The Diocese of Ravello e Scala (Latin: Dioecesis Ravellensis et Scalensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno, Campania, southern Italy. The town is about 7 km (4 mi) from Amalfi. The diocese was established in 1087, by Pope Victor III. In 1818, it was suppressed by Pope Pius VII."Diocese of Ravello e Scala" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved May 1, 2016"Titular Episcopal See of Ravello" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved May 1, 2016
History Abbot Desiderius of Montecasssino was elected Pope Victor III in Rome on 24 May 1286, but was forced to flee four days later, in the face of Antipope Clement III, who was supported by the Emperor Henry IV. For nearly ten months, the pope-elect gave no definitive acceptance or refusal of the office. In March 1287, he was at Capua, where he held a council of his supporters, lay and clerical, and was finally persuaded to take on the office and allow himself to be invested with the papal insignia. With the aid of Duke Roger Borsa and many others, he was able to regain the Trastevere in Rome, and was consecrated a bishop at St. Peter's Basilica on 9 May 1087.Philippus Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum , second edition, ed. S. Loewenfeld (Leipzig: Veit 1885), pp. 655-656. Horace Kinder Mann, The Lives of the Popes in the Middle Ages. Vol. VII: 1073–1099 (London: Kegan Paul Trench 1910), pp. 238-240. Fredinand Gregorovius, The History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages Vol. IV, part 1 (London: George Bell 1896), pp. 263-266. His consecration of Ursus as bishop of Ravello, at the demand of Duke Roger, must have taken place between 9 May and the pope's death on 16 September 1087.Cf. Kehr VIII, p. 402, no. 1. Kehr (p. 401) states that Duke Roger was exerting pressure on the rebellious people of Amalfi: "Novo huic episcopatui Victor III a. 1087, concitante Rogerio duce ad Amalphitanos rebelles, ut opinamur, coercendos...."
At Capua, probably in August 1087, Pope Victor confirmed for Bishop Urso, at his request, possession of the city and diocese of Ravello.Kehr VIII, p. 402, no. 2. Jaffé, p. 656, no. 5345. The document was signed in Indiction X, which ended on 31 August 1087. It was signed at Capua. On 7 October 1090, Pope Urban II issued a bull, liberating the diocese of Ravello from all local jurisdictions, making it directly subordinate to the Holy See.Kehr VIII, p. 402, no. 3. Consequently, in 1094, Urban II consecrated Bishop Constantinus Rogadeus, who, on 29 September 1101, obtained from Pope Paschal II a privilegium, stating that the diocese would always be directly subject to the Papacy, and each bishop of Ravello would be consecrated by the pope.Kehr VIII, p. 403, no. 4; no. 5. Mansi, p. 32. The Liber Censuum (1194) confirms the grant: "In episcopatu Ravellensi: Qui est domini papae...."Kehr VIII, p. 401.
Ravello e Scala On 31 July 1603, Pope Clement VIII united the diocese of Scala with the diocese of Ravello, aeque personaliter.Ughelli I, p. 1193. The privilege of Ravello's exemption from all other jurisdictions except the papacy continued even after the union of the two dioceses.Kehr VIII, p. 401: "Sic remansit semper Romanae ecclesiae immediate subiectus atque etiam post a. 1603, quando Clemente VIII iubente cum Scalensi vicino episcopatu unitus est." Scala, however, was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Amalfi.Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 353, note 1.
Seminary Until the 17th century, Ravello had no seminary at all, but relied on the houses of the Benedictines, Augustinians, and Franciscans to train candidates for the priesthood. These houses, however, were suppressed in 1652, and the episcopal palace had to house the seminary. In 1660, the cathedral Chapter undertook to find a suitable building near the cathedral to house a seminary. By 1665, a seminary was established, with funds appropriated from two of the suppressed religious houses, but by 1695 it had virtually ceased to exist.Mansi, pp. 177-178.
Reorganization of 1818 Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the kingdom, as well as the confiscation of most Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution. Ferdinand, however, was not prepared to accept the pre-Napoleonic situation, in which Naples was a feudal subject of the papacy. Lengthy, detailed, and acrimonious negotiations ensued.
In 1818, a new concordat with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies committed the pope to the suppression of more than fifty small dioceses in the kingdom. These were carried out in the papal bull "De Utiliore" of 27 June 1818. Amalfi lost its status as a metropolitan archdiocese and became merely the Archdiocese of Amalfi, when its suffragan dioceses, Minori and Ravello, and Scala were suppressed. : "Archiepiscopali ecclesiae Amalphitanae quae nullum imposterum habebit suffraganeum, praevia suppressione et extinctione Scalensis, Ravellensis, et Minoriensis episcopalium ecclesiarum, illarum tres civitates cum integro respective dioecesano territorio perpetuo unimus, adjungimus, atque incorporamus."
Bishops of Ravello Erected: 1087 Latin Name: Ravellensis
From 1087 to 1418
Ursus Papitius, O.S.B. (1087–1094)Ursus was consecrated by Pope Victor III, on the petition of Duke Roger Borsa. Ughelli I, pp. 1182-1183. Gams, p. 915, col 2. Kehr VIII, p. 402, nos. 1-3. Constantinus Rogadeus (1094–1150)Constantinus, with all the bishops of the Kingdom of Naples, adhered to Anacletus II in the schism with Innocent II (1130–1139). Innocent, after the death of Anacletus, refused to confirm Constantinus in office, and stripped him of his pallium. He nevertheless continued in office until his death in 1150. Ughelli I, pp. 1182-1184. Gams, p. 915. Joannes Ruffulus (1150–1209)Joannes: Ughelli I, pp. 1184-1187. Gams, p. 916. Pantaleo (1210–1220)Pantaleo: Ughelli I, p. 1187. Mansi, pp. 33-34. Gams, p. 916. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 414. Leo Rogadei (1220–1229)Leo: Mansi, p. 34. Pietro de Plano ( 1230– ? )Mansi, p. 35. Petrus da Durazzo, O.S.B. ( 1275–1284)Petrus: Mansi, p. 35. Ptolomaeus, O.E.S.A. (1286–1290)Giovanni Rufolo, Archdeacon of Aqui, had been elected bishop of Ravello, but he was below the minimum age for consecration. He was therefore rejected by Pope Honorius IV. Tolomeo had been Bishop of Sardoniki (Sardenses et Sappatenses, Epirus) from 1278 to 1286. He was appointed bishop of Ravello by Honorius IV on 2 March 1286. He died in 1290. Mansi, p. 35. Gams, p. 415. Eubel I, pp. 414, 434. Joannes Allegri (1291–1321)Allegri had been Archdeacon of Ravello, and was then appointed bishop of Ugento. Pope Nicholas IV transferred him to the diocese of Ravello on 29 September 1291. He became a chaplain, councillor, and friend of King Charles II of Naples. In 1299 he was ambassador to Hungary, and in 1301 he helped arrange a league between Naples and Venice. He died in 1321. Mansi, p. 35. Eubel I, pp. 375, 414. Francesco Castaldo (1321–1362)A canon of the cathedral Chapter of Ravello, Franciscus was both elected by the Chapter and appointed bishop of Ravello, by Pope John XXII on 23 October 1321. On 20 April 1352, he received a mandate from Pope Clement VI to make a visitation of his diocese each year. Mansi, p. 36-37. Eubel I, p. 414. Sergius Grisoni (1363–1379) Roman ObedienceSergius was archpriest of the collegiate church of S. Maria de Molinaria (Benevento). He was appointed bishop of Ravello on 24 July 1363, by Pope Urban V. In 1379, Bishop Sergius was transferred to the archdiocese of Amalfi by Urban VI. He died in 1392. Mansi, p. 38. Eubel I, pp. 85, 414. Roberto Ruffo, O.S.B. ( 1379–1397), Roman ObedienceRuffo died in 1397. Mansi, p. 38. Eubel I, p. 414. Borchardus de Hoxaria (1385– ? ), Avignon Obedience Andreas Fusco (1397–1400), Roman ObedienceAndrea Fusco: Mansi, p. 38. Eubel I, p. 414. Pellegrinus Rufulus (1400–1401), Roman ObedienceA cleric of the diocese of Naples, Peregrino Rufolo was appointed bishop of Ravello on 9 April 1400, by Boniface IX. He died of the plague in 1401. Mansi, p. 38. Eubel I, p. 414. Ludovicus Apenditanus (1401–1407), Roman ObedienceA native of Sorrento, Ludovico was appointed by Boniface IX on 2 July 1401. He died in 1407. Mansi, p. 38-39. Eubel I, p. 414. Sede vacante (1407–1409) Nicolas de Doncellis (1409–1413 Removed), Roman ObedienceNicolaus was appointed by Gregory XII. He was deprived by John XXIII in 1413. Mansi, p. 39. Eubel I, p. 414. Astorgius Agnese (1413–1418)Astorgius was engaged in competition with another candidate, Fr. Franzone, O.S.B., a creature of Gregory XII. Franzone was refused institution by the cathedral Chapter, which preferred Astorgius. Astorgius was transferred to the diocese of Melfi on 25 January 1418, by Pope Martin V. Eubel I, pp. 335, 414.
From 1418 to 1603
Martinus de Groniano (1418) Benedetto de Pradosso (1418–1432)Previously Bishop of Capri, Benedetto was appointed bishop of Ravello on 16 February 1418, by Pope Martin V. He died early in 1432. Mansi, pp. 40-41. Eubel I, p. 414. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Bishop Benedetto de Pradosso"; retrieved 17 June 2017. Goffredo de Porcariis (1432– ? )Goffredo had been a canon of Sessa. Mansi, pp. 40-41. Eubel I, p. 414; II, p. 221, note 1. Lorenzo de Riccii (1435–1455) Nicolaus Campanile (1455–1456) Domenico Mercari (1456–1489) Cosmas Setarius (1489–1506)Cosmas died on 7 October 1506. Eubel II, p. 221; III, p. 281 with note 2. Francesco Lavello, O.Carth. (1506–1508 ?) Nicolaus (1509) Godescalc de la Patara (1509–1528)Godescalc: Eubel III, p. 282. Serenus de Astoriis, O.S.A. (1528) Bernardino de Soria, O.F.M. (23 Feb 1529 –1536)On 2 June 1536, Bernardino was appointed Bishop of Venafro. Eubel III, pp. 282 with note 5; 328. Cardinal Francesco Quinones (1536–1537), Administrator Antonio Lunello (1537–1541) Giovanni Modanus (Mohedanus) (1541–1549) Lodovico Beccatelli (27 May 1549 –1555)On 19 September 1555 Beccatelli was appointed Archbishop of Dubrovnik. Ughelli I, pp. 1191-1192. Ercole Tambosi (19 Sep 1555 – 1570 Died)"Bishop Ercole Tambosi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved September 5, 2016 Paolo Fusco (25 Sep 1570 –1578)On 17 February 1578, Paolo Fusco was named Bishop of Sarno by Pope Gregory XIII. Emilio Scataratica (17 Mar 1578 – 11 Nov 1590 Died) Paolo De Curtis, C.R. (1591–1600)Peolo was appointed bishop of Ravello on 26 April 1591, by Pope Gregory XIV. On 15 March 1600, Bishop Paolo de Curtis was appointed Bishop of Isernia by Pope Clement VIII. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Bishop Paolo De Curtis, C.R."; retrieved 24 November 2016. Antonio de Franchis, C.R. (31 Jul 1600 – 1603 Resigned)Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 292.
Bishops of Ravello e Scala United: 31 July 1603 with the Diocese of Scala
Francesco Bennio de Butrio, O.S.M. (30 Jul 1603 – 19 Jan 1617) Michele Bonzi, O.F.M. (13 Mar 1617 – 1623) Honuphrius a Verme (1624–1637)Onophrio Verme was a native of Palermo. He was appointed bishop of Ravello by Pope Urban VIII on 29 July 1624. He died in 1637. Ughelli I, p. 1193. Mansi, pp. 46-47. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 292. David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy.org, "Bishop Onorio de Verme"; retrieved 24 November 2016. Celestino Puccitelli, B. (17 Aug 1637 – 14 Sep 1641) Bernardino Panicola (15 Dec 1642 – 10 Nov 1666 Died)"Bishop Bernardino Panicola" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 4, 2017 Giuseppe Saggese (16 Mar 1667 – 18 Feb 1694) Luigi Capuani (Ludovico Capulani) (15 Mar 1694 – 14 Dec 1705 Appointed, Bishop of Gravina di Puglia) Nicolò Rocco (22 Feb 1706 – 21 Feb 1707 Appointed, Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio)