The Diocese of Teramo-Atri () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Abruzzo, central Italy. The current extent of the diocese was established in 1949, when the historic Diocese of Teramo was combined with the Diocese of Penne-Atri, in the Abruzzo. It is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pescara-Penne."Diocese of Teramo-Atri" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016. (inaccurate)"Diocese of Teramo-Atri" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
History
After the invasion of Italy by the Lombards, Teramo became the residence of a gastald, depending on the Duke of Spoleto; under the Franks it was annexed by the Normans. In 1155 Count Robert II of Loritello rebelled against King Roger II of Sicily and destroyed the city, soon rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Guido (1122), for which he and his successors were granted the investiture of the principality.Palma, Storia ecclesiastica I, pp. 173-181. In 1215 the privilege was granted to the bishops of Teramo by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor of celebrating their first solemn Mass armed and having arms also on the altar. Pope Clement VII dispensed Bishop Francesco Cherigatto from observing the custom in a brief of 15 January 1524; the practice was finally abolished in 1554.Palma II, p. 229. Eubel, III, p. 112, note 12: 1554 Maii 16 Jacobum ep., qui ex regio privilegio armatus armis albis fatione principatus civitatis Terami primam missam celebrare consuevit, liberat S. S. ab huiusmodi solemni celebratione ad minuendas expensas. Hardly had the town risen again when it began a series of quarrels with Ascoli, which more than once threatened to become sanguinary. Teramo resisted till the end of 1270 during the Angevin invasion.Palma, II, pp. 24-26. A little later the bishops abandoned their temporal sovereignty and a royal captain was installed.
In the beginning of the 15th century the Melatino, di Janni, and Acquaviva began to struggle for possession of the town. In 1416 it was sacked by Lordino de Saligny, a Frenchman, exasperated at being deprived of the title of High Constable of the kingdom of Naples. During the pillage the treasures of the cathedral disappeared.Palma, II, pp. 95-105.
A census book of the bishops of Teramo, which was revised under Bishop Francesco Cherigatto (1522–1539), provides extensive information on the organization of the diocese, and on its churches, chapels, and property.Palma, II, pp. 240-267, giving summaries.
In 1818 the diocese of Campli was incorporated into the See of Teramo.The diocese of Campli was established by Pope Pius V in 1570. It was abolished by Pius VII, in the Bull De utiliori, in: , no. DCCXCVII, § 29: praeterea episcopalem ecclesiam Camplensem perpetuo supprimentes, illius civitatem et dioecesim alteri episcopali ecclesiae Aprutinae adjungimus et incorporamus. This was a consequence of the Concordat of 7 March 1818, between Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand I of Naples. Ugo Benigni, "Teramo" in the Catholic Encyclopedia, errs in stating: "In 1818 the Diocese of Ortona, which is now only an archipresbyteral church, was incorporated with the See of Teramo." Ortona was incorporated with the diocese of Lanciano. De utiliori § 20. Cappelletti, XXI, p. 443.
In 1949 the diocese of Teramo was affected by changes brought about by movements of population as well as the new political structure of the Abruzzi brought about by the Fascists, the end of the Kingdom of Italy, and the creation of the Italian Republic. As the capital of a province, Pescara deserved to become the seat of a bishop; but the city extended over two different dioceses, Chieti and Penne."Dioecesium circumscriptiones": Hisce namque novissimis temporibus Piscaría urbs dioecesis Pinnensis, quae ad maris Adriatici oras iacet, tale incrementum sumpsit, ut, magni facta nominis civitas, merito eiusdem nominis Provinciae caput evaserit. Haec Piscaría urbs nunc ex unione efformata est duorum iam prius exsistentium oppidorum : quorum alterum, Piscaría nuncupatum, ad Theatinam archidioecesim pertinet; alterum vero, cui nomen Castrum Maris Adriatici, intra fines exstat dioecesis Pinnensis; ita ut nova Piscaría urbs partim Archiepiscopi Theatini, partim Episcopi Pinnensis iurisdictioni subiecta est. Pope Pius XII therefore decided on the rearrangement of the diocesan system, which he effected in the Bull Dioecesium subscriptiones of 1 July 1949."Dioecesium circumscriptiones", Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), pp. 135–137.
The seat of the diocese of Penne e Atri was transferred from Penne to the city of Pescara, and its name changed to Pinnensis-Piscarensis. The cathedral in Penne was named a co-cathedral. The diocesan seminary was transferred to Pescara. These decisions left status of the diocese of Atri in question. Since the diocese of Atri was entirely in the civil province of Teramo, Atri was united aequaliter principaliter with the diocese of Teramo, forming the diocese of Teramo e Atri."Dioecesium circumscriptiones", p. 136, nos. 2-10.
In 1986, the name of the diocese of Teramo e Atri (Aprutina et Hatriensis) was changed to Teramo-Atri. This meant a major change in the organization of the dioceses. A decree approved by Pope John Paul II in an audience of 27 September 1986, and published by the Congregation of Bishops on 30 September, cancelled the union of the two dioceses under one bishop aequaliter principaliter. Atri was subsumed into the diocese of Teramo. The former cathedral of Atri was allowed to call itself a co-cathedral, and its Chapter was named the Chapter of the Co-cathedral; but there was only one diocesan cathedral at Teramo, and its ChapterC.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. was the one diocesan Chapter. There was to be one episcopal curia, one ecclesiastical tribunal, one college of Consultors, one Council of Priests, and one seminary, all of which were at Teramo or a place designated by the bishop. Priests and deacons were to be incardinated in the new Diocese of Teramo-Atri.Acta Apostolicae Sedis Volume LXXIX (Citta del Vaticano 1987), pp. 645-647.
The diocese currently (2019) has five seminarians.Chiesa di Teramo-Atri, Seminaristi diocesani; retrieved: 2 February 2019.
Bishops Diocese of Teramo to 1450
... Sede vacante (598)Pope Gregory I wrote to Bishop Passivus of Fermo, authorizing him to consecrate an oratory built by Count Anione in Castrum Apruntinum. P. Jaffe and S. Lowenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I, second edition (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 186, no. 1596. Lanzoni, p. 399. Opportunus (attested 601)Opportunus: Palma, I, pp. 89-91. Lanzoni, p. 399. ... Sigismundus (attested 844)Bishop Sigismundus was present at the coronation of Louis II of Italy as King of the Lombards, performed by Pope Sergius II at the Vatican Basilica on 15 June 844. Cappelletti, XXI, p. 429. ... Joannes (attested 879)Joannes was one of three bishops appointed by Pope John VIII on 20 November 879 to deal with the matter of a widow forced to take the veil by the deceased's brother. Kehr, IV, p. 312 no. 5. ... Landulfus (attested 948, 963)Landulfus: Schwartz, p. 291. ... Petrus (attested 976, 1036)Petrus: Schwartz, p. 291, with note 1, who wonders whether they were two persons, as posited by Palma and Gams. ... Bertoldus (attested 1075)Bertoldus: Schwartz, p. 292. ... Ugo (attested 1086)Ugo was a supporter of Pope Gregory VII against the Emperor and the schismatic bishops who had attempted to depose him. Schwartz, p. 293. ... Sanso (attested 1041)Sanso: Ughelli, I, p. 352. Schwartz, p. 291. ... Petrus (attested 1056–1065)In 1056, Pope Victor II invested Bishop Petrus with the castello de la Vitice. Kehr, p. 312, nos. 6-8. Schwartz, p. 292, indicates Bishop Petrus may have died in 1069. ... Guido (attested 1100/1101)Guido: Schwartz, p. 293. Ubertus (attested 1103, 1105, 1108, 1114)Ubertus (Umbertus): Schwartz, p. 293. Berardus (1116–1122)Berardus died on 19 December 1122, in the seventh year of his episcopate. Palma, Storia ecclesiastica I, pp. 139-151. Schwartz, p. 293. ...
Guido (attested 1153)On 27 November 1153, Pope Anastasius IV confirmed all the parish boundaries of the diocese, and inhibited the local monks from baptizing and carrying out extreme unction in their precincts. Kehr, p. 313, no. 13. Gams assigns the dates of 1123 – 7 February 1170 to Bishop Guido's tenure. Dionysius (1170–1174)Dionysius was said to have been a priest of Brindisi. Palma, I, pp. 184-185. Gams, p. 932. Atto (attested 1203)Atto (Otto): Palma, I, pp. 185-186. Gams, p. 932 (giving the dates 1174–1203). Saxo (1205–1220)Saxo: Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 95. Atto (1221– c. 1230/1232)Atto: An election of a new bishop had taken place in 1220, but on 7 August 1220 Pope Honorius III vacated the election and ordered a new election. Palma, II, p. 13. Eubel, p. 95 with note 1. Silvester (by 1232–1235)Silvester was already bishop by 1232. He died in 1235. Palma, II, pp. 13-14. Eubel, I, p. 95. AttoPalma, II, p. 14. Matthaeus de BellantoMatteo de Bellanto (Balato) had been a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Teramo. He was approved by Pope Clement IV on 31 December 1252. He died in 1267. Eubel, I, p. 95. Gentilis de Sulmona (1267–1272)Gentilis: Gams, p. 932. Eubel, I, p. 95. Rainaldus de Barili (1272–1282)Rainaldus had been a Canon of the cathedral of Chieti. He was elected by the chapter of Teramo and approved by Pope Gregory X. Gams, p. 932 column 1. Eubel, I, p. 95. Rogerius (1282–1294)Rogerius had been a Canon of the Chapter of Teramo. He was elected bishop by the Chapter and approved by Pope Martin IV, who had quashed the election of Fra Hugolino Brunforte. Gams, p. 932, states that he died on 14 February 1294. Eubel, I, p. 95, with notes 4 and 5. Sede vacante (1294–1295) Franciscus (1295–1300)Franciscus had been provided by Pope Celestine V, whose acts were cancelled by Pope Boniface VIII. Pope Boniface appointed Franciscus on 12 December 1295. Gams states that he died in 1300. Eubel, I, p. 95. Rainaldus de Aquaviva (1301–1314)Rainaldus was approved by Boniface VIII on 6 November 1301. Gams, p. 932, states that Rainaldus died on 14 May 1314. Eubel, I, p. 95. Sede vacante (1314–1317) Nicolaus Arcioni (1317–1355)Nicolaus: There had been a disputed election. Pope John XXII rejected both the claimants, Canon Nicolaus Andreae of Chieti and Fra Guilelmo de Civitelli, O.Min., and appointed Nicolaus Arcioni a Canon of Trani. Gams, p. 932. Eubel, I, p. 95. Stephanus de Teramo (1355–1363)Stephanus was a Canon of Teramo. He was appointed bishop of Teramo by Pope Innocent VI on 31 July 1355. He died in 1363. His latest document is dated 31 May 1363. In 1363 the great plague struck Teramo. Gams, p. 932. Palma, II, pp. 69-72. Eubel, I, p. 95. Pietro de Valle (1363–1396)Pietro was a Canon of Teramo, and held a licenciate in Canon Law. He was appointed bishop by Pope Urban V on 20 December 1363. He died on 22 February 1396. Gams, p. 932. Eubel, I, p. 95. Conradus de Melatino (1396–1405)Corrado, a citizen of Teramo and a Canon of the cathedral Chapter, was appointed by Pope Boniface IX on 27 March 1396. The latest reference to him occurs on 14 January 1405. Palma, II, pp. 88-89. Eubel, I, p. 95. Antonio de Melatino (1405–1407) AdministratorAntonio was the nephew of Bishop Conradus de Melatino. He was appointed by Pope Innocent VII on 19 November 1405. Palma, II, p. 89. Eubel, I, p. 95.