Ostuni
The Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni: An important Catholic community in southern Italy
The Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni is an important seat of the Catholic Church in Italy, located in the ecclesiastical region of Apulia. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Lecce and has approximately 264,660 baptized members out of 269,000 inhabitants. Currently, the archbishop leading the diocese is Giovanni Intini.
The geography of the diocese
The diocese includes 14 municipalities in Apulia, distributed in 3 distinct provinces: the metropolitan city of Bari has the municipality of Locorotondo, in the province of Brindisi there are the municipalities of Brindisi, Carovigno, Cellino San Marco, Mesagne, Ostuni, San Donaci, San Michele Salentino, San Pancrazio Salentino, and San Vito dei Normanni, while in the province of Lecce there are the municipalities of Guagnano, Leverano, Salice Salentino and Veglie. The Cathedral of Brindisi is the archiepiscopal seat, while the Concathedral of Ostuni is located in Ostuni. In addition to these churches, there are also two minor basilicas in the diocese: the basilica of the Most Holy Virgin of Mount Carmel in Mesagne and the basilica of Santa Maria della Vittoria in San Vito dei Normanni.
The division into parishes and vicariates
The diocese's territory covers 1,254 km² and is divided into 60 parishes, grouped into 6 vicariates: 4 foranes and 2 urban.
- The urban vicariate "San Lorenzo da Brindisi" includes 17 parishes in the city of Brindisi.
- The urban vicariate "San Biagio" includes the 10 parishes of Ostuni.
- The forane vicariate "Madonna del Carmine" includes the 7 parishes of Mesagne.
- The forane vicariate "San Rocco" includes the 3 parishes of Locorotondo.
- The forane vicariate "San Vito Martire" includes 9 parishes in the municipalities of Carovigno, San Michele Salentino, and San Vito dei Normanni.
- The forane vicariate "Santa Maria Assunta" includes 14 parishes in the municipalities of Cellino San Marco, Guagnano, Leverano, Salice Salentino, San Donaci, San Pancrazio Salentino, and Veglie.
The city and diocesan sanctuaries
The Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni is rich in important city and diocesan sanctuaries:
- In Brindisi, there are the city sanctuary of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the diocesan sanctuary of Santa Maria Madre della Chiesa.
- In Carovigno, you can visit the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Belvedere.
- In Ostuni, there are the Madonna della Grata, the Sanctuary of Sant'Oronzo, and the Sanctuary of San Biagio.
- In San Pancrazio Salentino, you can visit the city sanctuary of Sant'Antonio alla Macchia.
The history of the archdiocese
The historiographical tradition of Ostuni
According to the local historiographical tradition, resumed by Giuseppe Cappelletti and Pius Bonifacius Gams, a bishop named Melazio was present in Ostuni during the Gregorian period. However, as Francesco Lanzoni demonstrates, there is no bishop named Melazio in the Gregorian epistolary of the year 596 indicated. In the epistolary of 601, instead, there appears a "Melantio Rotumo," who was Archbishop of Rouen. Furthermore, some argue that the mention of the "parochia Stoniensium" in Pope Gelasio I's epistolary should refer to Histoniensium, namely of Histonium (Vasto).
The birth of the archdiocese
Initially, the diocese of Brindisi was established in the third century, while the diocese of Ostuni would have been founded in the sixth century. In 1986, the two dioceses merged to form the Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni. The archdiocese has played an important role in the history of southern Italy, as it has suffered numerous attacks and destruction during the wars in the region.
Conclusions
The Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni is a precious Catholic community in southern Italy, rich in spectacular churches and sanctuaries. Its millennial history represents an important cultural and religious heritage for the country and for the Catholic Church as a whole. Thanks to the guidance of its archbishop, the Catholic community of Brindisi-Ostuni continues to play an important role in the region, serving its community with faith and dedication.
