Roman Catholic Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea


The Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Calabria, southern Italy, created in 1986. In that year the historical Diocese of Mileto was united with the Diocese of Nicotera-Tropea. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova.

History

The town of Mileto was founded as a fortress by Roger I, Count of Sicily in 1058, and he resided there from time to time, dealing with the rebels of Calabria. It was Count Roger who petitioned the pope to create a diocese at Mileto. Mileto was made an episcopal see by Pope Gregory VII in 1073, who suppressed the diocese of Vibona permanently and transferred its territory and assets to Mileto. The Pope personally consecrated its first Bishop, Arnolfo.
Pope Urban II visited Mileto in June 1091. On 3 October 1093, Urban II confirmed the privileges of the diocese of Mileto, and the suppression of the diocese of Tauriana and the diocese of Vibona.
Roger II, King of Sicily, was born and baptized in Mileto in 1095.
On 23 December 1121 Pope Callixtus II confirmed once again the union of the diocese of Mileto with the diocese of Tauriana and diocese of Vibona, the latter destroyed by the Saracens. He also granted the plea of Bishop Gaufredus that bishops of Mileto would continue in perpetuity to be consecrated by the Pope personally, as had been the case with his predecessors.
The earthquake of 1783 destroyed the cathedral, built by Count Roger, who also built the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael for Greek Basilian monks.

Bishops

Diocese of Mileto

Erected: 11th Century
Latin Name: Miletensis
Immediately Subject to the Holy See

from 1073 to 1500

30 September 1986: United with the suppressed Diocese of Nicotera e Tropea