The collegiate church of S. Maria in Foggia was raised to the dignity of a cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Body of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.

It was administered by a corporate body called the Chapter, composed of four dignities (the Archpriest, the Primicerius, the Cantor, and the Treasurer) and eighteen canons.

[3] The city had four other churches, one of which contained a wonder-working statue of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary; five convents of mendicant friars, and three establishments of monks.

[7] The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses.

Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation.

According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished.