Archbishop of Manfredonia

Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-S. Giovanni Rotondo Archidioecesis Sipontinus-Vestanus-Sancti Ioannis Rotundi
Coat of arms of the current archbishop of the Archdiocese
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Foggia-Bovino
Statistics
Area	1,665 km2 (643 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2013) 154,283 151,850 (est.) (98.4%)
Parishes	51
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	3rd Century
Cathedral	Cattedrale di S. Lorenzo Maiorano (Manfredonia)
Co-cathedral	Basilica Cattedrale di Maria Santissima Assunta in cielo (Vieste)
Secular priests	75 (diocesan) 54 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Archbishop	Domenico Cornacchia
Website
www.manfredonia.chiesacattolica.it

The Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo (Latin: Archidioecesis Sipontinus-Vestanus-Sancti Ioannis Rotundi) is a Roman Catholic diocese in Apulia, south-eastern Italy.

The historic Archdiocese of Manfredonia (or Siponto) was elevated from the status of diocese in 1074. At that time it was known after its see, Siponto, and Sipontinus persisted as its Latin name. It was combined in 1818 with the Diocese of Vieste. The addition of San Giovanni Rotondo to the name dates from 2002. The archbishops are seated in Manfredonia Cathedral.

On July 15, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Michele Castoro of the Diocese of Oria as Archbishop.

According to legend, the Gospel was preached at Sipontum (ancient name of Manfredonia) by St. Peter and St. Mark; more trust, however, may be placed in the tradition of the martyrdom of the priest St. Justin and his companions under Gallienus and Maximian about 255. The first bishop, whose date may be fixed, Felix, was at Rome in 465.

In the time of Bishop Lawrence, during the pontificate of Gelasius I (492-496), allegedly took place on Mt. Gargano the apparition of St. Michael, in memory of which the famous Monastery of the Archangel was founded. About 688 Pope Vitalian was obliged to entrust to the bishops of Benevento the pastoral care of Sipontum, which was almost abandoned.