The Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova (Latin: Archidioecesis Rheginensis-Bovensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Calabria, southern Italy. It received its current title in 1986, when the independent Diocese of Bova was suppressed, and the territory and title of the diocese added to that of the Archdiocese of Reggio.
History
Early history
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Through a fanciful reading of The Book of Acts of the Apostles 27, St. Paul was said to have preached the Gospel at Reggio Calabria, and to have consecrated his companion, St. Stephen, bishop. The first bishop known is Bishop Marcus of Calabria, who was one of five legates of Pope Sylvester I at the Council of Nicaea (325).
Medieval period
When all Southern Italy was united to the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 732, Reggio became a metropolitan see with thirteen suffragans, and followed the Greek Rite, which was changed to the Gallican Rite after the Norman Conquest in the eleventh century. Reggio had been conquered by the Normans before 1079 and when Basil, the candidate chosen by the patriarch of Constantinople Cosmas I., attempted to take his position, the Normans prevented him from doing so as they saw him as a agent of a foreign power whose lands they were preparing to invade. The seat remained empty for some time until the synod of Melfi in 1089 where Basil appealed to the gathered bishops. He clashed however with pope Urban II when he rejected Urban's authority over the bishops of Italy and his right to appoint bishops in Italy, which was affirmed by the Greek bishops of Rossano and San Severina. His claim was therefore rejected and Rangerius, a monks from Marmoutier, was elected as bishop.
Modern period
Archbishop Ricciullo adopted the Roman Rite in 1580. The Greek Rite, however, continued to be used in the church of Santissima Maria della Cattolica, built by King Roger, and governed by a protopope with a numerous Greek clergy. Questions of jurisdiction caused frequent controversies with the archbishop. About 1600 Archbishop Annibale d'Afflitto suppressed the Greek Rite in that church, and the entire diocese now follows the Roman Rite.
In 1594 the city of Reggio suffered a devastating attack of the Turkish fleet, which did severe damage to churches, monasteries and hospitals.
In 1783 an earthquake struck the city and damaged the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
On 28 December 1908 a severe earthquake heavily damaged the Cathedral of Reggio. Reconstruction was immediately put in motion by Archbishop Rinaldo Rousset.
The Cathedral is served by a Chapter composed of four dignities and twenty four Canons. The dignities are: the Dean, the Cantor, the Archdeacon, and the Treasurer. Originally there were only twelve Canons, but Archbishop Centelles increased the number to eighteen, and Archbishop Gaspare de Creales brought the number up to twenty-four. Pope Benedict XIV, in a Bull of 25 September 1741, granted the Canons the right to wear a mitre and a cope.
^A Sisinnius is mentioned in the Acts of St. Placidus, written by Peter the Deacon, monk of Montecassino. Lanzoni, p. 338, calls the story of Placidus lavoro pienamente favoloso.
^Bishop Lucius was the predecessor of Bishop Bonifacius. Lanzoni p. 339. Philipp Jaffé and S. Loewenfeld (edd.) Regesta pontificum romanorum editio altera (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 157, no. 1248.
^Knowledge of Bonifacius is based on seven letters of Pope Gregory I, written between 592 and 599. Jaffé-Loewenfeld, nos. 1208, 1248, 1276, 1389, 1465, 1586, 1655. Lanzoni, p. 339.
^Bishop Giovanni was present at the Roman Synod of Pope Martin I in 649. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus X (Florence: A. Zatta 1764), p. 867.
^Leontius was present at the IV Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. Mansi (ed.), Tomus XVI (Venice 1771), p. 195. A Bishop Leo is attested at the Synod of Constantinople of Patriarch Photius in 879. Ughelli, p. 324, wonders whether he might be the same person as Leontius.
^Eusebius is said to have served for fourteen years, during wars against Saracens and Greek, and to have died in 916. Ughelli, p. 324. Cappelletti, p. 157.
^Stephanus was the successor of Eusebius and dedicated the Church of S. Michele Archangelo. Ughelli, p. 324, Cappelletti, p. 157.
^Rangerius was a French Benedictine of the Monastery of Majoris Monasterii in Tours. On 5 September 1092, as Bishop of Reggio, Rangerius consecrated the church of S. Maria in the territory of the Monastery of Cava. On 10 March 1096 Rangerius co-consecrated a cemetery outside the walls of the Majoris Monasterii in Tours. Cappelletti, pp. 157-158. Kehr, p. 22, no. 16.
^On 19 November 1165, Pope Alexander III confirmed for Bishop Rogerius the possessions of the diocese, as well as its metropolitan status over the dioceses of Tropea, Nicastro, Squillace, Cassana, Bova, Gerace, Oppido, and Cotrona. Kehr, p. 23, no. 20. Gams, p. 916.
^Thomas attended the Lateran Council of 1179. He died in the first half of 1190. Kamp, II, pp. 917-919.
^Jacobus had been Archdeacon. He died in the first year of Pope Honorius III. Kamp, pp. 920-921, points out that the name Jacobus is the traditional expansion of a single initial "I" in a subscription. Ughelli, p. 326. Eubel, I, p. 418.
^Lando was consecrated by Pope Gregory IX. Lando was transferred to the diocese of Messina on 9 February 1236. He died in 1248 or 1249. Ughelli, pp. 326-327. Eubel, I, pp. 337, 418. Kamp, pp. 926-930.
^Giacomo was a relative of Pope Alexander IV, and a Papal Chaplain. He was in exile from Reggio from 1259 to 1266. He died in 1277. Bolani, p. 241. Eubel, I, p. 418. Kamp, pp. 933-936.
^Pope Nicholas III rejected the choice of the Cathedral Chapter, Roberto de Castellione, and appointed instead one of his familiars, Fra Gentile. The Pope personally consecrated Gentile a bishop. Ughelli, p. 328. Cappelletti, p. 160. Eubel, I, p. 418, with note 3.
^Tommaso was the son of Conte Pietro de Catanzaro. Ughelli, p. 328. Eubel, I, p. 418.
^Galgani had been Archdeacon of Siponto. Bishop Pietro was transferred to Cosenza on 29 January 1354. Bolani, p. 242. Eubel, I, pp. 220, 418.
^Filippo had been a Canon of Cosentino. Bolani, p. 242. Eubel, I, p. 418.
^Carlo da Conte Urso held a Licentiate in Canon Law. He was appointed and consecrated by Pope Urban V. Bolani, p. 242. Eubel, I, p. 418.
^Thomas was a native of Salerno and a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Salerno; he held a Licenciate in law. Bishop Thomas had been Bishop of Teano (1369–1372). After appointment as Archbishop, he resided in Avignon until 1374. Bolani, p. 242. Eubel, I, pp. 418, 481.
^On 15 October 1381 he held the office of Collector of Papal Revenues in the diocese of Reggio. Bolani, p. 242. Eubel, I, p. 418, note 7.
^Guglielmo Logoteta: Bolani, p. 243. Eubel, II, p. 222.
^Grassis had been Archdeacon of Siponto, and Bishop of Ariano (1433–1449). He was appointed to Reggio by Pope Nicholas V. Bolani, p. 243. Eubel, II, pp. 94, 222.
^Agostino Gonzaga was a native of Mantua. He was nominated Archbishop of Reggio by Emperor Charles V, and confirmed by Pope Paul III on 11 April 1537. Bolani, p. 245. Eubel, III, p. 284.
^D'Afflitto was a native of Palermo. He studied law in Rome, but took his degree in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) in Padua. He joined the Court of King Philip II. He was appointed Archbishop of Reggio by Pope Clement VIII when not yet thirty-five years old. He was consecrated by Cardinal Alfonso Gesualdo, Bishop of Ostia e Velletri, on 30 November 1593. He took possession of his diocese on 7 September 1594. He restored and decorated the cathedral. He held a synod, attended by the Bishops of Nicoteri, Mileto, Tropea, Bova, and Gerace, along with representatives of other dioceses and institutions. He died on Holy Thursday, 1 April 1638. Ughelli, pp. 336-337. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica. IV, p. 294, with note 2.
^Cereales y Arce: Ughelli, p. 337. Gauchat, IV, p. 294, with note 3.
^Gennaro was born in Naples, and was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from the University of Naples. He was Primicerius of the Cathedral of Naples. Ughelli, pp. 336-337. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica. IV, p. 294, with note 4. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 332 note 2.
^Martinus de Villanueva had previously been Bishop of Gaeta (1670–1675). Ughelli, p. 338. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 135; 332 with note 3.
^Capobianco: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 356 with note 4.
^In religious life, Cenicela's name was Bernardo of the Immaculate Conception. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 356 with note 5. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 401.
^Tommasini had been Provost of Reggio, and then Bishop of Oppido (1792–1818). He held a diocesan synod in Reggio in 1823. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 401. Gams, p. 909.
^Bellorado had previously been Bishop of Catanzaro (1824–1828). He became Bishop of Acerra and S. Agata de' Goti (1829 - 1833). Gams, pp. 846, 874. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 401.
^Born in Serracapriola in 1782, Ciampa had been lector in theology for his Order, and Provincial of the Alcantarine branch of the Franciscans before his appointment as Archbishop. He was transferred to the diocese of Conza) (1 February 1836 – 22 December 1848), and then to Sorrento (1848–1854). Gams, pp. 878, 917, 926. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 401.
^Di Benedetto was born in Cassano in 1868. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Cassano. He held the degree Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He had been Archdeacon of Cassano, and was Capitular Vicar, Theologian, and Penitentiary. He was named Archbishop on 11 July 1836. Annuario Pontificio 1838, p. 152. Taccone-Gallucci, pp. 401-402.
^Ricciardi was a native of Naples. Ricciardi was in Rome for the I Vatican Council (1869–1870), and after the annexation of the Kingdom of Naples to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870, he was unable or unwilling to return. He was instead appointed Archbishop of Sorrento by Pope Pius IX. He died in 1875. La Scienza e la fede. Serie quarto, Vol. 3 (in Italian). Vol. Anno 36. Naples: Manfredi. 1876. pp. 345–352, at 350. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 402.
^Basile died before he could be consecrated. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 402.
^Converti was born in Amendolara, on the Gulf of Taranto. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 402.
^Portanova was born in Naples in 1845. He was Coadjutor and then Bishop of Ischia from 1885 to 1888. He was named a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII on 19 June 1899. Taccone-Gallucci, p. 402. Martin Bräuer (2014). Handbuch der Kardinäle: 1846-2012 (in German). Berlin: De Gruyter. p. 184. ISBN978-3-11-026947-5.Salvador Miranda, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Portanova, Gennaro, retrieved: 2017-02-22.
^Rousset was born in Beaulard (diocese of Susa, Province of Trent) in 1860. He was Procurator General of his Order in 1893, and Superior General in 1901. He was an Examiner of Clergy in the diocese of Rome, and a Consultor of the SC of Bishops and Regulars (1905). He was previously Bishop of Bagnorea (1906–1909), appointed by Pope Pius X on 21 February 1906; he was consecrated a bishop on 30 December 1906 by Cardinal Girolamo Gotti. He was nominated Archbishop of Reggio on 18 September 1909. Rousset died on 26 May 1926. Albert Battandier (ed.), Annuaire pontifical catholique (Paris 1908), p. 179. Annuario pontificio 1922, p. 203.
^Pujia was a native of Filadelfia (diocese of Mileto). He was Bishop of Anglona e Tursi (1897–1905). Pujia was nominated Archbishop of Santa Severina by royal decree of 15 October 1905, and approved by Pope Pius X in a bull of 8 November 1905. From 1920 to 1922 Pujia was Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Cotrone. Bollettino ufficiale del Ministero di Grazia, Giustizia e dei Culti (in Italian). Vol. 27. Rome: Stamperia reale. 1907. p. 59. Albert Battandier (ed.), Annuaire pontifical catholique 1908, p. 259.
^Morosini was born at Paola (diocese of Cosenza-Bisignano) on 27 November 1945. He studied at the Lateran University in Rome, taking a doctorate in theology in 1970; he also studied at the University of Messina, taking a doctorate in philosophy in 1975. He was Director of the Third Order of Minims (1983–1992), as well as Corrector Provinciale at Paola (1986–1992). From 1992 to 1994 he was Corrector of the new house of the Minims in Vranov in the Czech Republic. He was Corrector General (Superior) of the Minims from 1994 to 2006. Morosini was named Bishop of Locri on 20 March 2008, and consecrated in Rome on 9 May 2008 by Cardinal Renato Martino. He was transferred to Reggio on 13 July 2013. He is a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of Peoples. Archdiocesi di Reggio Calabria–Bova, Giuseppe Fiorini Morosini, retrieved: 2017-02-22.
Guarno-Logoteta, Carlo (1899), "Cronaca dei vescovi ed arcivescovi di Reggio," (in Italian), in: Rivista storica calabrese Anno VII (1899), pp. 65, 129, 169, 233, 297, 377, 417, 457, 497, 561, 625.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Reggio di Calabria". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Reggio di Calabria". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
