The Diocese of Aversa (Latin: Dioecesis Aversana) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Campania, southern Italy, created in 1053. It is situated in the Terra di Lavoro (Liburia), seven miles north of Naples, and eight miles south of Capua. It is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Naples.
Contents
History
Medieval period
The city of Atella was destroyed in the Lombard invasions. The city of Aversa arose in the 11th century, near the destroyed Atella, and became the seat of the Norman invader Rainulf, who became a vassal of Duke Sergius of Naples. The Norman Duke Robert Guiscard built a fortification which in time became an urban centre. Duke Robert, becoming a vassal of the pope and supporting him in his struggle with the Holy Roman Emperor, obtained permission from Pope Leo IX to have the extinct diocese of Atella revived at Aversa. In 1058, Count Richard of Aversa became Prince of Capua. This led to an immediate and continual confrontation between Norman Capua and Lombard Naples, both politically and ecclesiastically. The archbishops of Naples claimed metropolitan status over Aversa, with the right to consecrate its bishops and receive oaths of loyalty from them. At the same time the Princes of Capua claimed that Aversa was a new foundation, thanks to their work for the Church, and in no case did the Norman Prince intend to recognize the jurisdiction of the Lombards over his principality.
In September 1089, Pope Urban II consecrated the monk Guitmund, who had been an agent of the Holy See, as Bishop of Aversa at the Synod of Melfi. An immediate protest was lodged by the Archbishop of Naples through his Archdeacon, and by the Prince of Salerno and Amalfi through his legate, humbly requesting that possession of the Church of Aversa be returned to them ("ut sibi tandem Aversane ecclesie possessio redderetur"). In his reply to the Archbishop, Pope Urban stated that he had consecrated Bishop Guitmund neither out of anger or hatred, but for the sake of equity and compelled by necessity, lest the Church of Aversa lose such a man as he had appointed. In a letter to Bishop Guitmund, Pope Urban stated that he and his advisors and the Roman leaders had debated the issue of the possession of the Church of Aversa for some time ("diu causam eventilavimus"), the unanimous decision was that the investiture of the possession of the Church of Aversa should be returned to the Archbishop and the Prince.
On 24 September 1120, Bishop Robertus (attested 1118–1226) obtained from Pope Calixtus II the bull "Sicut ex Fratrum", in which the Church of Aversa was recognized as being directly subordinate (a suffragan) of the Roman See, rather than the Archdiocese of Capua or the Archdiocese of Naples.
In a letter of reply (rescriptum) to the bishop of Aversa on 8 November 1298, Pope Innocent III remarked that the bishop and his predecessors had thus far (hactenus) been accustomed to obtain confirmation of their election and episcopal consecration from the archbishops of Naples, notwithstanding that Innocent's predecessor, Celestine III (1191–1198), had consecrated one "L" as bishop of Aversa himself "without prejudice to the Church of Naples", ordering that the new bishop should show reverence and obedience to the archbishop. If the bishop of Aversa wished to litigate the matter, the Pope would give him a hearing.
On 10 May 1298, Pope Boniface VIII issued a bull, confirming the privileges granted by Pope Calixtus II to the Church of Aversa, making the diocese directly subject to the Holy See.
Cathedral and Chapter of Aversa
The cathedral was begun thanks to the munificence of Duke Robert Guiscard, was carried forward and completed by his son Jordanus. It was dedicated to S. Paul of Tarsus. The high altar was dedicated by Pope Alexander IV on 3 June 1255.
The cathedral was served and administered by a corporate body, the Chapter, which was composed of four dignities (the Dean, the Cantor, the Archdeacon, and the Subcantor) and thirty Canons. Two dignities were later added, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent, designated the Theologus and the Penitentiarius. Pope Celestine III (1191–1198) granted the Chapter the right of electing their Dean. The cathedral was one of the nine parishes inside the city, the care of which was assigned to the Canons prebendary. Attached to the cathedral were twelve beneficed clerics, whose duty it was to sing the Gregorian chant; two acolytes and six clerics for the sanctuary; and thirty chaplains. The members of the Chapter were paid out of a general fund (mensa canonicata), which was the subject of frequent complaint and litigation. In 1600, it was agreed that the procurator of the Chapter would divide the income into eight portions, six of which would go to each of the six prebendary dignities.
Synods
A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See.
Bishop Pietro Orsini (1591–1598) presided over a diocesan synod at Aversa in 1594, and published its decrees. Bishop Carlo Carafa (1616–1644) held a diocesan synod on 19 June 1619, and published the decrees of the synod. A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Innico Caracciolo (1697–1730) on 4—6 November 1702.
In 1727, Cardinal Innico Caracciolo (1697–1730) issued a new set of Constitutions for the diocesan seminary of Aversa.
New ecclesiastical province
Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40, major changes were made in the ecclesiastical administrative structure of southern Italy. Wide consultations had taken place with the bishops and other prelates who would be affected. Action, however, was deferred, first by the death of Pope Paul VI on 6 August 1978, then the death of Pope John Paul I on 28 September 1978, and the election of Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1978. Pope John Paul II issued a decree, "Quamquam Ecclesia," on 30 April 1979, ordering the changes. Three ecclesiastical provinces were abolished entirely: those of Conza, Capua, and Sorrento. A new ecclesiastical province was created, to be called the Regio Campana, whose Metropolitan was the Archbishop of Naples. The diocese of Aversa became a suffragan of Naples.
On January 15, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Angelo Spinillo, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Teggiano-Policastro, as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aversa. He succeeded Archbishop-Bishop Mario Milano, whose resignation was accepted by the Pope on the grounds that he had reached the canonical age of retirement of 75.
Bishops of Aversa
since 2000
Mario Milano (28 Feb 1998 – 15 Jan 2011 Resigned)
Angelo Spinillo (15 Jan 2011 – )