Matera-Irsina (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Benoni Ambăruş, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 30 September 1986
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Italy
Square Kilometers: 2,096 (809 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Basilicata
Official Web Site: https://www.chiesadimaterairsina.it/
Mailing Address: Arcivescovado, Piazza Duomo 7, 75100 Matera, Italia
Telephone: 0835.33.20.12

Historical Details

Diocese of Matera
- Latin Name: Materanensis
- Erected: 9th Century
- Country: Italy
Archdiocese of Matera
- Latin Name: Materanensis
- Elevated: 11th Century
- Country: Italy
Archdiocese of Matera
- Latin Name: Materanensis
- Split: 2 July 1954
- Country: Italy
Diocese of Matera
- Latin Name: Materanensis
- Elevated: 21 August 1976
- Metropolitan: Diocese of Portalegre
- Country: Italy
Diocese of Matera e Irsina
- Latin Name: Materanensis et Montis Pelusii
- United: 11 October 1976
- Country: Italy
Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina
- Latin Name: Materanensis et Montis Pelusii
- Elevated: 3 December 1977
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Potenza e Marsico Nuovo
- Country: Italy

Past and Present Ordinaries

Giacomo Palombella † (2 Jul 1954 Appointed - 12 Jun 1974 Retired)
Michele Giordano † (12 Jun 1974 Appointed - 9 May 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Napoli {Naples})
Ennio Appignanesi † (21 Jan 1988 Appointed - 19 Jan 1993 Appointed, Archbishop of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo)
Antonio Ciliberti † (6 May 1993 Appointed - 31 Jan 2003 Appointed, Archbishop of Catanzaro-Squillace)
Salvatore Ligorio (20 Mar 2004 Appointed - 5 Oct 2015 Appointed, Archbishop of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo)
Antonio Giuseppe Caiazzo (12 Feb 2016 Appointed - 7 Jan 2025 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Cesena-Sarsina)
Benoni Ambăruş (18 Jun 2025 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Matera
9th Century	Erected		Diocese of Matera (erected)
Archdiocese of Matera
11th Century	Elevated	Diocese of Matera	Archdiocese of Matera
7 May 1203	United	Archdiocese of Acerenza Archdiocese of Matera	Archdiocese of Acerenza e Matera
Archdiocese of Matera
2 July 1954	Split	Archdiocese of Acerenza e Matera	Archdiocese of Acerenza Archdiocese of Matera
Diocese of Matera
21 August 1976	Elevated	Archdiocese of Matera	Diocese of Matera (Archdiocese to Diocese)
8 September 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Matera (Ginosa and Laterza)	Diocese of Castellaneta
8 September 1976	Territory Added	Diocese of Anglona-Tursi (Craco, Montalbano Ionico, and Scansano Ionico)	Diocese of Matera
8 September 1976	Territory Added	Diocese of Tricarico (Salandra)	Diocese of Matera
Diocese of Matera e Irsina
11 October 1976	United	Diocese of Gravina e Irsina (Montepeloso) Diocese of Matera	Diocese of Matera e Irsina
Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina
3 December 1977	Elevated	Diocese of Matera e Irsina	Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina
Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina
30 September 1986	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina	Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Matera

1970 136,764 .0% 94 31 125 0 34 62 39 ap1971

Diocese of Matera

Diocese of Matera e Irsina

Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina

1980 138,900 139,900 99.3% 54 32 86 1,615 2 34 143 50 ap1981

Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina

1990 139,000 141,800 98.0% 56 30 86 1,616 32 113 50 ap1991

1999 140,600 141,653 99.3% 64 19 83 1,693 22 81 51 ap2000

2000 140,600 141,653 99.3% 73 19 92 1,528 21 81 51 ap2001

2001 140,600 141,653 99.3% 80 15 95 1,480 17 81 51 ap2002

2002 140,000 140,899 99.4% 69 15 84 1,666 1 18 63 52 ap2003

2003 140,000 140,899 99.4% 72 20 92 1,521 1 23 61 52 ap2004

2004 140,000 140,899 99.4% 74 20 94 1,489 1 23 61 52 ap2005

2013 140,000 144,644 96.8% 69 29 98 1,428 32 64 55 ap2014

2016 139,000 142,794 97.3% 69 25 94 1,478 4 30 62 55 ap2017

2019 129,800 149,800 86.6% 68 23 91 1,426 4 29 60 56 ap2020

2021 128,250 148,000 86.7% 70 23 93 1,379 4 26 30 55 ap2022

2023 126,000 146,000 86.3% 68 23 91 1,384 4 26 30 55 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Matera
1970		136,764	.0%	94	31	125	0		34	62	39	ap1971
Diocese of Matera
Diocese of Matera e Irsina
Archdiocese of Matera e Irsina
1980	138,900	139,900	99.3%	54	32	86	1,615	2	34	143	50	ap1981
Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina
1990	139,000	141,800	98.0%	56	30	86	1,616		32	113	50	ap1991
1999	140,600	141,653	99.3%	64	19	83	1,693		22	81	51	ap2000
2000	140,600	141,653	99.3%	73	19	92	1,528		21	81	51	ap2001
2001	140,600	141,653	99.3%	80	15	95	1,480		17	81	51	ap2002
2002	140,000	140,899	99.4%	69	15	84	1,666	1	18	63	52	ap2003
2003	140,000	140,899	99.4%	72	20	92	1,521	1	23	61	52	ap2004
2004	140,000	140,899	99.4%	74	20	94	1,489	1	23	61	52	ap2005
2013	140,000	144,644	96.8%	69	29	98	1,428		32	64	55	ap2014
2016	139,000	142,794	97.3%	69	25	94	1,478	4	30	62	55	ap2017
2019	129,800	149,800	86.6%	68	23	91	1,426	4	29	60	56	ap2020
2021	128,250	148,000	86.7%	70	23	93	1,379	4	26	30	55	ap2022
2023	126,000	146,000	86.3%	68	23	91	1,384	4	26	30	55	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Benoni Ambăruş (Archbishop: 18 Jun 2025 - )
Antonio Giuseppe Caiazzo (Archbishop: 12 Feb 2016 to 7 Jan 2025)
Biagio Colaianni (Deacon: 7 May 1983; Priest: 9 Jun 1984 to 6 Dec 2023)
Salvatore Ligorio (Archbishop: 20 Mar 2004 to 5 Oct 2015)
Rocco Pennacchio (Priest: 4 Jul 1998 to 14 Sep 2017)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ennio Appignanesi † (Archbishop: 21 Jan 1988 to 19 Jan 1993)
Antonio Ciliberti † (Archbishop: 6 May 1993 to 31 Jan 2003)
Giuseppe Rocco Favale † (Priest: 1974 to 4 Mar 1989)
Michele Giordano † (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Dec 1971; Archbishop: 12 Jun 1974; Archbishop (Personal Title): 11 Oct 1976; Archbishop: 3 Dec 1977 to 9 May 1987)
Giacomo Palombella † (Archbishop: 2 Jul 1954 to 12 Jun 1974)
Michele Scandiffio † (Priest: 2 Jul 1954 to 30 Apr 1988)
Giuseppe Vairo † (Apostolic Administrator: 25 Jun 1987 to 1988)

Source(s)

Archdiocese of Matera
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 46, Page 522, to Page 524
Diocese of Matera
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 68, Page 593, and Page 594
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 68, Page 675, to Page 677
Diocese of Matera e Irsina
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 68, Page 641, and Page 642

Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina