The diocese of Gravina and Montepeloso is a former ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Church in Apulia, southern Italy. Gravina is about 59 km (36 mi) southwest of Bari. Since 1986 it has formed part of the merged diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva. Gravina in Apulia was the seat of the episcopal see from the ninth century."Diocese of Gravina" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 20 March 2016"Diocese of Gravina" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 20 March. 2016

Ecclesiastical history Bishop Petrus of Hydruntum (968) was raised to the dignity of Metropolitan by Polyeuctus, Patriarch of Constantinople (956-970), with the obligation to establish the Byzantine Rite throughout the new ecclesiastical province, and the authority to consecrate bishops in the churches of Acerenza, Tursi, Gravina, Matera, and Tricarico, all previously dependent on the Church of Rome. The Latin Church was introduced again after the Norman conquest, but the Byzantine Rite remained in use in several towns of the archdiocese and of its suffragans, until the sixteenth century.Liutprand of Cremona, "Relatio de legatione Constantinopolit, ana... a. 968.969," ch. 62, in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptorum Tomus III (Hannover: Hahn 1839), p. 361. L. Duchesne (1903), "L'eveché de Montepeloso," , in: Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire XXIII (1903), pp. 363-373, at pp. 365, 371. Kehr IX, p. 408.

The first known bishop of Gravina is Leo;Kehr IX, p. 481, contends that this is Leo Sabinensis, not Leo Gravinensis: "Ex serie itaque episcoporum reiciendus est Leo ille, quern Ughellus aliique ex concilio a. 876 in partibus Galliae celebrate laudaverunt; est potius episcopus Sabinensis, legatus Adriani II papae." other bishops of note are: Giacomo Orsini (1302), who replaced the Greek rite with the Latin (Roman) rite, by order of Gentile Orsini Archbishop of Acerenza; Vincenzo Giustianiani (1593), a Genoese nobleman, who founded the seminary, the church of the Madonna delle Grazie and the Capuccinelle convent; Domenico Cennini (1645), who rebuilt the episcopal residence; Fra Domenico Valvassori (1686), a patron of learning and founder of an Accademia Teologica.

On 16 June 1102, Pope Paschal II confirmed for the archbishop of Acerenza all his diocese's privileges and possessions, including the suffragan (subordinate) diocese of Gravina.Ughelli VII, p. 29. Kehr IX, p. 458, no. 9: "munit Acherontinam ecclesiam apost. decreti auctoritate et confirmat, quaecumque metropolitano iure praeteritis temporibus ei pertinuisse noscuntur, videlicet Venusium, Gravinam, Tricaricum, Tursum, Potentiam, ut potestatem habeat in eis episcopos ordinandi ac consecrandi."

At the end of 1608, the palace of the dukes of Gravina was transferred to the bishops of Gravina, since they had had constructed a new palace in the Via S. Tommaso.Nardone, p. 101. Ferdinando (Ferrante) and his wife, Giovanna Frangipane della Tolfa, also began the construction of S. Maria, called the "Purgatorio" in 1644.Nardone, p. 102.

On 12 February 1649, Pietro Francesco Orsini, known in religion as Vincenzo Maria Orsini, O.P., the future Pope Benedict XIII, was born in Gravina. He was the eldest son of Ferdinando (Ferrante), 11th Duke of Gravina, 2nd Prince of Solofra, and Count of Muro Lucano, 2nd Prince di Galluccio.Nardone, pp. 98, 101. J.N.D. Kelly & M.J. Walsh, Oxford Dictionary of Popes 2nd edition (Oxford UP 2010), p. 297.

Reorganization

Following the expulsion of the French occupying forces in 1816, and the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, a new concordat was signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies 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 he joined the diocese of Gravina, which had been a suffragan of the archdiocese of Potenza, to the diocese of Montepeluso in perpetual union, as the Diocese of Gravina e Montepeloso, one bishop to preside over both dioceses, aeque principaliter. Montepelosi was the dominant partner. Both dioceses were to be directly subject to the Holy See.Bulliarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 57, § 23: "Ecclesiam vero Gravinensem concathedralem declarantes, alteri episcopali ecclesiae Montis Pelusii aeque principaliter in perpetuum unimus."

Montepeloso is situated on a hill in the neighbouring Province of Potenza. The diocese dated back to the 12th century and was refounded in the 15th century; it is directly subject to the Holy See. Montepeloso has been called Irpina since 1895. The united dioceses, directly subject to the Holy See, had in the early 20th century 9 parishes and some 28,000 baptized people. In 1986, the diocese of Montepeloso (Irpina) was suppressed, and its territory became part of the "Archidioecesis Materanensis-Montis Pelusii".Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 732-735.

Diocesan Reorganization

Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40,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. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures. Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy, beginning with consultations among the members of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican Curia, the Italian Bishops Conference, and the various dioceses concerned.

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. 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 diocese of Gravina be merged with the territorial prelatures of Altamura and of Aquaviva into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Altamurensis-Gravinensis-Aquavivensis. The seat of the diocese was to be in Altamura, where the prelatial church was to serve as the cathedral of the merged diocese. The cathedral in Gravina and the prelatial seat in Aquaviva were to have the honorary titles of "co-cathedral"; the Chapters were each to be a Capitulum Concathedralis. There was to be only one diocesan Tribunal, in Altamura, 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 suppressed diocese and territorial prelatures. To make the territories of the new diocese congruent, the town of San Teramo in Colle was detached from the archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto and added to that of Altamura. The new diocese was made a suffragan of the archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 716-718.

Bishops

Diocese of Gravina (di Puglia) Erected: 9th Century Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Acerenza e Matera

to 1450

... Leo (attested 876)Leo: Ughelli VII, p. 115. Cappelletti XXI, p. 367. Cesare Baronio (Baronius), Annales ecclesiastici (new edition by Augustino Theiner) Tomus quintusdecimus (15) (Barri-Ducis, 1868), p. 268 § 25: "Et post laudes actas in dominum Apostolicum, et domnum imperatorem et imperatricem, et caeteros juxta morem, data oratione a Leone Gravinensi episcopo, soluta est Synodus." ... Sede vacante (attested in 1091)In a document of Unfridus, lord of the city of Gravina, in December 1091, it is remarked that the diocese had been without a bishop for some time (diu). Kehr, p. 481. ... Guido (attested 1123/24)Kehr IX, p. 482, no. 1. Guido was one of four bishops appointed by Pope Calixtus II to investigate the claims for sainthood for the late Bishop Gerard of Potenza. ... Hugo (attested 1155)In November 1155, Marchese Silvestro of Gravina granted property and vassals to the monastery of Cava. Bishop Hugo witnessed the document. Mattei-Cerasoli (1918), p. 380. ... Robertus (attested 1179)Bishop Robertus was present at the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. Ughelli VII, p. 117 no. 4. Kamp, p. 787, with note 7. Thomas (attested 1188 – 1212)Thomas: Ughelli VII, p. 117 no. 5. Kamp, pp. 787-788. Samuel (attested 1219 – 1238)In February 1238, Bishop Samuel witnessed a grant of Bishop Giovanni of Mottola to the monastery of Cava. It is uncertain whether it was Bishop Thomas or Bishop Samuel who attended the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. Bishop Samuel built at his own expense the church of the Madonna di Altamura, which later became a collegiate church, headed by an archpriest nullius (i.e. exempt from the jurisdiction of the neighbouring bishop)Ughelli VII, p. 118. Mattei-Cerasoli (1918), p. 380. Kamp, pp. 788-790. ... Pantaleone (c. 1245 – 1266)Pantaleone: Eubel I, p. 268. Jacobus (1250 – 1266)Jacobus da Tarento was deposed on 18 October 1266 by the papal legate, Radulfus of Albino, with the consent of Pope Clement IV, on the grounds that he was a supporter of King Manfred of Sicily. The letter of Pope Clement IV is printed by Edmund Martène and Ursin Durand, Thesaurus novus anecdotorum, Tomus secundus (Paris 1717), p. 414, no. 388. Ughelli VII, p. 117 no. 8. Eubel I, p. 268. Kamp, pp. 791-792. Sede vacante (1266 – 1281)Ughelli states that the episcopal seat was vacant for a period of sixteen years. Ughelli VII, p. 118: "Item statim post adventum b.m. D. Regis Caroli I vacavit cathedralis ecclesia Gravinensis per sexdecim annos et plus...." Petrus, O.S.B. (1282)Petrus was a monk of Montecassino. He died on 26 November 1283. Cappelletti XXI, p. 367. Eubel I, p. 268. Palmerius (1283 – 1286)On 23 November 1282, the papal legate in Sicily, Gaillard of Sabina, issued an order prohibiting the cathedral Chapter of Gravina from electing a new bishop, and reserving to himself the right to provide a suitable successor. Eubel I, p. 268, note 1. Nicolaus da Potenza, O.P. (1287 – 1291)Nicolaus de Madia: Ughelli VII, p. 118, no. 11. Eubel I, p. 268. Johannes (1291 – 1294)Johannes: Eubel I, p. 268. Jacobus (1296 — 1306)In February 1304, Bishop Jacobus confirmed the donation of the church of S. Maria Nova, which had already been made by Bishop Urso. Ughelli VII, p. 119. Mattei-Cerasoli (1918), p. 381.