Roman Catholic Diocese of Teramo-Atri


The Diocese of Teramo-Atri is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Abruzzo, central Italy. The current extent of the diocese was established in 1949, when the historic Diocese of Teramo was combined with the Diocese of Penne-Atri, in the Abruzzo. It is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pescara-Penne.

History

After the invasion of Italy by the Lombards, Teramo became the residence of a gastald, depending on the Duke of Spoleto; under the Franks it was annexed by the Normans. In 1155 Count Robert II of Loritello rebelled against King Roger II of Sicily and destroyed the city, soon rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Guido, for which he and his successors were granted the investiture of the principality. In 1215 the privilege was granted to the bishops of Teramo by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor of celebrating their first solemn Mass armed and having arms also on the altar. Pope Clement VII dispensed Bishop Francesco Cherigatto from observing the custom in a brief of 15 January 1524; the practice was finally abolished in 1554. Hardly had the town risen again when it began a series of quarrels with Ascoli, which more than once threatened to become sanguinary. Teramo resisted till the end of 1270 during the Angevin invasion. A little later the bishops abandoned their temporal sovereignty and a royal captain was installed.
In the beginning of the 15th century the Melatino, di Janni, and Acquaviva began to struggle for possession of the town. In 1416 it was sacked by Lordino de Saligny, a Frenchman, exasperated at being deprived of the title of High Constable of the kingdom of Naples. During the pillage the treasures of the cathedral disappeared.
A census book of the bishops of Teramo, which was revised under Bishop Francesco Cherigatto, provides extensive information on the organization of the diocese, and on its churches, chapels, and property.
In 1818 the diocese of Campli was incorporated into the See of Teramo.
In 1949 the diocese of Teramo was affected by changes brought about by movements of population as well as the new political structure of the Abruzzi brought about by the Fascists, the end of the Kingdom of Italy, and the creation of the Italian Republic. As the capital of a province, Pescara deserved to become the seat of a bishop; but the city extended over two different dioceses, Chieti and Penne. Pope Pius XII therefore decided on the rearrangement of the diocesan system, which he effected in the Bull Dioecesium subscriptiones of 1 July 1949.
The seat of the diocese of Penne e Atri was transferred from Penne to the city of Pescara, and its name changed to Pinnensis-Piscarensis. The cathedral in Penne was named a co-cathedral. The diocesan seminary was transferred to Pescara. These decisions left status of the diocese of Atri in question. Since the diocese of Atri was entirely in the civil province of Teramo, Atri was united aequaliter principaliter with the diocese of Teramo, forming the diocese of Teramo e Atri.
In 1986, the name of the diocese of Teramo e Atri was changed to Teramo-Atri. This meant a major change in the organization of the dioceses. A decree approved by Pope John Paul II in an audience of 27 September 1986, and published by the Congregation of Bishops on 30 September, cancelled the union of the two dioceses under one bishop aequaliter principaliter. Atri was subsumed into the diocese of Teramo. The former cathedral of Atri was allowed to call itself a co-cathedral, and its Chapter was named the Chapter of the Co-cathedral; but there was only one diocesan cathedral at Teramo, and its Chapter was the one diocesan Chapter. There was to be one episcopal curia, one ecclesiastical tribunal, one college of Consultors, one Council of Priests, and one seminary, all of which were at Teramo or a place designated by the bishop. Priests and deacons were to be incardinated in the new Diocese of Teramo-Atri.
The diocese currently has five seminarians.

Bishops

Diocese of Teramo

to 1450

Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Organization changed: 30 September 1986