the 9th century, the cathedral of Atella was dedicated to Bishop Elpidius as Saint Elpidius. In two of his letters, Pope Gregory the Great (592 and 599) mentions a Bishop Importunus of Atella; the second letter announces that Bishop Importunus is dead, and a successor should be elected. The relics of Saint Canio were moved to Acerenza in 799, and those of Saint Elpidius were taken to Salerno, probably because of the destruction and insecurity caused by the wars between Byzantines and Lombards. The diocese of Atella continued to exist until it became one of those incorporated into the new see of Aversa, which was founded in 1053. Bishop Godefridus of Atella attended the Lateran synod of Pope Nicholas II in April and May 1059, and subscribed its decrees as "Godefridus Episcopus Attelanensis". This was exactly the time when Count Richard of Aversa, who became Prince of Capua in 1058, began his consolidation and expansion of the power of Capua, supported by the Papacy which hoped to regain its control over the Lombards in south Italy. An immediate and continual confrontation between Norman Capua and Lombard Naples, both politically and ecclesiastically, and with ethnic overtones, lasted for the next century. The archbishops of Naples claimed metropolitan status over Aversa since the territory was that of their suffragan bishop of Atella; they asserted the right to consecrate its bishops and receive oaths of loyalty from them. At the same time the Princes of Capua claimed that Aversa was a new foundation, thanks to their work for the Roman Church, and in no case did the Norman Prince intend to recognize the jurisdiction of the Lombards over his principality. The title of the former diocese of Atella, without any diocesan organization or territory, is currently used by the Catholic Church as a titular see. The town has a former cathedral, the 14th-century duomo of Santa Maria da Nives. Bishops of Atella Canio (Canius) (late 3rd, early 4th) Elpidius (later 4th or early 5th century) [Julianus] Primus (attested 465) Felix (attested 501) Importunus (attested 592, 599) Eusebius (attested 649) Titular see of Atella The name of the diocese was revived in 1968 as Latin Catholic titular bishopric. It has had the following incumbents, of the fitting episcopal (lowest) rank with an archiepiscopal (intermediary) exception : Giuseppe Ruotolo (9 November 1968 – 11 June 1970) Vittorio Piola (18 July 1970 – 15 February 1972)