The Diocese of Terlizzi (Latin: Dioecesis Terlitiensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Terlizzi the region of Apulia in southern Italy, in the province of Bari, lying to the west of the seaport of Bari on the Adriatic Sea. The diocese of Giovinazzo, which included the town (oppidum) of Terlizzi, was erected in the 11th century."Diocese of Terlizzi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 25, 2016"Diocese of Terlizzi" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved August 25, 2016

History In 1749, the diocese of Terlizzi was established, and was united with the Diocese of Giovinazzo, to form the Diocese of Giovinazzo e Terlizzi.Pope Benedict XIV, the bull "Unigenitus Dei Filius" of 26 November 1749: Sanctissimi Domini nostri Benedicti papae XIV bullarium, Tomus Tertius, new edition Volume 7 (Mechlin: Hanicq, 1827) pp. 227-254.

After Napoleon 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.

A concordat was finally signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand issued the concordat as a law on 21 March 1818.F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19. The right of the king to nominate the candidate for a vacant bishopric was recognized, as in the Concordat of 1741, subject to papal confirmation (preconisation).Torelli I, p. 9. On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which, among many other things, he dealt with dioceses which had been directly subject to the Holy See. The decision was made to suppress permanently the united dioceses of Giovinazzo and Terlizzi, once the current incumbent had vacated the seats, and to incorporate the two dioceses into the diocese of Molfetta.Bullarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 59 §. 26: "Pari autem modo ex nunc pro tunc et quando episcopales invicem unitae ecclesiae Juvenacensis, et Terlitiensis ex persona moderni earum antistitis quandocumque vacaverint easdem perpetuo extinguimus atque supprimimus, illarumque civitates, ac dioeceses episcopali ecclesiae Melphitensi aggregamus et incorporamus."

On 4 March 1836, Pope Gregory XVI, in the bull "Aeterni Patris", united the dioceses of Giovenazzo and Terlizzi with the diocese of Molfetta.Collezione degli atti emanati dopo la pubblicazione del Concordato dell'anno 1818 ...anno 1835 a tutto il primo semestre del 1839, Parte Settima (Napoli: Stamperia dell'Iride, 1839), pp. 33-61. Cappelletti XXI, p. 405. It was determined that there would be only one priestly seminary for the three dioceses, in Molfetta. Molfetta remained directly subject to the Holy See.Cappelletti XXI, p. 399.

Bishops of Goivenazzo e Terlizzi Paolo de Mercurio (1731 – 1752)Mercurio was born in Camerota (diocese of Policastro) in 1671. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (Rome, Sapienza, 1696). He lectured at the University of Naples for 28 years. He was nominated bishop of Giovenazzo by the Emperor Charles VI on 14 March 1731, and approved by Pope Clement XII on 18 June 1731. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Zondadari on 24 June 1731. He died in Goivenazzo on 2 February 1752. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 247 with note 2. Giuseppe Orlandi, O.S.B. (24 Apr 1752 - 15 Apr 1776 Died)Gams, p. 883. Ritzler & Sefrin' VI, p. 247 with note 3. Michele Continisi (16 Dec 1776 - May 1810 Died)Continisi: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 247 with note 4. Domenico Antonio Cimaglia (25 May 1818 - 2 October 1818)Cimaglia was nominated bishop of Giovenazzo e Terlizzi on 20 March 1818, by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, and confirmed by Pope Pius VII on 25 May 1818. On 14 June, he was nominated Bishop of Molfetta, and on 2 Oct 1818 confirmed. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 227, 262.

See also Roman Catholic Diocese of Giovinazzo e Terlizzi Roman Catholic Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi Terlizzi (the commune)

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