The Diocese of Lucera-Troia is a Roman Catholic bishopric in southern Italy, with its episcopal seat in Lucera Cathedral. It was formed in 1986 by the union of the diocese of Lucera and the diocese of Troia, containing Troia Cathedral, now a co-cathedral of the present diocese.
Local tradition traces the origin of the bishopric of Lucera to the third century and Saint Bassus. The first historically certain bishop is Marcus (c. 743).
In 1391 the diocese of Lucera was increased by the addition of the bishopric of Castel Fiorentino (Farentino), a city founded in 1015 by the Byzantine catapan Basil Mesardonites, and the place of Emperor Frederick II's death.
After 1409 the diocese of Tortiboli - created before 1236 - was united to Lucera, although under its Latin name Tortibulum it remains a titular diocese.[1]
In 1818 the united dioceses of Montecorvino and Vulturaria were added to Lucera. Motta Montecorvino had gained a bishopric in the tenth century, counting among its bishops Saint Albert of Montecorvino. It was joined to that of Vulturaria[2] in 1433, although it too continues to give its name to a titular diocese.
On 30 September 1986 the diocese of Troia was united with Lucera to form the diocese of Lucera–Troia as a suffragan of the also renamed Metropolitan Archdiocese of Foggia-Bovino.[3]. Both its cathedral in Lucera and its co-cathedral in Troia have the rank of minor basilica.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Lucera". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.