The Diocese of Matelica (Latin: Dioecesis Mathelicensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Matelica in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region of Marche."Diocese of Matelica" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved August 25, 2016."Diocese of Matelica" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved August 25, 2016.

History

Camillo Acquacotta conjectures that it was around 578 that the first epoch of the diocese of Matelica came to an end, as a result of the massive destruction of the Lombard invasions.Acquacotta, p. 43.

On 8 July 1785, the diocese of Matelica was revived by Pope Pius VI, its territory was separated from that of the diocese of Fabriano, and it was united aeque principaliter with the Diocese of Fabriano to form the Diocese of Fabriano e Matelica, two dioceses joined by the fact of having one bishop. The Collegiate Church of S. Maria e S. Bartolomeo was erected into a cathedral church, and made immediately subject to the Holy See (Papacy). Its Chapter was appointed to be the cathedral Chapter, consisting of an Archpriest and thirteen Canons, two of whom would fill the offices of Theologus and Penitentiary. The rights of the bishop and diocese of Camerino over the city and territory of Matelica were extinguished. The bishop of Fabriano e Matelica would be expected to live part of the year in Fabriano and part in Matelica.

In a decree of the Second Vatican Council, it was recommended that dioceses be reorganized to take into account modern developments.Directoriae normae clare a Concilio impertitae de dioecesium recognitione; indicia atque elementa apta ad actionem pastoralem aestimandam ab episcopis suppeditata quibus plurium dioecesium regimen commissum est. The diocese of Matelica was united with the diocese of Fabriano as part of a project initiated by Pope John XXIII and continued by his successors. This project aimed to reduce the number of dioceses in Italy and rationalize their borders in response to modern population changes and shortages of clergy. The change was approved by Pope John Paul II during an audience on September 27, 1986, and formally decreed by the Sacred Congregation of Bishops of the Papal Curia on September 30, 1986. The unified diocese was named Dioecesis Fabrianensis-Mathelicensis, with its seat established in Fabriano. Matelica's former cathedral received the honorary title of co-cathedral, and its chapter became the Capitulum Concathedralis. This union additionally resulted in a single episcopal curia, one seminary, and one ecclesiastical tribunal, with all of the clergy to be incardinated in the new Diocese of Fabriano-Matelica.Acta Apostolicae Sedis An. et Vol. LXXIX (Città del Vaticano: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1987), pp. 699-700.

Bishops of Matelica Equitius (attested 487)Bishop Equitius attended the third Roman synod of Pope Felix III on 13 March 487. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VII (Florence: Zatta 1762), p. 1171. Gams, p. 704 column 1. Lanzoni, p. 489. Basilius (attested 499) Lanzoni, p. 489. Florentius (attested 551)Florentius was present in Constantinople with Pope Vigilius, and supported the Pope in the excommunication and degradation of Bishop Theodorus of Caesarea Cappadociae on 14 August 551. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus IX (Florence: Zatta 1763), p. 60. Acquacotta, p. 30. Cappelletti, pp. 612-613.

Bishops of Matelica e Fabriano

Nicola Pietro Andrea Zoppetti, O.E.S.A. (1785–1796)Zoppetti was born in Fabriano in 1735. He became a Master of theology in 1771 at the age of thirty-six. He lectured on philosophy and theology in the houses of his Order in their province of Umbria, and became director of studies of the province. He was appointed Bishop of Fabriano e Matelica on 26 September 1785 by Pope Pius VI, and was consecrated in Rome on 29 September by Cardinal Giovanni Archinto. He died on 12 July 1796. Cappelletti, p. 654. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 212 with note 2. Giovanni Francesco Capelletti (1800–1806)A native of Rieti, Capelletti was appointed Bishop of Matelica e Fabriano on 11 August 1800 by Pope Pius VII. He was transferred to the diocese of Ascoli Piceno on 26 August 1806. Gams, p. 704 column 2. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 91, 191. Domenico Buttaoni (1806–1822)Buttaoni: Gams, p. 704 column 2. Pietro Balducci, C.M. (1822–1837)Balducci: Gams, p. 704 column 2. Francesco Faldi (1837–1858)Faldi: Gams, p. 704 column 2. Antonio Maria Valenziani (1858–1876)Valenziani: Gams, p. 704 column 2. Leopoldo Angelo Santanchè, O.F.M. Ref. (1876-1883) Macario Sorini (1883-1893) Aristide Golfieri (1895-1895)Born in 1843 in Lugo (Spain), Golfieri was appointed Bishop of Fabriano and of Matelica on 18 March 1895, and then Bishop of Città di Castello by Pope Leo XIII on 29 November 1895. He died on 1 May 1909. Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 207, 267. Luciano Gentilucci (1895-1909) Pietro Zanolini (1910-1913)Zanolini was named Bishop of Fabriano e Matelica by Pope Pius X on 22 February 1910. He was appointed Bishop of Lodi on 8 July 1913. He died on 6 December 1923. Andrea Cassulo (1914–1921)Cassulo was appointed titular Archbishop of Leontopolis in Augustamnica. Luigi Ermini (1921–1945) Lucio Crescenzi (1945–1960) Macario Tinti (1960-1978 Retired) Luigi Scuppa (1978-1986)Scuppa continued, as Bishop of the single diocese of Fabriano-Matelica, until his death on 26 November 2001.

The diocese of Matelica was suppressed on 30 September 1986.

See also Roman Catholic Diocese of Fabriano-Matelica Catholic Church in Italy

References

Bibliography Reference works for bishops p. 704.

Studies

Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604). Faenza: F. Lega, p. 489.