Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monreale

Archdiocese of Monreale
Archidioecesis Montis Regalis

Monreale Cathedral
Location
Country Italy
Ecclesiastical province Palermo
Statistics
Area 1,509 km2 (583 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2004)
193,413
185,000 (95.7%)
Parishes 113
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established 1176 (839 years ago)
Cathedral Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria La Nuova
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Archbishop Michele Pennisi
Emeritus Bishops Salvatore Cassisa
Salvatore Di Cristina
Map
Website
www.webdiocesi.chiesacattolica.it

The Italian Catholic Archdiocese of Monreale (Latin: Archidioecesis Montis Regalis) is in Sicily. As of 2000 it is no longer a metropolitan see, and is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palermo.[1]

History

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. In 1182 Monreale became the metropolitan see for the diocese of Catania and 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.

Among the archbishops have been:

From 1775 to 1802 Monreale and Palermo were united.[2]

Notes

  1. Catholic Hierarchy page
  2. Catholic Encyclopedia article

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.

Coordinates: 38°05′00″N 13°17′00″E / 38.0833°N 13.2833°E