The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lettere was a Latin Catholic diocese located in the commune of Lettere in what is now the Metropolitan City of Naples, in the southern-central Italian region Campania. The distance by road from Naples to Lettere is 33 kilometers (20 miles). In 1818, it was merged into the Diocese of Castellammare di Stabia. (for Chronology of Bishops) (for Chronology of Bishops)

History The Diocese of Lettere, Latin Name: Litteræ (adjective Litterensis) was established in 994,Cappelletti XIX, p. 814. Gams, p. 890, col. 2. on territory split off from Diocese of Amalfi, near the site of Ancient Liternum. It was a suffragan diocese of Amalfi.Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 264, note 1.

The date, however, is controversial, depending on the circumstances surrounding the elevation of the diocese of Amalfi to metropolitan status.For the political context, see: Barbara M. Kreutz, Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries (Philadelphia: U Pennsylvania Press 1991), pp. 120-121. Evidence comes from the "Chronicon Archiepiscoporum Amalphitanorum," found in the papers of the notary Ferdinand de Rosa.A. Pelliccia, Raccolta di varie croniche, diarj, ed altri opuscoli...appartenente alla storia del regno di Napoli, Vol. 5, part 2 (Napoli: Bernardo Perger 1782), pp. 165-166: "An. ab Incarn. Domini N. I. C. DCCCCXIV. die XXX. mensis Novemb. VIII. Indict. placuit domino Mansoni Duci & Imperiali Patritio , ac cuncto clero & Populo universo eligere ad Archiepiscopalem ordinem Leonem Præsbyterum & Monachum; filium Sergii de Urso comite; qui consecratus eft die XIII. febr. & accepit Pallium Archiepiscopatus, per manus Sergii III. Summi Pont. in Sacratiss. Palatio Lateranen., cum apostolica benedictione. Igitur prædictus Leo I. Archiepiscopus S.Sedis Amalphitanæ Ecclefiæ, una cum tota Plebe sua, & universo Clero suæ diocæsis ordinavit tres Episcopos, primum scilicet Joannem, & eum in Episcopum consecravit in insula Capritana. Secundum vero Sergium, & ipsum in regimine qui nunc Scalar. dicitur: tertio vero Stephanum in Castellis Stabiensib, qui dicitur nunc Episcopus Litterar." But the chronicle is inconsistent in names, dates, and facts.Kehr VIII, p. 386: "Quomodo ecclesia Amalphitana ad archiepiscopatus honorem promota sit, in Chronica archiepiscoporum Amalphitanorum licet subobscure et confuse legitur." Ughelli presented an emended version of the text, and came to the conclusion that the correct date of the foundation of the archiepiscopate and the diocese of Lettere was 994. but "Sergius III" in the chronicle must become "Ioannes XV." The appointment of bishop Sergius to "regimine" must become "Reginnis" or "Regimine."Ughelli VII, p. 192. Kehr VIII, p. 386: "ab eo, ut videtur, emendatum." It is not said by the chronicle when Stephanus was consecrated bishop of Castella Stabienses, now called Litterae, only that it was after the return of Archbishop Leo from Rome.

The diocese of Lettere, in 1169, added to its title coastal hill town Gragnano, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) to the southwest.

The new cathedral was built by Bishop Bartolomeo Ferro, O.P. (1567–1570). On 28 July 1570, Pope Pius V granted permission to move the episcopal seat, the Chapter, and the sacred relics to the new building.Cappelletti XIX, pp. 821-822. The cathedral, dedicated to the taking up of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, was served and administered by an ecclesiastical body called the Chapter, which consisted, in 1767, of four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Primicerius, the Cantor, and the Treasurer) and eleven canons.Cappelletti XIX, p. 816. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 264, note 1.

Reorganization of 1818 Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the kingdom, as well as the confiscation of most Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution. Ferdinand, however, was not prepared to accept the pre-Napoleonic situation, in which Naples was a feudal subject of the papacy. Lengthy, detailed, and acrimonious negotiations ensued.

In 1818, a new concordat with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies committed the pope to the suppression of more than fifty small dioceses in the kingdom. Pope Pius VII united the Diocese of Lettere, the ancient Liternum, with Castellammare.: "Archiepiscopalis ecclesia Surrentina suffraganeam habebit episcopalem ecclesiam Castri Maris; ecclesias vero episcopales Massalubrensem, Vicanam, et Capritanam actu vacantes perpetuo supprimimus, earumque civitates, totumque dioecesanum territorium archiepiscopali Sùrrentinae unimus et assignamus. Episcopalem autem ecclesiam Litterensem ex nunc prò tunc quando ex persona moderni illius antistitis quomodocumque vacare contigerit perpetuo pariter supprimimus, ejusque civitatem atque integrum territorium dioecesanum praefatae episcopali ecclesiae Castri Maris adjicimus, et incorporamus."

In 1968, the name, but not the diocese, was revived as the titular episcopal see of Lettere

Bishops Diocese of Lettere Erected: 994 Latin Name: Litterensis

Stephanus (994)Stephanus: Cappelletti XIX, p. 816. ... Petrus (1118)Petrus: Cappelletti XIX, p. 816. ... Petrus ( 1169)On 12 December 1169, Bishop Petrus obtained from the Chapter of the cathedral of Amalfi the recognition of his jurisdiction over his diocese. Cappelletti XIX, pp. 816-817. Joannes ( 1179)Bishop Joannes attended the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. ... Jacobus ( 1289)Jacobus: Eubel I, p. 309. Petrus ( 1300)Petrus: Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. Gams, p. 890. Rao ( 1311)Raone: Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. Eubel I, p. 309. ... Pietro (1327–1349)The election of Petrus was disorderly. On 23 September 1327, Pope John XXII ordered the bishops of Caserta and Vico Equense to assist the bishop of Ravello in consecrating him. Pietro died in 1349. Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes Vol. 7 (Paris: E. de Boccard 1919), p. 20 no. 29913. Giacomo Gioia, O.F.M. (1349–1365)Giacopo di Roa (Ioha): Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. Roberto De Casalinovo, O.F.M. (1366–1371)Bishop Robert resigned in 1371. Eubel I, p. 309. Giuliano, O.F.M. (1371–1380)Giuliano was removed, as a follower of Urban VI in the Western Schism. Urban appointed him Bishop of Castellammare di Stabia, where he had removed Bishop Ugo, as a follower of Pope Clement VII. Eubel I, pp. 309 with note 2; 462 with note 6. Nicolas Balasae de Sisto, O.E.S.A. (1384– after 1390) Avignon ObedienceNicolaus was appointed by Pope Clement VII on 19 December 1384. Cappelletti XIX, p. 818. Tommaso (1384–1392) Roman ObedienceTommaso was appointed Bishop of Bishop of Ugento on 6 April 1392, by Pope Boniface IX. Eubel I, pp. 309, 375. Giovanni Da Pisa, O.P. (1392–1403) Roman ObedienceGiovanni was appointed by Boniface IX on 11 March 1392. He died in 1403. Eubel I, p. 309. Giacomo (1403–1407?)Jacobus was appointed by Boniface IX on 10 October 1403. Eubel I, p. 309. Francesco (1407–1427)Franciscus was appointed by Gregory XII on 21 March 1407. Eubel I, p. 309. Cicco (1428–1440)Cicchus had been Archdeacon of the cathedral Chapter of Litterae. He was appointed bishop by Pope Martin V on 1 March 1428. Eubel I, p. 309. Antonio de Celano (1440–1455)Antonio da Celano di San Germano was the Archpriest of S. Maria ad martyres (the Rotunda) in Rome. He obtained his bulls on 26 September 1440. Cappelletti XIX, pp. 818-819. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica II, p. 179. Gabriele Pontangeli (1455–1478) Antonio de Miraballis (1478–1503) Andrea Curiale (1503–1517 Resigned)Bishop Andrea was present at the third session of the Fifth Lateran Council in 1512. He resigned the office of bishop of Lettere in 1517. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima , Vol. 32 (Venice: A. Zatta 1787), p. 729. Cappelletti XIX, p. 820. Eubel III, p. 226. Valentino d'Apreja (De Apreis) (1517–1539)Valentino was appointed on 23 March 1517, by Pope Leo X. He died in 1539. Cappelletti XIX, p. 820. Eubel III, p. 226 with note 3. Bartolomeo Capobianco (1540–1547)A native of Benevento, Capobianco had been collector of papal revenues in the kingdom of Naples. He was appointed bishop of Lettere on 28 January 1540, by Pope Paul III. He died in Naples in January (or early February 1547). Cappelletti XIX, p. 820. Eubel III, p. 226 with note 4. Giovanni Antonio Pandosi (De Pantusa) (1547–1562)Pantusa was appointed bishop on 14 February 1547, by Pope Pul III. In March 1562, he attended the Council of Trent, where he died on 26 October. He was the author of several theological tracts. Cappelletti XIX, p. 820. Eubel III, p. 227 with note 5. Sebastiano Leccavella, O.P. (1562–1565 Resigned)Born on Chios, Lecavalla had been archbishop of Naxos and Paros (1542–1562). He attended the Council of Trent in 1546, 1547, and 1562. On 17 February 1562, he was assigned to the Index of Prohibited Books. He was transferred to the diocese of Lettere on 16 December 1562 by Pope Pius IV. He resigned in 1565, before 16 December, and died in Rome on 13 November 1566, at the age of 54. Cappelletti XIX, pp. 820-821. Eubel III, p. 227 with note 6; 254 with note 5. Giovanni Antonio Astorch (Astorco) (1565–1567)A native of Naples, Astorgo held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was appointed bishop on 7 November 1565, by Pope Pius IV. He died in 1567, before 19 September. Eubel III, p. 227. Bartolomeo Ferro, O.P. (1567–1570)Ferro was appointed Bishop of Terni in 1570. Filippo Fasio Capponi (1570–1570 Died) Aurelio Griani, O.F.M. (1570–1576) Giovanni Bernardino Grandopoli (1576–1590) Giovanni Leonardo Bottiglieri (1591–1599)A native of Nola, Bottiglieri was a Doctor in utroque iure (JUD). He was named bishop of Lettere on 14 January 1591, by Pope Clement VIII. He died in 1599. Eubel III, p. 227. Francesco Brusco, O.F.M.Conv. (1599–1625)Brusco was a master of theology (Sapienza, Rome), and became Procurator-general of the Conventual Franciscans at the papal court. He was appointed bishop of Lettere by Pope Clement VIII on 27 September 1599. He died in 1625. Cappelletti XIX, p. 822. Eubel III, p. 227. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 222. Andrea Caputo (1625–1650)Caputo: Gauchat, p. 222. Onofrio de Ponte (1650–1676)Bishop da Ponte died on 13 May 1676. Gauchat, p. 222. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 246. Antonio Molinari (1676–1698 Died)Molinari was a citizen of Genoa, born in the village of Basaluzzo (diocese of Alessandria). He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure (JUD) from Pisa. He served as Vicar-general of Benevento, then Viterbo, and was Vicar-Apostolic of Assissi. He was appointed bishop of Lettere on 2 December 1676, by Pope Innocent XI. On 1 May 1696, he consecrated the new cathedral. He died on 11 July 1698. Cappelletti XIX, pp. 823-824. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 246. Giovanni Cito (1698–1708)Cito: Cappelletti XIX, pp. 824-825. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 246 with note 4. Domenico Antonio Gagliano, O.Theat. (1709–1713)Gagliano: Cappelletti XIX, p. 825. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 246 with note 5. Domenico Galisio (1718–1730)Galisio: Cappelletti XIX, pp. 825-826. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 246 with note 6. Francesco Castelli (1730–1733)Castelli was appointed on 22 November 1730, by Pope Benedict XIV. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 264 with note 2. Agostino Giannini (1733–1767)Gianni: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 264 with note 3. Francesco d'Afflitto (1767–1786)D'Afflitto: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 264 with note 4. Bartolomeo Criscuolo (1792–1793)Criscuolo: Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 264 with note 5.