CAJAZZO, DIOCESE of. — On the boundary between Molise and Campania. C. is the ancient Calatia, a city of Oscan origin, subsequently occupied by the Etruscans and the Samnites, and later conquered by the Romans, under whom it became a municipium; Cicero (Epist., I, III) recalls its customs and practices. It was devastated by the barbarian and Saracen invasions. Justinian donated it to the abbey of Montecassino, from which it was later taken in order to be incorporated into the duchy of Benevento, and subsequently into the Norman kingdom.
While legend ascribes the evangelization of C. to St. Pietro or St. Prisco, the chronological origin of the diocese of C. is uncertain. The first bishop whose name is known is Algisio, of undetermined date, who is said to have been succeeded by a Gisulfo; but the regular succession of bishops begins only with Orso, elected in 966, whose name is mentioned in a privilege of 967; he was followed by St. Stefano Menicillo, patron of the city. St. Ferdinando d'Aragona was the sixth bishop in this succession. Among the more important prelates were Fabio and Ottavio Mirto Frangipane: the former took part in the Council of Trent and was nuncio in France, Flanders, and Germany. He was responsible for the erection of the seminary (1564), later enlarged in 1633 and 1770.
In 1818, C. was united by Pius VII to the diocese of Caserta, and C. became an affiliated church. In 1852 Pius IX restored the diocese as a suffragan of Capua.
There are numerous Roman ruins, including statues, a cistern, and the remains of a theatre. The city has a Lombard castle and Renaissance portals and tombs. The Cathedral, damaged in 1185, was rebuilt and embellished in 1284; at that time the ancient dedication to S. M. Assunta was joined by that of S. Stefano. The church of the Annunziata has a marble portal from the fifteenth century.
Among the ancient convents of C. and of the diocese were: S. Francesco (twelfth century), later suppressed; S. Maria delle Grazie (1496), belonging to the Observant Minors and later to the Capuchins; S. Croce Monti Bernae (tenth–eleventh century), belonging to the Benedictines until 1521, later a benefice; S. Maria di Gesù of the Augustinians (suppressed in 1652); S. ma Annunziata di Maria of the Dominicans, founded in 1400 and suppressed in 1652; and a Benedictine hospice in Villa Sclavia.
The diocese has 35 parishes, 51 diocesan priests, and 32,500 inhabitants, all Catholics (1948).
Noemi Crostaroa Scipioni