Archbishop of Monreale

Archdiocese of Monreale Archidioecesis Montis Regalis
Monreale Cathedral
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Palermo
Statistics
Area	1,509 km2 (583 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2013) 258,368 255,150 (est.) (98.8%)
Parishes	69
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	1176 (841 years ago)
Cathedral	Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria La Nuova
Secular priests	110 (diocesan) 26 (Religious Orders) 11 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Archbishop	Michele Pennisi
Emeritus Bishops	Salvatore Di Cristina
Map
Website
www.webdiocesi.chiesacattolica.it

The Italian Catholic Archdiocese of Monreale (Latin: Archidioecesis Montis Regalis) is in Sicily. As of 2000 it is no longer a metropolitan see, and is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palermo.

In 1174 the abbey of Monreale was declared a prælatura nullius; two years later its abbot was vested with the title and jurisdiction of a bishop. On 2 February 1183, thanks to the Bull Licet Dominus of Pope Lucius III, Monreale became the metropolitan see for the diocese of Catania and diocese of Siracusa, . At first the archbishops were elected by the monks, but were not always Benedictines; since 1275 the election has been reserved to itself by the Holy See.

In time the diocese of Girgenti and diocese of Caltagirone also became suffragan to Monreale; but Siracusa, in 1844, and Catania, in 1860, became archiepiscopal sees. The former having become the Metropolitan of Caltagirone, Monreale received the new diocese of Caltanisetta (1860), which see and Girgenti became its only suffragans.

From 1775 to 1802 Monreale and Palermo were united under a single Archbishop.

Erected: 1176
Latin Name: Montis Regalis

Elevated: 5 February 1183
Latin Name: Montis Regalis

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton. 

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