The Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Apulia. It has existed since 1986, when the diocese of Monopoli was united with the historic diocese of Conversano. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto.
History
Conversano is the ancient Cupersanum. After the invasion of the Normans, it was for a while the seat of a duchy; later, however, it became a fief of the dukes of Atri.
Local tradition preserves the name of a bishop, Simplicius, who attended the Roman synod of 487 and died in 492, but he belongs to legend, not history.Lanzoni, p. 303, who notes that his name is not found in the acta of that synod. Ferdinando UghelliItalia sacra VII, p. 701. prints the narrative of Francesco Giuliano of Conversano concerning Simplicius, but states that it seems to him to be highly suspect, and maybe deliberately invented falsehoods or corrupt, since there are some things found in it which cannot be true....mihi valde suspecta videtur, et forte commentitia vel corrupta, cum in ea aliqua sint apposita quae cum veritate esse non possunt.
The first alleged bishop of Conversano was Hilarius, present at the Roman synod of 501. His name however is a false reading of the acts of the synod; he actually belonged to Tempsa in the Abruzzi, not to Conversano in Apulia.
No other names are recorded up to the episcopate of Leo, mentioned in a document of 1088.
In 1670 (and 1744) the ChapterC.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. of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven was composed of four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Cantor and the PrimiceriusUghelli, p. 700.) and twenty-six Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 note 1; VI, p. 181 note 1. Ughelli says there were twelve Canons. In the city of approximately 7,000 inhabitants (1744) there were five religious houses for men and three monasteries for men.
Bishops Diocese of Conversano to 1400 ... Leo (attested 1088)Leo granted the spiritual jurisdiction of Castrum Puteneanum to the monastery of S. Stefano in Monopoli. Ughelli, p. 704. Graevius-Burmann, pp. 39, 69. ... Cafisius (attested 1179, 1180)Ughelli, p. 704. Kamp, p. 626. Guilelmus (attested 1188 – April 1202)Ughelli, pp. 704-705. Kamp, p. 626. Ignotus (attested 1207)Kamp, pp. 626-627. Concilius (attested April 1212 – 9 October 1231)Kamp, pp. 627-628. Stefano, O.Cist. (attested 1267 – 1274)Umberto Benigni. "Conversano." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. Retrieved: 2016-10-02. Ughelli, VII, pp. 705-708. Kamp, pp. 628-629. ... Giovanni de Gropi (c. 1283)Gropi: Ughelli, pp. 711-712. Eubel, I, p. 218. ... Guillelmus (attested 1318, 1321)Guillelmus: Gams, p. 877. Eubel, I, p. 218. Petrus Baccari (attested 1335, 1342)Petrus Baccari: Gams, p. 877. Eubel, I, p. 218. Stefano (7 January 1351 – 1355?)Stefano: Eubel, I, p. 218. Petrus de Ytro (19 February 1356 – ) Guilelmus (Avignon Obedience) Angelo de Cupersano, O.Min. (12 July 1393 – ) (Avignon Obedience)Angelo had previously been Bishop of Polignano (1382–1393). Eubel, I, pp. 218, 405. Amicus (Antonius) (Roman Obedience) Jacobus ( – 22 December 1399) (Roman Obedience)Jacobus was transferred to the diocese of Guardialfiera on 22 December 1399. Eubel, I, pp. 218, 269.
1400 to 1600
Franciscus Stefano de Alfano (9 March 1403 – 1423)Stefano: Ughelli, p. 412. Eubel, I, p. 218. Antonio Guidotti (9 Sep 1423 – 1432 Died)Antonio was the son of Guidotti, a notary of Conversano. He was Archdeacon of Conversano when appointed bishop by Pope Martin IV. Ughelli, p. 412. Cappelletti, XXI, p. 42. Eubel, I, p. 218. Marino Orsini (4 November 1432 – 29 April 1437) (Administrator)Orsini, son of Francesco Orsini, was a member of the aristocratic Roman family of the Orsini. He was a Doctor of Canon Law and a Protonotary Apostolic. On 4 July 1444 he was named Archbishop of Palermo, and then Archbishop of Taranto on 30 July 1445. He served as papal Nuncio in England. Eubel, II, p. 136 with note 1; 211; 246. Andrea Veroli (29 Apr 1437 – 25 Sep 1439)Veroli was appointed Bishop of Boiano on 25 September 1439. Eubel, II, pp. 108, 135."Bishop Andrea Veroli" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved May 10, 2017 Donato Bottini, O.E.S.A. (9 October 1439 – 4 September 1448)A Neapolitan, Bishop Donato was transferred to the diocese of Valva on 4 September 1448. He was later Bishop of Urbino (1452), and Camerino (1464). Eubel, II, pp. 135, 262. Pietro de Miggola, O.M. (4 September 1448 – 1464)Pietro was a Spaniard, and had been papal Penitentiary Minor. Ughelli, VII, p. 713. Paolo de Torcoli (30 November 1465 – d. 1482)Torcoli was Capitular Vicar during the vacancy following the death of Bishop Pietro de Miggola. He was appointed bishop by Pope Paul II at the request of Count Giulio Acquaviva and Countess Catherine. Ughelli, p. 713. Eubel, II, p. 135. Sulpicio Acquaviva d'Aragona (17 Feb 1483 – 1494 Died)Sulpicio Acquaviva was the son of Giulio Antonio Acquaviva and Caterina d'Atri. The family of Acquaviva had been Counts of Conversano since the fifteenth century: "Bishop Sulpicio Acquaviva d'Aragona" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Vincenzo Pistacchio (1494 – 3 Nov 1499 Appointed, Bishop of Bitetto)"Bishop Vincenzo Pistacchio" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Donato Acquaviva d'Aragona (1499 – 1528 Died)Donato was the brother of the Marquis de Bitonto and of Bishop Sulpicio Acquaviva. Donato d'Aragona was appointed Bishop of Conversano at the age of 24, and thus was only Administrator of the diocese for three years, until he reached the age of 27, when he could be consecrated in accordance with Canon Law. He held the rank of Protonotary Apostolic. Eubel, II, p. 135, with note 3."Bishop Donato Acquaviva d'Aragona" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016 Antonio Sanseverino, O.S.Io.Hieros. (28 Jul 1529 – 11 Feb 1534 Resigned) Giacomo Antonio Carrozza (1534 – 1560 Died)"Bishop Giacomo Antonio Carrozza" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016 Giovanni Francesco Lottini (1560 – 1561 Resigned) Romolo de Valentibus (1561 – 1579 Died)"Bishop Romolo de Valentibus" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 30, 2016 Francesco Maria Sforza (1579 – 1605 Died)Francesco Sforza was a native of Monopoli and a doctor of theology. Ughelli, VII, p. 715. Eubel, III, p. 177.
1600 to 1800
Pietro Capullio, O.F.M. Conv. (31 Aug 1605 – 24 Jun 1625 Died)Capulli was a native of Cortone. He was regent of the school at the convent of the Franciscans at the Basilica XII Apostolorum in Rome. He was named bishop of Conversano by Pope Paul V on 31 August 1605, and consecrated by Cardinal Evangelista Palotto on 14 September 1605. He died on 24 June 1625. Ughelli, p. 715. Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 2. Vincenzo Martinelli (bishop), O.P. (18 Aug 1625 – 20 Sep 1632)Bishop Martinelli was transferred to the diocese of Venafro on 20 September 1632. He died in August 1635. Gauchat, IV, pp. 163 with note 3; 361 with note 3. Antonio Brunachio (24 Nov 1632 – 1 Jan 1638 Died)Brunachio: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 4. Agostino Ferentillo (19 Apr 1638 – 7 Sep 1641 Died)Ferentillo: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 5. Pietro Paolo Bonsi (26 May 1642 – 1658 Died)Bonsi: Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 6. Giuseppe Palermo (8 Dec 1658 – 1 Sep 1670)Palermo was transferred to the diocese of Santa Severina on 1 September 1670. He died in 1673. Gauchat, IV, p. 163 with note 7. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 355 with note 2. Giovanni Stefano Sanarica (Senarega), O.S.B. (23 Feb 1671 – 16 Jun 1679 Died)Senarega was born in Albaro (diocese of Genoa). He held a doctorate in theology (Parma 1663). He was consecrated in Rome on 8 March 1671 by Cardinal Carlo Roberti. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 with note 2. Andrea Brancaccio, C.R. (13 Jan 1681 – 18 Apr 1701)Appointed Archbishop of Cosenza. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 171 with note 3; 179 with note 4."Bishop Nicola Cirillo" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 21, 2016. Filippo Meda (23 Jan 1702 – 18 Jul 1733 Died)Meda: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 171 with note 4. Giovanni Macario Valenti (28 Sep 1733 – 10 Apr 1744 Died)Valenti: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 2. Filippo Felice del Prete (13 Apr 1744 – 22 Dec 1751 Died)Del Prete: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 3. Michele di Tarsia, C.P.O. (24 Jan 1752 – 7 May 1772 Died)Born in 1696, Tarsia was a native of Conversano, and was Doctor in utroque iure (La Sapienza, Rome, 1752) at the age of 48. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 30 January 1752 by the titular Patriarch of Constantinople, Ferdinando Maria Rossi. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 4. Fabio Maria Palumbo, C.R. (7 Sep 1772 – 18 Mar 1786 Died)Palumbo was born in 1708 at Lecce. He taught theology in several houses of his Congregation. He was Vicar of the house of his Congregation at S. Andrea della Valle in Rome. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Ferdinando Maria Rossi on 13 September 1772. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 5. Nicola Vecchi (27 Feb 1792 – 18 Dec 1797)Vecchi was appointed Bishop of Teano by Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies, on 24 October 1797, and confirmed by Pope Pius VI on 18 December 1797. Ritzler-Sefrin, pp. 181 with note 6; 399 with note 8.
1800 to 1986
Gennaro Carelli (18 Dec 1797 – 3 Mar 1818 Died)Carelli was a native of Conversano. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Naples 1771). He was Canon, then Primicerius, and finally Archpriest of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Conversano. He was nominated bishop on 31 October 1797 by King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, and approved by Pope Pius VI on 18 December 1797. Carelli was consecrated in Rome on 24 December 1797 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Caprara. Luigi Valvalle, in D'Avino, p. 221. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 181 with note 7. Nicola Carelli (21 Feb 1820 – 14 Apr 1826 Died)Nicola Carelli was the brother of Bishop Gennaro Carelli. Giovanni De Simone, C.M. (3 Jul 1826 – 13 Aug 1847 Died) Giuseppe-Maria Mucedola (11 Dec 1848 – 22 Mar 1865 Died)Mucedola was born in San Paolo (diocese of Santa Severina) in 1807. As bishop, in 1861 he defended the right of the people to make their own political choices in a referendum on the Kingdom of Italy. Salvatore Silvestris, C.SS.R. (23 Feb 1872 – 14 Feb 1879 Died) Augusto Antonio Vicentini (12 May 1879 – 13 May 1881)Vicentini was born in L'Aquila in 1829. He was appointed Archbishop of L’Aquila on 13 May 1881. La Gerarchia cattolica 1882 (Rome: Monaldi 1882), p. 108. Casimiro Gennari (13 May 1881 – 6 Feb 1897)Gennari was a native of Maratea (diocese of Policastro). He was the founder of the monthly journal Il Monitore ecclesiastico, and was a noted author of books on ecclesiastical topics. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 15 May 1881 by Cardinal Edward Howard. He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Naupactus on 6 February 1897, and was named a Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII on 15 April 1901. Gennari was a collaborator in the creation of the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law. As a Cardinal, and particularly as Prefect of the SC of the Council, he pressed for frequent reception of communion. He died on 31 January 1914. G. di Ruocco, Il Cardinale Casimiro Gennari. Pastore e giurista (1839–1914) (Naples: Laurentiana 1995). Antonio Lamberti (19 Apr 1897 – 12 Aug 1917 Died) Domenico Lancellotti (14 Mar 1918 – 9 Jun 1930 Died) Domenico Argnani (30 Sep 1931 – 15 Jun 1935)Argnani was appointed Bishop of Macerata e Tolentino on 15 Jun 1935. Gregorio Falconieri (12 Sep 1935 – 24 May 1964 Retired) Antonio D'Erchia (21 Jan 1970 – 30 Sep 1986) (Appointed Bishop of the renamed Conversano-Monopoli)
Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli United: 30 September 1986 with Diocese of Monopoli