The Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Italy, existing under that name since 1979. Historically it was the Diocese of Oppido Marmertina (Oppidensis)."Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. retrieved March 24, 2016"Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 24, 2016 It is a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria.Umberto Benigni. "Oppido Mamertina." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. retrieved: 2016-10-11.
History Bishop Stefano (1295) is the first prelate of whom there is mention. The chapter of the cathedral already existed in the 13th century. The chapter maintained its right to elect a new bishop until 1338.Zerbi, pp. 98-99. The chapter was composed of six dignities (the archdeacon, the dean, the cantor, the treasurer, the archpriest, and the ecclesiarch-theologian) and fourteen canons.D'Avino, pp. 505-506.
In 1472 the see was united to that of Gerace, under Bishop Athanasius Calceofilo, by whom the Greek Rite was abolished, although it remained in use in a few towns.
In 1536 Oppido became again an independent see, under Bishop Pietro Andrea Ripanti; among other bishops were Antonio Cesconi (1609) and Giovanni Battista Montani (1632), who restored the cathedral and the episcopal palace; Bisanzio Fili (1696), who founded the seminary; Michele Caputo (1852), who was transferred to the See of Ariano, where it is suspected that he poisoned King Ferdinand II; eventually, he apostatized.
In 1748 the town of Oppido is estimated to have had 2,000 inhabitants.Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 318, note 1. The town was heavily damaged by the earthquakes of 1783, in the first of which Oppido was at the epicenter, and the population was decimated by the plague that followed.D'Avino, p. 507, column 2.
In 2007 the town had some 5,484 inhabitants.
Bishops Diocese of Oppido Mamertina Erected: 13th century Latin Name: Oppidensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria
to 1471
Stephanus Gregorius (1 March 1339 – 1349)Eubel, I, p. 377. Barnabas (18 May 1349 – 1351)Barnabas had been Abbot of the monastery of S. Maria de Trajecto. Eubel, I, p. 377 with note 2. Nicolaus Antonius Stephanus Simon Ioannes Malatesta (3 June 1394 – 1400)Giovanni had been Cantor in the Cathedral Chapter of Tropea. Eubel, I, p. 377. Simeon Antonio de Caroleis (23 July 1423 – 25 February 1429)Antonio was transferred to the diocese of Bisignano on 25 February 1429. Eubel, I, p. 136; 377. Tommaso Rubertus (18 March 1429 – 23 December 1429)Tommaso was transferred to the diocese of Strongoli on 23 December 1429. Eubel, I, pp. 377, 465. Venturello de Nubiel (13 February 1430 – 1449)Venturello was a Doctor of Canon Law, and had been a Brother of the Hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome. Gams, p. 909. Eubel, I, p. 377, with n. 4. Girolamo, O.E.S.A. (1 September 1449 – 1471)Girolamo was a Master of 'the Sacred Page' (biblical literature?). In 1472 the diocese of Oppido was suppressed, and its territory added to the diocese of Gerace. Ughelli, IX, p. 419. Eubel, I, p. 377; II, p. 207.
1536 to 1700
Pietro Andrea Ripanti (28 Jan 1536 – 2 Sep 1536 died)Ughelli, p. 420. Eubel, III, p. 262. Alessandro Cesarini (Sr.) (2 Sep 1536 – 20 Feb 1538 resigned)Ughelli, p. 420. Eubel, III, p. 262, with n. 2. Ascanio Cesarini (20 Feb 1538 – 1542 resigned)Ascanius, who was born illegitimate and required a dispensation to receive Holy Orders, was consecrated a bishop in Rome by the papal Sacristan Alfonso Oliva, on 3 May 1540. Ughelli, p. 420. Francesco de Noctucis (5 Jul 1542 – 1548 died)Francesco de Notucis had been Archdeacon of Mileto before his election to the bishopric. Ughelli, p. 420. Zerbi, pp. 245–247, 251. Eubel, III, p. 263. Tommaso Caselli, O.P. (7 May 1548 – 3 Oct 1550)Caselli was appointed bishop of Cava (de’ Tirreni) on 3 October 1550. Zerbi, pp. 253–257. Eubel, III, pp. 161, 263. Vincenzo Spinelli (3 Oct 1550 – 1561 resigned)Spinelli: Zerbi, pp. 259–263. Teofilo Galluppi (10 Mar 1561 – 13 Apr 1567 died)Galluppi: Zerbi, pp. 265–271. Eubel, III, p. 263. Giovan Mario de Alessandris (19 Sep 1567 – 9 Feb 1573)De Alessandris was appointed Bishop of Mileto (1573–1585). Zerbi, pp. 273–275. Eubel, III, pp. 263, 244. Sigismondo Mangiaruga (1573–1583 died)Mangiaruga: Zerbi, pp. 277–282. Eubel, III, p. 163. Andrea Canuto (28 Nov 1583 – 1603 resigned)Canuto had been a priest of the diocese of Fermo. Zerbi, pp. 283–285. Eubel, III, p. 263. Giulio Ruffo (12 Sep 1605 – 1609 died)Ruffo: Zerbi, pp. 287–288. Gauchat, IV, p. 264 with note 3. Antonio Cesonio (2 Dec 1609 – 1629 died)Cesonio: Zerbi, pp. 289–297. Gauchat, IV, p. 264 with note 4. Fabrizio Caracciolo Piscizi (28 Jan 1630 – 1631 died)Caracciolo had been bishop of Catanzaro (1619–1629). Ughelli, p. 421. Zerbi, pp. 299–300. Gauchat, p. 141 with note 3; 264 with note 5. Giovanni Battista Pontano (Giovanni Battista Montano)(19 Jan 1632 – May 1662 died)Montano was a native of Pescara, in the duchy of Urbino. He was archdeacon of Pescara. Zerbi, pp. 301–305. Gauchat, IV, p. 264 with note 6. Paolo Diano-Parisi (12 Mar 1663 – Nov 1673 died)Diano-Parisi: Zerbi, pp. 307–309. Gauchat, IV, p. 264 with note 7. Vincenzo Ragni, O.S.B. (19 Feb 1674 – 3 Dec 1693 died)Ragni: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 297 with note 2. Bernardino Plastina, O.M. (25 Jan 1694 – 16 Feb 1697 died)A native of Fuscaldo (Cosentina, Calabria), Plastina was a member of the Minims of S. Francesco di Paola. He was elected vicar general of the Italian Province, and then corrector general of his Order in 1674. He was appointed qualificator of the Holy Office (Inquisition) in Palermo. He was elected general of his order. Plastina was consecrated in Rome on 3 January 1694 by Cardinal Pietro Petrucci. He died on 16 February 1697. Zerbi, pp. 315–316. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 297 with note 3. Bisanzio Fili (27 Jan 1698 – 11 Apr 1707)Fili was born in Altamura (Bari) in 1656. He was doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from the Sapienza in Rome (1678). He was named vicar general of Altamura, and then vicar general and Canon of the Cathedral of Trani. He was appointed vicar general of Bitonto, and finally cantor major of Altamura. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Bandino Panciatico on 2 February 1698. He was transferred to the diocese of Ostuni on 11 April 1707. He died in April 1720. Zerbi, pp. 317–321, 335-337. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 299, with note 4; 297 with note 4.
since 1700
Giuseppe Placido De Pace (1 Aug 1707 – 5 Jan 1709 died)De Pace: D'Avino, p. 509. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 297 with note 5. Giuseppe Maria Perrimezzi, O.Minim. (26 Feb 1714 – 18 Feb 1734 resigned)Perrimezzi had previously been bishop of Ravello and Scara (1707–1718): D'Avino, p. 510. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 297 with note 6. Leone Luca Vita (15 Feb 1734 – 24 Oct 1747 died)Vita: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 318 with note 2. Ferdinando Mandarini (29 Jan 1748 – 9 Nov 1769 died)Mandarini: D'Avino, p. 510. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 318 with note 3. Nicola Spedalieri (29 Jan 1770 – 5 Apr 1783 died)Spedalieri: D'Avino, p. 510. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 318 with note 4. Alessandro Tommasini (26 Mar 1792 Confirmed – 25 May 1818Tommasini was transferred to the diocese of Reggio Calabria on 25 May 1818. He died in 1827. Gams, pp. 909, 917. D'Avino, p. 510. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 318 with note 5. Ignazio Greco (4 Jun 1819 Confirmed – 4 Feb 1822 died)Greco: D'Avino, p. 510. Gams, p. 919. Francesco-Maria Coppola (19 Apr 1822 Confirmed – 11 Dec 1851 died)Coppola was a Neapolitan patrician and a native of Nicotera. Zerbi, pp. 411–446. Gams, p. 919. D'Avino, p. 510. Michele Caputo, O.P. (27 Sep 1852 confirmed – 27 Sep 1858Caputo had been a Canon of Nicotero. He was appointed bishop of Ariano. Giuseppe Teta (20 Jun 1859 Confirmed – 11 Feb 1875 died)Teta was born in Nusco (Avellino) in 1817, and became a priest of the diocese of Nusco. He held a licenciate in theology. He was Archpriest Curate of the Cathedral of Nusco, and Synodical Examiner. Antonio Maria Curcio (11 Feb 1875 Succeeded – 15 Jul 1898 died)Curcio, a native of Pizzo (diocese of Mileto) was a priest of the diocese of Mileto, and then archpriest of the Collegiate Church of Pizzo. He was a doctor in theology. He was auditor of the Curia of the diocese of Mileto, and Vicar Forane. He was named a synodal judge. He was appointed titular bishop of Alalia, and named coadjutor with the right of succession to Bishop Giuseppe Teta of Oppido. Curcio had an auxiliary bishop in 1895, Mauro Nardi, O.Min.Cap. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 418. Domenico Scopelliti (28 Nov 1898 – 15 Dec 1919 resigned)Scopelliti was born in Catona (diocese of Reggio Calabria) in 1841. He had been archdeacon of Catona. A. Battandier (ed.), Annuaire pontifical catholique (1905), p. 227. Annuario pontificio (Roma 1919), p. 175. Antonio Galati (15 Dec 1919 – 1 Jul 1927 appointed, archbishop of Santa Severina) Giuseppe Antonio Caruso (26 Aug 1927 – 6 Jul 1928 resigned) Giovanni Battista Peruzzo, C.P. (19 Oct 1928 – 15 Jan 1932 appointed, bishop of Agrigento) Nicola Colangelo (4 Apr 1932 – 16 Dec 1935 appointed, bishop of Nardò) Nicola Canino (30 Dec 1936 – 11 Apr 1951 resigned) Maurizio Raspini (9 May 1953 – 6 Jan 1965 resigned) Santo Bergamo (18 Nov 1971 – 11 Oct 1980 died)
Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi 10 June 1979: name changed
Benigno Luigi Papa, O.F.M. Cap. (29 Sep 1981 – 11 May 1990 appointed, archbishop of Taranto) Domenico Crusco (7 Feb 1991 – 6 Mar 1999 appointed, bishop of San Marco Argentano-Scalea) Luciano Bux (5 Feb 2000 – 2 Jul 2011 retired) Francesco Milito (4 Apr 2012 – 21 Sept 2023) Giuseppe Alberti (10 Dec 2023 – )
References
Bibliography Reference works p. 909. (Use with caution; obsolete)
p. 264. p. 297. p. 318.
Studies
Leanza, Sandro (ed.) (1999), Calabria Cristiana. Società Religione Cultura nel territorio della Diocesi di Oppido Mamertina-Palmi, tomo I, Dalle origini al Medio Evo, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli. Liberti, R. (1978), Oppido Mamertina ieri e oggi nelle immagini. Gioia Tauro Liberti, R. (1979), "Difficile convivenza tra facismo e la Chiesa a Oppido Mamertina," in: Calabria letteraria no. 10-12 (1979) 59-60. Liberti, Rocco (1993), I vescovi di Oppido dalle origini all'unione con Gerace (1053-1471), , Historica 46 (1993), pp. 107-117. Liberti, Rocco (2002). La cattedrale di Oppido Mamertina. (Quaderni Mamertini, 23) Bovalino, Litografia Diaco. Liberti, Rocco (2007). "Il filantropismo ad Oppida Mamertina," in: Russo, Francesco (1982). Storia della Chiesa in Calabria dalle origini al Concilio di Trento, 2 vols. Rubbetino: Soveria Mannelli 1982.