L􏰀AGGRESSIONE DI MONS. GAGLIARDI DEL 1919 A VIESTE E LE SUE CONSEGUENZE CANONICHE

CLAUDIO GENTILE

ABSTRACT

Il presente lavoro, utilizzando documenti inediti custoditi nell’􏰀Archivio Segreto Vaticano, cerca di ricostruire una grave vicenda, in particolar modo nelle sue conseguenze canoniche, avvenuta a Vieste il 15 maggio 1919, ai danni dell’􏰀Arcivescovo di Manfredonia, Mons. Pasquale Gagliardi. Il Presule sipontino venne assalito e picchiato da una folla furiosa per aver venduto la statua della Madonna di Merino. In realtà il simulacro doveva essere solamente spostato di nicchia per urgenti lavori di restauro. Oltre all􏰀’inchiesta penale, la Cattedrale di Vieste subì la chiusura al culto ed i responsabili furono scomunicati. Dopo preghiere e suppliche il tempio fu riaperto e tutti perdonati.

Drawing on unpublished sources from the Vatican Secret Archives, this article re- constructs an event of serious canonical consequence that occurred in Vieste on May 15, 1919. On this date, the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Msgr. Pasquale Gagliardi, was attacked and beaten by a furious crowd for selling the statue of the Madonna of Merino. In reality, however, the object of devotion had only been moved from its niche so that urgent restoration work could be performed. A criminal investigation ensued. In addition, the Cathedral of Vieste was closed to worship and the perpetrators of the crime were excommunicated. Later, after prayers and pleas from the faithful, the church was reopened and those who had participated in the attack were absolved.