The Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Calabria, southern Italy, created in 1986. In that year the historical Diocese of Mileto was united with the Diocese of Nicotera-Tropea. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova."Diocese of Mileto–Nicotera–Tropea" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 23, 2016"Diocese of Mileto–Nicotera–Tropea" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 14, 2016

History

The town of Mileto was founded as a fortress by Roger I, Count of Sicily in 1058, and he resided there from time to time, dealing with the rebels of Calabria.Kehr, p. 136. It was Count Roger who petitioned the pope to create a diocese at Mileto.Gregory VII, Epistolae Book VII, no. 25. Mileto was made an episcopal see by Pope Gregory VII in 1073, who suppressed the diocese of Vibona permanently and transferred its territory and assets to Mileto.Taccone-Gallucci, p. 44 (bull of Pope Gregory VII, 4 February 1081). The Pope personally consecrated its first bishop, Arnolfo.Kehr, p. 138, no. 3: letter of Gregory I, (4 February 1081): Taccone-Gallucci, p. 44, no. 43.

Pope Urban II visited Mileto in June 1091.P. Jaffé -S. Loewenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Tomus I, editio altera (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 668 no. 5448. On 3 October 1093, Urban II confirmed the privileges of the diocese of Mileto, and the suppression of the diocese of TaurianaFor Tauriana, see: Lanzoni, pp. 334–336. and the diocese of Vibona.Jaffé -Loewenfeld, I, p. 672, no. 5489. Taccone-Gallucci, pp. 45–47. Lanzoni, p. 343.

Roger II, King of Sicily, was born and baptized in Mileto in 1095.Taccone-Gallucci, p. 325.

On 23 December 1121 Pope Callixtus II confirmed once again the union of the diocese of Mileto with the diocese of Tauriana and diocese of Vibona,Taccone-Gallucci, pp. 61–62, no. LVIII. Jaffé-Loewenfeld, p. 802, no. 6839. the latter destroyed by the Saracens. He also granted the plea of Bishop Gaufredus that bishops of Mileto would continue in perpetuity to be consecrated by the Pope personally, as had been the case with his predecessors.

The earthquake of 1783 destroyed the cathedral, built by Count Roger, who also built the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael for Greek Basilian monks.

Diocesan reorganization The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures.In its decree Christus Dominus, section 22, it stated: "Concerning diocesan boundaries, therefore, this sacred synod decrees that, to the extent required by the good of souls, a fitting revision of diocesan boundaries be undertaken prudently and as soon as possible. This can be done by dividing dismembering or uniting them, or by changing their boundaries, or by determining a better place for the episcopal see or, finally, especially in the case of dioceses having larger cities, by providing them with a new internal organization.... At the same time the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous." These considerations applied to Mileto and to Nicotero e Tropea.

On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. Instead, the Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese. On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Mileto, Nicotero and Tropea be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Miletensis-Nicotriensis-Tropiensis. The seat of the diocese was to be in Mileto, and the cathedral of Mileto was to serve as the cathedral of the merged dioceses. The cathedrals in Nicotero and Tropea were to become co-cathedrals, and the cathedral Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Mileto, and likewise one seminary, one College of Consultors, and one Priests' Council. The territory of the new diocese was to include the territory of the former dioceses of Mileto, Nicotero and Tropea.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 744–746.

Bishops Diocese of Mileto Erected: 11th Century Latin Name: Miletensis Immediately Subject to the Holy See

from 1073 to 1500

Arnolfo (1073–1077)Arnolfo: Ughelli, I, p. 951. Cappelletti, p. 437. Taccone-Gallucci, pp. 40–41, 43. Hiosphorus (1077–1090)Diosphoros: Ughelli, p. 951. Gams, p. 896. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 44. Giraldus (attested 1093)Under Bishop Giraldus, on 3 October 1093, the See of Mileto became immediately subject to Rome. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 41, 44. Kehr, p. 139, no. 3. Gaufridus (attested 1094)See Kehr, p. 393 note. Eberardus (attested 1099)Ebrard had the privileges of the Church of Mileto confirmed by Pope Paschal II on 26 September 1099. Kehr, p. 139, no. 6. Sede vacante (1104)Pope Paschal II wrote to the Canons of the Cathedral of Mileto, ordering them to elect an appropriate bishop by Easter (April 23). Kehr, p. 139, no. 8. Gaufridus (attested 1122)Ughelli, pp. 951–952. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 45. Reynaldus Anselmus (attested 1175 – 1181)Bishop Anselm took part in the III Lateran Council in March 1179. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 45. Kamp, II, p. 817. ... Nicolaus (attested 1198 – 1200)Nicolaus: Kamp, p. 818. Petrus (attested 1207 – 1213)Petrus: Kamp, p. 818-819. Rogerius (attested 1216 – 1231)Taccone-Gallucci, p. 46. Kamp, pp. 819–820. Rivibardus Jacobus, O.P. Dominicus (22 April 1252 – 1281)Kamp, pp. 821–822. Deodatus, O.P. (25 September 1282 – 1286) Saba Malaspina (12 July 1286 – ? )Sabas had been Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Mileto. There was a contested election. Canon Hugues had been elected by the Chapter, but he declined the election. Sabas had been driven into exile at an earlier time and was serving as Administrator of the diocese of Larino. On 6 August 1289, Pope Nicholas IV wrote to the Papal Legate, the Bishop of Palestrina, to find a bishopric for Sabas. Eubel, I, p. 340 with note 3. Andreas, O.Cist. (1298–1312) Manfredus Gifoni (7 July 1312 – 5 November 1328)Manfred had been Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Mileto. Eubel, I, p. 340, 341. Goffredo Fazari (1329 – 1339?) Petrus de Valerianis (2 July 1348 – 1373)Pierre had been a Canon of the Church of Reims. Eubel, I, p. 341. Tommaso de Buccamungellis (1373–1391)The appointment of a bishop of Mileto was reserved to the pope alone. A native of Salerno, Tommaso was a son of Riccardo Buccamungellis, a knight. Pope Gregory XI was anxious to have the position vacated by the death of Bishop Petrus, to be filled quickly, "Dicta igitur Ecclesia per obitum ipsius Petri Episcopi, qui extra Romanam Curiam diem clausit extremum vacante, Nos vacatione huiusmodi fide dignis relatibus intellecta, ad provisionem ipsius Ecclesiae celerem et felicem, de qua nullus praeter Nos hac vice se intromittere potuit neque potest, reservatione et decreto obsistentibus supradictis, ne Ecclesia ipsa longae vacationis subiaceret incommodis...." The bull of provision, dated 28 November 1373, is printed by: Domenico Taccone-Gallucci (1902), Regesti dei Romani pontefici della Calabria. Roma: Tip. Vaticana, 1902, pp. 210-212. According to his tomb inscription Bishop Tommaso died on 8 January 1391. Capialbi, pp. 32–33. Eubel, I, p. 341. Henricus de Solana (19 September 1395 – ) Avignon ObedienceA native of Naples and a member of the nobility, De Solana held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). In 1397 he obtained the legitimization of his nephew Beltrano. Capialbi, pp. 33-34. Andreas d'Alagni ( ? –1402) Roman ObedienceAndreas was provided (appointed) by Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404. EubelI, p. 341 Corrado Caraccioli (2 Oct 1402 – 1411) Roman ObedienceCaracciolo was the Chamberlain of Pope Boniface IX, and titular Archbishop of Nicosia (Cyprus) (1395–1402). He became a Cardinal on 12 June 1405, but continued as Administrator of the diocese of Mileto. He died on 15 February 1411. Eubel, I, pp. 26 no. 1; 341; 366. Astorgio Agnensi (18 September 1411 – 15 February 1413)Agnensi (Inglesius) was transferred to the diocese of Ravello on 15 February 1413 by John XXIII. Eubel, I, pp. 341, 414. Jacobus, O.Cist. (15 February 1413 – 1432?)Jacobus had been the Abbot of the Cistercian monastery of S. Sebastiano alle Catacombe in Rome. Capialbi, p. 39. Eubel, I, p. 341; Dominico (1432–1437)Dominico: Capialbi, p. 41. Antonio Sorbillo (26 Jul 1437 – 1463 Died)Sorbillo founded the seminary in 1440. Capialbi, pp. 41–43. Cesare de Grieto, O.Cist. (1 October 1463 – 1473?)Capialbi, p. 44. Narcisso de Verduno (25 June 1473 – 1476?)Narciso was a native of Catalonia. Capialbi, p. 45. Antonio de Pazzi (26 February 1477 – 1480?)De' Pazzi was a Protonotary Apostolic, and had previously been Bishop of Sarno (1475–1477). Eubel, II, pp. 192, 230. Giacomo della Rovere (18 Aug 1480 – 6 Mar 1504)Della Rovere was a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. In 1482, Ferdinand of Aragon had the income from the diocese of Mileto, its benefices and spoils, and the property of the Bishop, sequestered and assigned to Prospero Colonna, Count of Tagliacozzo. Della Rovere constructed a new sacristy for the Cathedral. He was appointed Bishop of Savona on 6 March 1504, and became a Cardinal in 1510. Capialbi, pp. 46–48.

from 1500 to 1800

Francesco Alidosi (6 Mar 1504 – 26 Mar 1505)Alidosi was Thesaurius Generalis S.R.E. He was appointed Bishop of Pavia on 26 March 1505. He died on 24 May 1511. Eubel, III, p. 244, 269. Sisto Franciotto della Rovere (1505 – 23 Feb 1508)Sixtus Franciotti della Rovere was appointed Bishop of Camerino, and then Bishop of Padua. Eubel, III, p. 149, 244. Andrea della Valle (23 Feb 1508 – 26 Nov 1523 Resigned)"Andrea Cardinal Della Valle" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved May 16, 2016. Della Valle began his career as an Apostolic Scriptor. He was also a Canon of the Vatican Basilica. Della Valle had previously been Bishop of Cotrone (1496–1508). Eubel, II, p. 139; III, p. 244. Quinzio Rustici (26 Nov 1523 – 1566 Died)Rustici: Eubel, III, p. 244. Iñigo Avalos de Aragón, O.S. (19 Aug 1566 – 9 Feb 1573 Resigned)Avalos: Capialbi, pp. 54–56. Giovan Mario de Alessandris (9 Feb 1573 – 1585 Died)De Alessandris: Capialbi, pp. 56–57. Marco Antonio del Tufo (21 Oct 1585 – 1606 Died)Del Tufo: Capialbi, pp. 58–61. Giambattista Leni (4 July 1608 – 3 August 1611)Leni had been a Referendary of the Two Signatures (a judge). Leni was appointed Bishop of Ferrara. Capialbi, pp. 61–62. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica, IV, pp. 186, 242 with note 2. Cardinal Felice Centini, O.F.M. Conv. (31 August 1611 – 23 September 1613)Centini had been Procurator General of the Conventual Franciscans in the Roman Curia. He was named a Cardinal by Pope Paul V on 17 August 1611. He was appointed Bishop of Macerata e Tolentino on 23 September 1613. Capialbi, pp. 62–63. Gauchat, IV, pp. 12 no. 30; 227; 242 with note 3. Virgilio Cappone (13 Nov 1613 – 1631 Died)Cappone: Capialbi, pp. 63–67. Gauchat, IV, p. 242 with note 4.