Silvana editoriale, Milano.

Cathedral and Chapter The new cathedral (built between 1909 and 1921) was again damaged by bombs and a fire during World War II. Like its predecessors, and like all of the cathedrals in the Kingdom of Naples, it was dedicated to the Assumption of the Body of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.

The Chapter of the CathedralC.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. was founded by Count Roger Guiscard in the late 11th century, perhaps in 1091. The dignitaries of the Cathedral Chapter were: the Dean, the Cantor and the Archdeacon.Pirro, p. 441 column 2. The Dean is already attested in 1094, and held the first place after the Archbishop; he had one of the canonries annexed to his office. The Cantor also holds one of the canonries; a Cantor is attested in 1131. The Archdeacon, who is also known from 1094, holds the Canonry of S. Petrus Pisanorum.Pirro, p. 442. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 286 note 1. There were eighteen Canons, the first three of whom were the three dignities. Except for the canonry of the Dean, the canons and prebends were conferred alternately by the Pope and the Archbishop. There were also eighteen priests called 'Canonici tertiarii', who, however, did not belong to the Chapter.Pirro, p. 443 column 2.

San Salvatore The most famous monastery in the diocese of Messina was that of the Holy Savior (S. Salvatoris, San Salvatore), which had been founded by the Norman Count Roger in 1059, and was under the leadership of Fr. Bartolomeo. The monks of that monastery followed the Rules of St. Basil. Their abbot bore the Greek title Archimandrite, and he acquired preeminence and control over all of the Basilian monks in Sicily and Calabria. The Archimandrite was elected by the monks.Pirro, II, p. 971. In 1421 the office was secularized, and given in commendam (caretakership) to secular prelates instead of monks.Pirro, II, p. 984. In a breve of 23 February 1635, Pope Urban VIII made the office immediately subject to the Holy See, and the pope of the day appointed the Archimandrite. In 1883 Pope Leo XIII united the office of Archimandrite with that of the Archbishop of Messina.U. Benigni, "Messina", in: The monastery was situated at the tip of the mole in the harbor of Messina, until the Emperor Charles V had the monks moved to a new building on the mainland and the monastery on the mole destroyed to make way for his lighthouse. The monastery was closed during the Revolution of 1848.

Bishops of Messina

Bacchilus (41)]Lanzoni, pp. 615–616, rejects the existence of a Bacchilo, since it is based on the apocryphal Passion of SS. Peter and Paul, a text written not earlier than the eighth century, and based on pseudo-Evagrius. His existence is also questioned by Lancia, I, pp. 32–33; and Gams, p. 949. Barchirius (68)]Barchirius: omitted by Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561. Gams, p. 949. Eleutherius (121)]Eleutherius: An error on the part of Florus, reading 'Messanam' instead of 'Aecanam' in the Passion of S. Eleutherius of Aeca. Lancia, I, p. 57. Lanzoni, p. 616. Cf. Pirro, pp. 349–355. John I (151)]Joannes I: omitted by Pirro, Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Alexander I (154)]Alexander I: omitted Pirro and by Gams, p. 949. Justinianus (183)]Giustinianus: omitted by Pirro, Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. RaimondRaymundus: omitted by Pirro, Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Capito (313)]Capito: omitted by Pirro, Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Alexander II (347)]Alexander: His existence is accepted by Pirro, pp. 355–357. Cappelletti, p. 561; but rejected by Gams, p. 949. He was probably the contemporary bishop of Messene in Greece: Gams, p. 430. There is no evidence for his existence at Messina: Lanzoni, p. 616. Evagrius (363)]Evagrius: omitted by Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Bacchilus II (381)]: omitted by Cappelletti, XXI, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Eucarpus I (501)Eucarpus: Pirro, pp. 357–359. He is accepted by Cappelletti, p. 561; and by Gams, p. 949. Peregrinus I (514) Eucarpus II (attested 558–560)Eucarpus: Lanzoni, p. 616, no. 2. Felix I (attested 591, 593)Pirro, pp. 359–375. Lanzoni, p. 616, no. 3. Donus (attested 595–603)Pirro, pp. 375–378. Lanzoni, p. 616, no. 4. Felix II (600) Guglielmo I (603) Isidorus (610) Peregrinus II (649)]Peregrinus was indeed a bishop, sent on an embassy by Pope Hormisdas, but he was bishop of the Campanian Misenum. Pirro, pp. 378–379. His episcopacy is strongly questioned by Gams, p. 949. Benedictus (682)Pirro, p. 379. Gaudiosus (787)Pirro, p. 380. Gregorius (869)Gregorius attended Patriarch Photios' schismatic council (VIII Constantinople), and was expelled from his bishopric by the Saracens. Pirro, pp. 380–381. Ippolitus (968)]Ippolitus is omitted by Cappelletti and by Gams. Sede Vacante (under the Arab occupation) Roberto I (1081)Robert was Bishop of Troina, who was driven out by the Normans, and found refuge in Messina. He died c. 1107. Pirro, pp. 382–386. Cappelletti, pp. 561–563. Gaufridus (Goffredo) I (attested in 1113, 1122)Goffredo: Pirro, p. 386. Gams, p. 949. Guglielmo II (c.1122 – c. 1126))Pirro, p. 386. Gams, p. 949. Hugo (Ugone) (1127–1139)Pirro, pp. 386–390. Gaufridus (Goffredo) II (attested 1140)Pirro, p. 390. Cappelletti, p. 565. Roberto II (attested 1142)Pirro, pp. 390–391. Gerardus (attested 1144)Pirro, pp. 391–392. Arnaldo (1147–?)Pirro, pp. 392–393. Roberto III (attested 1151–1159)Pirro, pp. 393–394.

Archbishops of Messina from 1166 to 1400

Nicolò I (1166–1182) Riccardo Palmieri (January 1183 - 7 August 1195)Richard Palmer had been Bishop of Siracusa (1156?–December 1182). Pirro, pp. 621-624. Sidney Lee (ed.), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume 43 (London: Macmillan 1895), pp. 146-148. Kamp, pp. 1013-1018. Berardo (Berzio) (1196 – 1227/1231)Archbishop Berardus witnessed a document of the Emperor Henry VI, who was also King of Sicily (1194–1197) at Messina on 24 September 1297, the day before the Emperor's death. Berardus was granted the pallium by Pope Honorius III. Pirro, pp. 400-404. Eubel, I, p. 337 note 1. Kamp, pp. 1018-1024. Sede vacante (<1231 – 1232)Kamp, p. 1024. Lando (Landone) (April 1232 – c. 1248)Lando had previously been Bishop of Reggio (1217-1234). He spent the years 1239–1248 in exile, and died in 1248 or 1249. Pirro, pp. 404-405. Eubel, I, pp. 337, 418. Kamp, pp. 1024-1028. Sede vacanteKamp, p. 1028. Giovanni Colonna (archbishop), O.P. (October 1255 – 1262)Giovanni Colonna had been Provincial of the Roman Province of the Dominican Order. He was chosen bishop of Messina by Pope Alexander IV (1254–1261). He spent most of his time working as a papal ambassador (to England) or living in exile because of the war against Manfred, King of Sicily (1258–1266). He was made Vicar of Rome by Pope Urban IV, where he died on 11 October 1263. Pirro, pp. 405-406. Eubel, I, pp. 337, 365. Kamp, pp. 1029 Tommaso D'Agni Lentini, O.P. (1262 – 1266) (Administrator)Lentini was still Bishop of Bethlehem (1255–1267) when transferred to the diocese of Cosenza on 18 April 1267. Pirro, p. 406. Eubel, I, pp. 135, 220, 337 with note 2. Bartolomeo Pignatelli (25 March 1266 – 13 June 1270)Pignatelli: Pirro, p. 406. Eubel, I, pp. 220, 337. Kamp, pp. 1037-1041. Sede vacante (13 June 1270 – 5 December 1274)Kamp, p. 1042. Reginaldo Lentini (5 December 1274 – 31 May 1287)Pirro, pp. 406-408. Kamp, p. 1042. Francesco Fontana (23 April 1288 - 1296)A native of Parma, Francesco Fontana was elected by the Canons of the Cathedral before the death of Pope Honorius IV on 3 April 1287, and his election was therefore not confirmed. He was confirmed by Pope Nicholas IV on 23 April 1288. Fontana was expelled by the people of Messina. Pope Nicholas IV therefore made him Administrator of the diocese of Nola. In 1296 he was named Archbishop of Milan. Pirro, p. 408. Eubel, I, p. 337 with note 5. Raniero II Lentini (1296–1304)Raniero Lentini is not found in Pirro, Cappelletti (XXI, p. 564), Gams, or Eubel. Guidotto de Abbiate (10 January 1304 – 1333)Guidotto: Pirro, pp. 408-410. Eubel, I, p. 337. Sede vacante (1333 – 1341/1342)Pietro was only Administrator (praefectus): Eubel, I, p. 337 note 7. Federico de Guercis (1341–1342) (Archbishop-elect)Fridericus was a Canon of Messina. He was elected by the Chapter in 1341. Pirro, p. 411. Eubel, p. 337 note 7. Raimando de Pezzolis (1342–1348) Giordano Curti (1348) Pietro Porta, O.Cist. (20 March 1349 – 1351?)Porta: Pirro, p. 414. Eubel, I, p. 337. Anzalone BonsignoreNot in Pirro, Cappelletti, Gams, or Eubel. Guglielmo Monstrio (23 December 1355 – 1362)A Catalan by birth, Monstrio had been Bishop of Mazara (Sicily) from 1349 to 1355. He was transferred to the diocese of Monreale in 1363. Pirro, pp. 414-415. Eubel, I, pp. 332, 337, 349. Dionisio da Murcia, O.E.S.A. (20 March 1363 – after 18 July 1380)Eubel, I, p. 337. Cardinal Niccolò Caracciolo Moschino, O.P. (Apostolic Administrator 1380–1387)Niccolo Moschini (Mosquinus), a native of Naples, was named a cardinal by Urban VI on 18 September 1378, on the recommendation of Catherine of Siena. Pirro, p. 417. Eubel, I, p. 23 no. 7. Paolo Zuccaro (1380–1387)