Archdiocese of Lecce

The Archdiocese of Lecce () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Apulia, southern Italy. The diocese has existed since the 11th century. The date of 1057 is actually a floruit date of Bishop Theodorus, as assigned by Ughelli, p. 80, without documentary evidence. On 28 September 1960, in the bull Cum a nobis, Pope John XXIII separated the diocese of Lecce from the ecclesiastical province of Otranto and made it directly subject to the Holy See. In the bull Conferentia Episcopalis Apuliae issued on 20 October 1980, Pope John Paul II created the ecclesiastical province of Lecce, with the Archdiocese of Otranto becoming a suffragan diocese."Archdiocese of Lecce" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 29 February 2016."Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lecce" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

History

Many years ago, Lecce was known as Lupiæ, Lupia, Lycia, and Aletium.Cappelletti, p. 311. Beginning around the year 1060, Lecce became the seat of a Norman count. One of its notable counts, Tancred of Lecce, contested Emperor Henry VI for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Another count was Gautier de Brienne, a cousin of Tancred.

Chapter and cathedral

The cathedral of Lecce, which was, like nearly all the cathedrals in the Kingdom of Naples, dedicated in honor of the assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, was administered and served by a Chapter. The cathedral Chapter was composed of three dignities (the Archdeacon, the Cantor, and the Treasurer) and twenty-four Canons.Ughelli, p. 68. In 1671, there were twenty Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 244, note 1. In 1741, there were again twenty-four Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 261, note 1. In 1885, after the unification of Italy, there were four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Treasurer, the ParoccoThe parish priest, since the cathedral was also a parish, one of four in the city. and the Theologus); there were sixteen other Canons.Giuseppe Bertolotti, Statistica ecclesiastica d'Italia (Savona: Andrea Ricci 1885), p. 633. In 2019, there were ten Canons (),Four of these Canons were Canons ex officio: the Vicar General, the diocesan Master of Ceremonies, the Rector of the diocesan seminary, and the parish priest of the parish of the cathedral. and eight honorary Canons.

There was also a collegiate church, the Collegiata di Campi Salentino, which had twenty-seven Canons, headed by an Archpriest and four dignities.Pietro De Simone, "Lecce," in: V. D'Avino, Cenni storici sulle chiese ... del Regno del Due Sicilie (Napoli: Ranucci 1848), p. 297 column 1.

The seminary building was built between 1694 and 1709, by Bishop Michele Pignatelli and Bishop Fabrizio Pignatelli, to designs by Giuseppe Cino.De Simone, Lecce ed i suoi monumenti, p. 94. In 1885, the seminary had thirteen teachers and thirty clerics studying for the priesthood; in the previous five years there had been four ordinations and sixty deaths of priests.Bertolotti, p. 633.

Subject to the Holy See Up until 1960, Lecce had been a suffragan (subordinate) of the archbishopric of Otranto. Reacting to the large increase in population, and to the fact that Lecce had been made a provincial capital by the Italian government, Pope John XXIII issued the bull "Cum a Nobis" on 28 September 1960, separating Lecce from its relationship with the diocese of Otranto and making it directly subject to the Holy See.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 53 (Città del Vaticano 1961), pp. 345-346.

Metropolitan archdiocese 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.

Bishops and Archbishops of Lecce to 1500

... Teodoro Bonsecolo (attested 1092, 1101)Kehr, Italia pontificia IX, p. 423. Formosus (attested 1114, 1115)The word BENE occurs next to his name in an inscription; it is uncertain whether Bene is a cognomen or an adverb, but there is no other example of such a cognomen in Lecce. Bishop Formosus began the construction of the old cathedral. Ughelli, pp. 70-71. Gams, p. 890 column 1. Kehr, p. 423. Di Leo (1975), "Contributo per una nuova Lecce sacra, I. La serie dei vescovi di Lecce di N. Fatalo, Parte seconda," pp. 8-14. Penetranus (attested 1179)A bishop Peturejus of Litiensis Castrensis subscribed the decrees of the Third Lateran Council of March 1179, immediately after Archbishop Jonathas of Hydruntum. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXII (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 215. Ughelli, p. 71. Cappelletti, p. 313. Petrus Guarinus (1179–1182)Bishop Petrus is attested in a bull of Pope Alexander III of 13 May 1181. Kehr, p. 423, no. 2, note. Kamp, pp. 730-731. Fulco Bellus (1196–1200)On 13 July 1196, Pope Celestine III wrote to Bishop Fulco, confirming the possessions of the diocese of Lecce. Kehr, p. 423, no. 3. Kamp, pp. 731-732. Robertus Volterico (1212–1230)Bishop Robertus restored the cathedral, according to an inscription of 1230 on the façade of the cathedral. De Simone, Lecce ed i suoi monumenti, p. 101. Ughelli, p. 79 (who conflates Robertus de Sancto Blasio with Robertus Volterico). Eubel I, p. 304. Kamp, pp. 732-733. Sede vacante (attested 1239)Kamp, p. 733. Gualterus de Massafra (attested 1254, 1255)Because of the war between the papacy and Manfred, Walter did not reside in his bishopric, but probably in Brindisi. Kamp, p. 733. Robertus de Sancto Blasio (c. 1260?)The date depends entirely on Ughelli IX, p. 80, who gives no source. Kamp, p. 734. Petrus de Romana (1267) Bishop-elect Ignotus (1268–1269) Gervasius Godefredus Robertus de Noha (attested 1301) Joannes de Glandis (1339–1348)Joannes had been Canon Cantor of the cathedral Chapter of Bari. He held the episcopal throne from 1339 to 1348. Cappelletti, p. 313. Eubel I, p. 304. Robertus (Guarini) (1348– ? ) Antonius de Ferraris (1373– ? ) Nicolaus de Tarento (1384– ? ) Avignon Obedience Ludovicus ( ? ) Roman Obedience Leonardus (1386–1389) Roman Obedience Antonius de Viterbo, O.Min. (1389–1412)Eubel I, p. 304. (in Latin) Tommaso Morganti (1409–1412)Thomas is believed to have been an appointee of Gregory XII, who was deposed by the Council of Pisa in May 1409. Eubel I, p. 305. His followers were also deposed. When the schism was ended, Tommaso Morganti was appointed Bishop of Nocera on 17 March 1419. He died in 1437. Eubel I, p. 373. Curello Ciccaro (1412–1429)Ciccaro was appointed on 19 December 1412 by John XXIII. Tommaso Ammirato, OSB (1429–1438)Thomas had been Abbot of S. Nicola e Cataldi (Lecce). He was elected by the cathedral Chapter, but then provided by Pope Martin V. He died in 1438. Eubel I, p. 305. Guido Giudano, OFM (6 Aug 1438 – 1453)Gudiano had been Bishop of Alessano (1431–1438). He was transferred to the diocese of Lecce on 6 August 1438 by Pope Eugenius IV. He was transferred to the diocese of Bari-Canosa on 13 July 1453 by Pope Nicholas V. He died in 1454. Ughelli, p. 82. Cappelletti, p. 314. Eubel II, pp. 102, 177. (in Latin) Antonio Ricci (20 Jul 1453 – 24 Dec 1483 died)Eubel II, p. 177. Roberto Caracciolo, OFM (1484–1485)Caracciolo had been Bishop of Aquino, and was transferred to the diocese of Lecce by Pope Sixtus IV on 8 March 1484. The Pope died, however, before the bulls of institution had been signed, and therefore the transfer never took effect. Caracciolo chose to remain in Aquino. He was never Bishop of Lecce. Ughelli, p. 82. Eubel II, p. 177. Marc'Antonio de' Tolomei (1485–1498)Marcantonio's father Bussi de'Tolomei was a courtier of the kings of Naples, through whom Marcantonio received several benefices. He was named Bishop of Lecce on 18 July 1485. He died in 1498 after a reign of thirteen years. Ughelli, p. 82. Eubel II, p. 177. Cardinal Luigi d'Aragona (1498–1502) Apostolic AdministratorCardinal d'Aragona, the natural brother of King Alfonso I of Sicily, was Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Lecce from 10 December 1498 to 24 March 1502. He resigned upon the appointment of Bishop Piscicelli. There is no evidence he was ever consecrated a bishop. Ughelli, p. 82 (who notes he was only Administrator). Eubel II, p. 177.

1500 to 1800

Giacomo Piscicelli (1502–1507)Piscicelli was a cleric of Naples and a Protonotary Apostolic. He was approved as Bishop of Lecce on 24 March 1502 by Pope Alexander VI. He died in 1507. Ughelli, p. 82. Eubel II, p. 177 with note 3. Pietro Matteo d'Aquino (1508–1511)Matteo had previously been Bishop of Gravina (1482–1508). He was transferred to the diocese of Lecce by Pope Julius II on 12 February 1508. He died in 1511. Ughelli, pp. 82-83. Eubel II, pp. 177; III, pp. 205 with note 2; 224. Ugolino Martelli (1511–1517)A Florentine and Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Florence, Martelli was appointed Bishop of Lecce on 9 April 1511. He was transferred to the diocese of Narni by Leo X on 18 May 1517. He died in 1523. He was proficient in Latin, Greek and Tuscan. Ughelli, p. 83. Eubel III, pp. 224, 253. Giovanni Antonio Acquaviva d'Aragona (1517–1525)Acquaviva was the son of the Duke of Nardò. He had been Bishop of Assano (1512–1517). He was transferred to the diocese of Lecce on 18 May 1517 by Pope Leo X, under an agreement with the Cardinal d'Aragona, who held the right to return after his resignation; the Cardinal took the diocese of Assano in commendam. Acquaviva died in 1525. Ughelli, p. 83. Marciano di Severano, p. 557. Eubel III, pp. 103, 224. Consalvo di Sangro (19 Jan 1525 – 1530 died)Gundisalvus di Sangro, a Neapolitan: Eubel III, p. 224 with note 6. Alfonso di Sangro (1530–1534 resigned) Bishop-electA Neapolitan, Alfonso was the brother of Gundisalvo, his predecessor. He was appointed bishop on 9 March 1530. He resigned on 20 April 1534. There is no evidence of his being consecrated a bishop; there is evidence that he was not yet consecrated 22 January 1531, when he obtained an extension, and on 13 March 1532, when he obtained another. Eubel III, p. 224 with note 7. Ippolito de' Medici (20 Apr 1534 – 26 Feb 1535) AdministratorMedici: Eubel III, p. 224.