In 1378, a contested papal election produced a schism in the Church. All of the cardinals and much of the Church supported Cardinal Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII, and who soon returned with the papal Curia to Avignon. The rest supported the Neapolitan Bartolomeo Prignano, who took the name Urban VI. Initially the Kingdom of Naples supported Pope Clement, who chose to create a new diocese at Nardò. On 15 November 1379, the new bishop, the Sicilian Matteo de Castiello, arrived in Nardò to a decidedly mixed reception. His instructions were to make the monastery of S. Maria his cathedral and residence, and he therefore removed Abbot Guglielmo from governance over the territory of Nardò. Bishop Matteo was expelled in 1401 and the diocese of the Avignon Obedience suppressed, following a change in allegiance of the Kingdom of Naples after the death of Urban VI. A new abbot was elected in the person of Antonio de Perugia, who had been Archpriest of the cathedral. Abbot Antonio died in 1406, and was succeeded by Abbot Desiderius. Desiderius died on 27 July 1412, and on 22 July Giovanni de Epifanis succeed him.[4]
On 13 January 1413, the Diocese of Nardò was established, and made immediately subject to the Holy See (Papacy). The abbot of S. Maria was deposed, and S. Maria again became a cathedral.[5] Its first bishop was appointed by Pope John XXIII on the same day.[6] He was Giovanni de Epifanis, who had just been deposed as abbot of S. Maria di Nardò.
A very great earthquake struck the area of Nardò on 5 December 1456, severely damaging the cathedral and causing the bell tower to collapse.[7] On 20 February 1743, another major earthquake struck, bringing major damage to the Palazzo civico and the churches of S. Michele Arcangelo, S. Antonio da Padova, S. Gregorio Armeno, S. Domenico, and S. Francesco d'Assisi.[8]
In 1647, during the rebellions against Spanish rule in the Kingdom of Naples, the Count of Conversano captured Nardò and executed four of the Canons of the cathedral Chapter.[9]
The cathedral is administered by a Chapter. In 1617, the Chapter consisted of five dignities and twenty Canons.[10] In 1669, the Chapter was composed of six dignities and nineteen Canons.[11] The Chapter is currently (2019) headed by the Archpriest, with seven additional Canons, one of whom is the Penitentiary. The co-cathedral of S. Agata at Gallipoli is headed by the Primicerius-Theologus, and has a Cantor and one other member.[12]
Twentieth century changes
Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the Council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,[13] 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).[14]
On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat, which was accompanied in the next year 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. Otherwise Nardò and Gallipoli might have shared a bishop, as the Bishop of Nardo e Gallipoli. 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 Nardò and Gallipoli be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Neritonensis-Gallipolitana. The seat of the diocese was to be in Nardò, and the cathedral of Nardò was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in Galllipoli was to become a co-cathedral, and the cathedral Chapter was to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Nardò, 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 Nardò and of Gallipoli.[15]
Synods
Synods of unknown dates were held by Bishop Giovanni Battista Acquaviva (1536–1569) and by Bishop Fabio Fornari (1583–1596). Bishop Girolamo de Franchis (1617–1634) held a diocesan synod in 1619;[16] he held five other synods. At some point between 1652 and 1654, Bishop Calanio della Ciaja (1652–1654) held a diocesan synod.[17] A synod was held by Bishop Tommaso Brancaccio (1669–1677) in 1674.[18] Bishop Orazio Fortunato (1678–1707) presided over a diocesan synod on 11 June 1680.[19]
^Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 257, note 1.
^Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 286, note 1.
^Diocesi di Nardò-Gallipoli, "Capitoli"; retrieved 6 July 2019.
^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.
^Acta Apostolicae Sedis 72 (Città del Vaticano 1980), pp. 1076-1077.
^Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 755-758.
^J. D. Mansi, L. Petit, J.B. Martin (edd.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XXXVIter (Arnhem-Leipzig: Hubert Welter 1924), pp. 75, 450.
^Matthaeus was an appointee of Clement VII in his struggle against Urban VI (Roman Obedience). At the time the Kingdom of Naples followed the Avignon Obedience. Ughelli I, p. 1038. Lombardi, p. 438. Cappelletti, p. 465. Eubel Hierarchia catholica I, p. 363.
^Giovanni was a native of Nardò, and a descendant of the Princes of Benevento. He had been the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Nardò, since 22 July 1412. He resigned after ten years to return to the monastic life. Lombardi, p. 440 column 2. Eubel I, p. 363.
^Barella (or Barcula) was a native of Galatina, eight miles east of Nardò. He was appointed on 19 February 1423 by Pope Martin V. He governed the diocese for twelve years and nine months, and died in December 1435. Lombardi, p. 440 column 2. Eubel I, p. 363.
^A native of Nardò, Stephanus de Pendinellis was appointed on 8 February 1436 by Pope Eugenius IV. He had been the spiritual advisor of the queen of Ferdinand I. On 16 June 1451, Bishop Stephanus was transferred to the diocese of Otranto by Pope Nicholas V. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1. Eubel II, pp. 166, 202.
^De Pinnis was a Neapolitan, and a Doctor of Canon Law. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Nicholas V on 16 June 1451. He defended the Jews of his diocese against the attacks of Giovanni Antonio of Taranto. He restored the cathedral, which had been damaged by an earthquake, and established the dignity of Treasurer in the cathedral Chapter. He died in January 1483. Cappelletti, p. 466. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1. Eubel II, p. 202.
^A native of Città di Castello, De Justinis was appointed on 31 January 1483. Lombardi, p. 441, with note 1. Eubel II, p. 202.
^Setario was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Innocent VIII on 12 December 1491. On 27 October 1507 Setario was transferred to the diocese of Avellino e Frigento by Pope Julius II. Eubel II, p. 202; III, p. 126.
^Antonio de Caro (not 'de Laris') had been Bishop of Avellino, and was transferred to Nardò by Julius II on 27 October 1507. Cappelletti, pp. 466-467. Lombardi, p. 441 column 1, with note 1. Eubel III, pp. 123, 256.
^The Cardinal d'Aragona was the nephew of Ferdinando I of Aragon. He was appointed administrator of the diocese by Pope Leo X on 17 June 1517. He did not visit the diocese, but governed through a Vicar, Fra. Niccolò Melchiorri, O.P., titular Bishop of Cyrene. Cardinal Luigi died on 21 January 1519. Cappelletti, p. 466. Eubel III, p. 256.
^Cardinal Cornaro was appointed to the diocese of Nardò on 24 January 1519 by Pope Leo X. He resigned on the appointment of a bishop on 20 February 1521. He was appointed Suburbicarian Bishop of Albano on 21 May 1524, and Bishop of Palestrina on 15 June 1524, and died in Venice on 24 July 1524. Eubel III, pp. 55, 57, 256.
^Acquaviva was only 17 years old when appointed by Leo X on 20 February 1521. His father Bellisario had been named Marchese di Nardò. He resigned in January 1532, not having received episcopal consecration. Lombardi, p. 441 column 2. Eubel III, p. 256.
^Cardinal de Cupis was appointed Administrator of the diocese of Nardò on 15 January 1532 by Pope Clement VII. He resigned the Administratorship on the appointment of the new bishop on 22 May 1536. Lombardi, p. 442. Cappelletti, p. 467. Eubel III, p. 256.
^G. B. Acquaviva was the brother of Giacomo Antonio Acquaviva. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Paul III on 22 May 1536. In his last year of life, he was sent an Apostolic Visitor by Pope Pius V in the person of the Bishop of Strongoli. He died in 1569. Lombardi, p. 442. Cappelletti, p. 467. Eubel III, p. 256.
^Landi was an accomplished linguist in the classical languages. He had been Auditor of Cardinal Antonio Carafa, who had been a member of Pius V's commission for the reform of the Latin Vulgate Bible. Landi himself was a member of the commission of Pope Gregory XIV (1590–1591), which continued the work. On 9 September 1596, he was appointed Bishop of Nardò by Pope Clement VIII, and he took possession of the diocese by proxy. In 1597 and 1598 he was a member of the special commission appointed by Pope Clement to deal with accusations against Luis Molina, the Spanish Jesuit. He did not appear in his diocese, due to the press of business in the Roman Curia, until 1609. He died at Cupertino on 24 November 1610. Ughelli, pp. 1055-1056. Lombardi, p. 444 column 2. L. von Pastor, The History of the Papacy Volume 24 (London: Kegan Paul 1933), p. 321. Gauchat, p. 257 with note 2.
^Luigi de Franchis came from a noble family of Capua; his father was a jurist. He had been Bishop of Vico Equense. He was transferred to the diocese of Nardò by Pope Paul V on 24 January 1611. He died on 16 August 1617 (His funeral monument says 1616). Ughelli, pp. 1056-1057. Lombardi, p. 444 column 2. Gauchat, p. 257.
^Girolamo was the brother of Bishop Luigi de Franchis. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and was chaplain and Confessor of King Philip III. He was offered the appointment as bishop of Pozzuoli, but he refused it. He was named Bishop of Nardò by Pope Paul V on 13 November 1617. He held six diocesan synods. On 27 November 1634 he was transferred to the diocese of Capua by Pope Urban VIII. He died in Naples in January 1635. Ughelli, p. 1057-1058. Lombardi, p. 444 column 2. Gauchat, pp. 134, 257.
^Chigi was a native of Siena and a Doctor in utroque iure (1626). On 1 January 1635, Chigi was named Inquisitor of Malta, and on 8 January 1635 was appointed Bishop of Nardò to qualify him for the position. He was consecrated in La Valletta, Malta, on 1 July 1635 by the Bishop of Malta. He served the usual quinquennium, until he was appointed papal Nuncio to Cologne on 11 June 1639. He was nuncio until 1651, when he returned to Rome and, in December, became papal Secretary of State. He was named a cardinal on 19 February 1652, at which time he resigned the bishopric of Nardò. On 13 May 1653 he was named Bishop of Imola. Chigi never visited Nardò, but governed through correspondence with his Vicar General, Giovanni Granaffei, Canon and Provost of the cathedral Chapter. Ughelli, pp. 1058-1059. Lombardi, p. 445. Gauchat, p. 257 with note 5.
^Ciaja, a native of Siena, was a cousin of Cardinal Fabio Chigi. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (1636), and was appointed Bishop of Nardò on 1 July 1652. He died on 11 December 1654, in his second year as bishop. Ughelli I, p. 1059. Lombardi, p. 445 column 2. Gauchat, p. 257 with note 6.
^Cori was a native of Siena. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò on 6 March 1656 by Pope Alexander VII. He instituted the offices of Theologus and Penitentiarius in the cathedral Chapter, on 30 April 1663, as decreed by the Council of Trent. On 17 Jun 1669, Cori was appointed Bishop of Sovana by Pope Clement IX. Lombardi, pp. 445-446. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 105 with note 7.
^A native of Naples but born in Ugento, Brancaccio held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and had previously been Bishop of Avellino e Frigento (1656–1669). He was transferred to Nardò by Pope Clement IX on 19 August 1669. He founded the minor seminary (convitto) in 1674. He died on 29 April 1677, at the age of fifty-one. Lombardi, p. 446. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 105 with note 6. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V. p. 286 with note 2.
^Born in the district of Lagonegro in the Basilicata, Fortunato held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He had previously been Vicar General of Montefiascone, and then Bishop of S. Severo (1670–1678). He was transferred to the diocese of Nardò by Pope Clement X on 10 January 1678. He died on 23 July 1707. Lombardi, p. 446. Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 286 with note 3; 355 with note 3.
^Born in Naples in 1685, Carafa belonged to the branch of the family of Carafa who were Marchesi di Monte Calvo. He obtained a degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the Sapienza in Rome in 1736 (?), and was appointed a Protonotary Apostolic. He was one of the penitentiaries of the cathedral of Naples, and one of the treasurers of the Treasury of San Gennaro of the city of Naples. He was named Bishop of Nardò on 11 April 1736, and consecrated a bishop in Rome on 15 April by Cardinal Antonio Saverio Gentili. He created six mansionarii in the cathedral Chapter. He died in Nardò on 1 July 1754. Lombardi, p. 447. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 307 with note 2.
^Petruccelli: Lombardi, p. 447 column 2. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 307 with note 3.
^Fimiani: Lombardi, p. 447 column 2. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 307 with note 4.
^A native of Foggia, Lettieri had been a Canon of Foggia. In 1818 he was appointed Bishop of Castellanetta. On 27 June 1825 he was confirmed by Pope Leo XII as Bishop of Nardò. He died on 6 October 1839. Lombardi, pp. 447-448. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 139, 281.
^Filipponi was a native of Palermo, and was a Canon of its cathedral Chapter. He resigned and returned home. Lombardi, p. 448.
^Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, p. 410. M. M. Rizzo (1980), "Mons. Luigi Vetta e la diocesi di Nardo dal 1849 alla rivoluzione unitaria," in: Rivista di Storia della Chiesa in Italia 34.2 (1980), pp. 462-497. (in Italian)
^Nappi was a native of Nola, where he became a priest, and Canon in the cathedral Chapter. He taught Canon Law and civil law in the diocesan seminary. He held the post of Fiscale in the diocesan Curia. He was named Bishop of Nardò by Pope Pius IX in the consistory of 22 December 1873. He resigned on 23 June 1876, and three days later he was appointed titular bishop of Dioclea in Phrygis (Turkey) and auxiliary bishop of Cardinal Bartolomeo d'Avanzo, Bishop of Calvi e Teano. In 1879 he was named Archbishop of Conza e Campagna. He died in 1899. Ritzler-Sefrin VIII, p. 410.
^O. Pellegrino Confessore, "Zelo pastorale e attività civile di mons. Giuseppe Ricciardi, vescovo di Nardò (1889-1908)," Rivista di Storia della Chiesa in Itali 2 (1972), pp. 436-471 (in Italian). Ritzler-Sefrin VIII, p. 410.
^A native of Andria, Ursi was Rector of the seminary at Molfetta. He was named Bishop of Nardò by Pope Pius XII on 31 July 1951. On 30 November 1961 Ursi was appointed Archbishop of Acerenza by Pope John XXIII. He was appointed Archbishop of Naples on 23 May 1966, and was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI on 29 June 1967. Martin Bräuer, Handbuch der Kardinäle: 1846-2012 (Berlin: de Gruyter 2014), pp. 406-407. (in German)
^Born in 1952, Filograna was a native of Lequile (Lecce). He received a licentiate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He served in various posts in the minor seminary at Lecce, eventually rising to be Rector, and became Canon of the cathedral Chapter (1984–1996; 1999–2013). He was Vicar General of the diocese of Lecce from 2010 to 2013. He was appointed Bishop of Nardò on 16 July 2013 by Pope Francis. CV of Bishop Filograna: Diocesi di Nardo Gallipoli, "Vescovo: Mons. Fernando Tarcisio Filograna"; retrieved 8 July 2019 (in Italian).
Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol. Tomus VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
Ughelli, Ferdinando; Coleti, Niccolò (1717). Italia sacra, sive De Episcopis Italiae (in Latin). Vol. Tomus primus (secunda ed.). Venice: apud Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 1035–1063.
