The Italian Catholic diocese of Lacedonia (Laquedonia, Cedonia), a suffragan of the archdiocese of Benevento in Campania, existed until 1986 when incorporated into the reorganized Roman Catholic Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia."Diocese of Lacedonia" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016."Diocese of Lacedonia" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016.

History The bishop of Lacedonia had his episcopal throne in the cathedral of Lacedonia, which was dedicated to the carrying up (Assumption) of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven. The old cathedral dated from the eleventh century.

The cathedral was administered and served by a Chapter, which consisted of five dignities and seven Canons.Ughelli, Italia sacra Vi, p. 838. The dignities were: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, the Primicerius, and the Treasurer. Two of the other Canons were appointed the Theologus and the Penitentiary.Palmese, p. 206 column 2.

The diocese was from its founding a suffragan of the Conza.Cappelletti, Le chiese d' Italia XX, p. 560. Catholic Encyclopedia article

The first known bishop is Desiderius, mentioned in 1082, but he is known to have had predecessors.

In the great earthquake of 1456, the town of Lacedonia was completely ruined and abandoned. Recovery was assisted by the Prince of Taranto, Gianantonio Orsini. But, by 1625, there were only about 300 families living in Lacedonia.Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 215 note 1. In 1744, there were still only 1,200 inhabitants.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 252 note 1.

In 1818, in consideration of the Concordat reached between the Holy See (Vatican) and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the territory of the Diocese of Lacedonia was increased by the suppression of the diocese of Trevico, a neighbouring diocese subject to the Metropolitan of Benevento.Pius VII, on 27 June 1818, in the Bull De Utiliori, § 10: "Itemque supprimentes episcopalem ecclesiam Trivicanam illius civitatem ac dioecesim episcopali ecclesiae. Laquedoniensi perpetuo similiter unimus atque incorporamus." Palmese, p. 287.

Lacedonia suffered much from earthquakes, especially in 1694 and 1702. In 1694, one third of the houses were destroyed, and the rest were damaged. One person was killed.

Bishops of Lacedonia to 1500

... Desiderius (attested 1082–1085)Bishop Desiderius, a monk of S. Maria de Cava, was elected bishop of Lacedonia in 1082, in succession to an unnamed bishop. He signed a grant in favor of S. Maria de Cava in May 1085. Cappelletti, pp. 560-561. Gams, p. 887 column 2. Palmese, p. 285. Leone Mattei Cerasoli, "Di alcuni vescovi poco noti, (cont.)", in: Archivio storico per le province napoletane 44 (1919), pp. 310-311. Hyacinthus (Iaquintus) (attested 1108)Cappelletti, p. 561. Cerasoli, p. 311. ... Angelus (attested 1179)Bishop Angelus was present at the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. Palmese, p. 285. ... Guillelmus (attested 1212–1221)Bishop Guillelmus attended the Fourth Lateran Council of Pope Innocent III in 1215. Kamp, p. 753. Antonius (attested 1255)Bishop Antonius participated in the foundation of the church of S. Maria di Valle Verde. Ughelli VI, p. 839. Palmese, p. 285 column 1. Rogerius Centumficus de Sancta Sofia (attested 1275)Bishop Rogerius was a supporter of Manfred, King of Sicily (1258–1266). Bishop Rogerius was transferred to the diocese of Rapolla by Pope Gregory X on 26 August 1075. He died c. 1290. Eubel I, pp. 293, 412. Kamp, p. 754. Sede vacante (1266–1272)Kamp, p. 755. ... Daniel (attested 1290–1304)Daniel: Eubel I, p. 293. Kamp, p. 755 note 18. ... Nicolaus (attested 1321–1345)Nicolaus: Ughelli, p. 839. Palmese, p. 285 column 1. Eubel I, p. 293. Franciscus de Marziis, O.Min. (1345–1352) Paulus de Interamna, O.Min. (1352–1385)On 22 July 1378, he was transferred by Urban VI to the diocese of Assisi, but he did not consent. He reduced the number of Canons in the cathedral Chapter from 19 to 12. Palmese, p. 285 no. 7. Eubel I, pp. 293; 294 note 1. Antonius (1386–1392) Guglielmo da Nardo, O.Min. (1392-1396)Fra Guglielmo was appointed bishop of Lacedonia on 8 June 1392 by Pope Boniface IX. Bishop Guglielmo was transferred to the diocese of Gallipoli on 23 January 1396 by Pope Boniface IX. Ughelli, p. 839 no. 6. Palmese, p. 285 no. 9. Eubel I, pp. 294. Joannes de Nerone, O.Min. (1396–1399)Giovanni was transferred from the diocese of Gallipoli on 23 January 1396 by Pope Boniface IX. Ughelli, p. 839 no. 7. Palmese, p. 285 no. 10. Eubel I, pp. 294. Giacomo de Marzia (1399–1401)Palmese, p. 285 no. 11. Adinulfus (1401–1418)Palmese, p. 285 no. 12. Hyacinthus (Jaquintus) (1417–1424)Giaquinto had been a Canon of the cathedral Chapter of Lacedonia. Palmese, p. 285 no. 13. Nicolaus (1424–1428)Palmese, p. 285 no. 14. Antonius di Cozza (1428–1430)Antonius had been Archpriest of Vallatae (diocese of Bovia). Ughelli, p. 839 no. 12.Palmese, p. 285 no. 15. Joannes (1430–1452)Joannes: Gams, p. 887. Palmese, p. 285 no. 16. Eubel Hierarchia catholica II, p. 172. Giacomo de Cavallina (1452–1463)Giacomo had been a Canon of Benevento. He was named Bishop of Lacedonia on 11 August 1452. He was transferred to the diocese of Ariano on 8 April 1463 by Pope Pius II. Palmese, p. 285 no 17. Eubel II, p. 172. Petruccio de Migliolo (30 Jan 1463 – 1481 Died) Giovanni dei Porcari (27 Aug 1481 – 1486 Died) Niccolò de Rubini (2 Jun 1486 – 8 Aug 1505 Died)

from 1500 to 1800

Antonio Dura (1506–1538 Resigned)Dura was a Neapolitan patrician, appointed by Pope Julius II on 29 July 1506. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 219. Cardinal Antonio Sanseverino (1538) Administrator Scipione Dura (1538–1551) AdministratorScipione was a relative of Bishop Antonio Dura, but was initially, from 23 September 1538, only the Administrator, since he was below the canonical age of 27 for consecration as a bishop. Palmese, p. 285 column 2, no. 23. Eubel III, p. 219. Fabio Capelleto (1551–1565 Resigned)Capellato (Palmese) or Capelleto (Cappelletti) was a native of Piacenza, and held the degree ofDoctor in utroque iure. He was appointed bishop of Lacedonia by Pope Julius III in the consistory of 24 July 1551. He was papal Nuncio to the King of Naples, and Collector of papal revenues in the Kingdom of Naples, for which purpose he appeared in Rome in February 1556 and in July 1563. He attended the Council of Trent in 1563. Palmese, p. 285 column 2, no. 24. Eubel III, p. 219, with note 7. Gianfranco Carducci (1565–1584)Giovanni Francesco Carducci was a native of Bari, the son of Baron Paolo di Montemesole; his ancestors were Florentine nobles. Giovanni was a Doctor of Canon Law. He was Abbot Commendatory of the Premonstratensian monastery of SS. Quirico e Giulitta in Reati. He was appointed Bishop of Lacedonia by Pope Pius IV on 26 May 1565. He died in Bari on 22 February 1584. Ughelli, p. 840. Palmese, p. 285 column 2, no. 25. Eubel III, p. 219, with note 9. Marco Pedacca, O.S.B. (1584–1602)Pedacca was a native of Mirandola, and a monk of the monastery of S. Benedetto in Mantua. He eventually became Abbot of S. Vitale in Ravenna. He was a noted mathematician. He was appointed Bishop of Lacedonia by Pope Gregory XIII on 14 March 1584. He died on 27 January 1602. Ughelli, p. 840. Cappelletti, p. 563. Palmese, p. 285 column 2, no. 26. Eubel III, p. 219/ Gian Paolo Palenteri, O.F.M. Conv. (27 Nov 1602 – 1606)Palenteri: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 215 with note 2. Giacomo Candido (bishop) (13 Nov 1606 – Aug 1608)Candido: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 3. Gian Gerolamo Campanili (24 Dec 1608 –1625)On 27 January 1625 Campanili was transferred to the diocese of Bishop of Isernia. Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 4. Ferdinando Bruno, O.F.M. (6 Oct 1625 – 1648)Bruno: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 5. Gian Giacomo Cristoforo (12 Apr 1649 – 8 May 1649)Cristoforo: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 6. Ambrosio Viola, O.P. (11 Oct 1649 – 1651)Viola: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 7. Giacomo Giordano, O.S.B. (28 Oct 1651 – 9 Nov 1661)Giordano: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 8. Pier Antonio Capobianco (12 Mar 1663 – 9 Sep 1672 Resigned)Capobianco: Gauchat IV, p. 215 with note 9. Benedetto Bartolo (1672–1684)Bartolo was named Bishop of Lacedonia on 12 September 1672 by Pope Clement X. Bishop Bartolo was seized by brigands, and later redeemed by the Marquess of Carpi. He never returned to Lacedonia, but on 18 September 1684 he was appointed Bishop of Belcastro by Pope Innocent XI. He died in 1685. Ughelli, p. 842. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 116 with note 3; 236 with note 3. Giambattista Morea (1684–1711)Morea was a native of Bitonto, and served as Vicar General of the diocese of Bitonto. He was appointed Bishop of Lacedonia on 2 October 1684 by Pope Innocent XI. He restored the episcopal palace and laid the first stone for the new cathedral. He died on 11 December 1711 in Naples, where he had gone for medical treatment. Ughelli, pp. 842-843. Palmese, p. 236 no. 6. Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 236 with note 4. Sede vacante (1711–1718) Gennaro Scalea (1718–1736)A native of Terlizzi (Bari), Scalea held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure from the Sapienza in Rome (1711). He was appointed to the See of Lacedonia on 24 January 1718 by Pope Clement XI. On 27 February 1736 Scalea was transferred by Pope Benedict XIII to the diocese of San Severo. He died in July 1739. Palmese, p. 236, no. 37. Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 236 with note 5. Claudio Domenico Albini (27 Feb 1736 – 25 Jul 1744)Albini: Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 252 with note 2. Tommaso Aceti (Aoeti) (7 Sep 1744 – 8 Apr 1749)Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 252 with note 3. Nicolò de Amato (21 Jul 1749 – 31 Aug 1789)Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 252 with note 4. Sede vacante (1789–1798)

since 1798 Francesco Ubaldo Maria Romanzi (1798–1816)Romanzi was born at Salvitelle (Conza) in 1738. He was appointed Rector of the seminary in Melfi, where he lectured in theology and Canon Law. He was pro-Vicar General of Melphi, and for six years served as a parish priest in Melfi. He held the degree of doctor of theology (Naples 1797), and was nominated bishop of Lacedonia by the King of Naples on 31 October 1797. He was preconised (confirmed) by Pope Pius VI on 29 January 1798, and consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Giuseppe Doria on 2 February 1798. He died on 30 October 1816. Cappelletti, pp. 565, 570. Ritzler-Sefrin VI, p. 242 with note 5. Sede vacante (1816–1819) Vincenzo Ferrari, O.P. (4 Jun 1819 –1824)On 3 May 1824 Ferrari was confirmed by Pope Leo XII as Bishop of Melfi e Rapolla. Desiderio Mennone, C.SS.R. (24 May 1824 – 11 Apr 1825) Sede vacante (1825–1828) Giuseppe Maria Botticelli, O.F.M. (23 Jun 1828 – 25 Oct 1832) Michele Lanzetta (20 Jan 1834 – 25 Apr 1842) Luigi Giamporcaro (1843–1844)Giamporcaro was a native of the territory of S. Cataldo (diocese of Agrigento, Sicily). He was named Bishop of Lacedonia by Pope Gregory XVI on 19 June 1843, and consecrated a bishop on 25 June 1843. On 17 Jun 1844 he was transferred to the diocese of Monopoli. He died on 2 January 1854. Palmese, p. 286 no. 46. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 231, 269. Luigi Napolitano (20 Jan 1845 – 26 Nov 1857 Died)