The Archdiocese of Monreale (Latin: Archidioecesis Montis Regalis) is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Sicily. As of 2000 it is no longer a metropolitan see, and is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palermo.

History

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In 1174 the abbey of Monreale was declared a prælatura nullius; two years later its abbot was vested with the title and jurisdiction of a bishop. On 2 February 1183, thanks to the Bull Licet Dominus of Pope Lucius III, Monreale became the metropolitan see for the diocese of Catania and the diocese of Siracusa. At first the archbishops were elected by the monks, but were not always Benedictines; since 1275 the election has been reserved to itself by the Holy See.

In time the diocese of Girgenti and diocese of Caltagirone also became suffragan to Monreale; but Siracusa, in 1844, and Catania, in 1860, became archiepiscopal sees. The former having become the metropolitan of Caltagirone, Monreale received the new diocese of Caltanisetta (1860), which see and Girgenti became its only suffragans.

From 1775 to 1802 Monreale and Palermo were united under a single archbishop.

Bishops and Archbishops

Diocese of Monreale

Erected: 1176
Latin Name: Montis Regalis

• Theobaldus, O.S.B. (1176 – 14 May 1178)
• Guillelmus, O.S.B. (1178 – 1183) (promoted archbishop)

Archdiocese of Monreale

Elevated: 5 February 1183
Latin Name: Montis Regalis

to 1500

• Guillelmus, O.S.B. (4 February 1183 – 28 October 1191)
• Carus, O.S.B. (23 May 1194 – after 3 August 1222)

Sede vacante (by 10 October 1239 – after 25 November 1254)

• Benevenutus (10 August 1258 – 24 July 1260)
• Gaufridus de Bellomonte (1 October 1266 – 6 November 1271)
• Trasmundus (by 10 May 1267 – 17 August 1269)

Sede vacante (17 August 1269 – 13 August 1278)

• Giovanni Boccamazza (15 Aug 1278 – Aug 1286 Resigned)
• Pietro Gerra (20 Aug 1286 – 6 Jan 1298 Appointed, Archbishop of Capua)
• Rogerius Donmusco (10 January 1304 – 1304)
• Arnaldus de Rassaco (17 February 1306 – 1324).
• Neapoleone Fortibracchia Orsini (26 July 1325 – 1337)
• Manuel Spinola (4 November 1338 – April 1362)
• Guilelmus Monstrius (1363 – 1380) (Avignon Obedience)
• Franciscus Riguerii, O.Min. (19 November 1380 – 19 December 1384) (Avignon Obedience)
• Paulus Francisci de Roma, O.Min. (3 February 1379 – April 1418) (Roman Obedience)
• Giovanni Ventimiglia (2 April 1418 – 25 January 1450)
• Alfonsus de Cuevasruvias (11 February 1450 – November 1454)
• Joannes Soler (3 January 1455 – 1458)
• Ausias Despuig (18 Sep 1458 – 2 Sep 1483 Died)
• Juan de Borja Lanzol (13 Sep 1483 – 1 Aug 1503 Died)

1500 to 1700

since 1700

Auxiliary bishops

• Gian Antonio Fassano (4 Jun 1544 – 10 Sep 1568)
• Giovanni Pietro Fortiguerra (4 Jun 1567 – 26 Apr 1574)
• Blas Antonio Olóriz (2 Dec 1733 – )
• Emanuele Romano (20 Jun 1973 – 24 Jan 1978)