The historic Archdiocese of Salerno was in existence from the tenth century, having been elevated from a sixth-century diocese.

[6] On 22 July 1051, Pope Leo IX issued the bull "Officium Sacerdotale", in which he confirmed the metropolitan status of the archbishops of Salerno, and the privilege of ordering and consecrating the bishops of Paestum, Nola, Conza, Cosenza, and Bisignano.

[7] On 24 March 1058, Pope Stephen IX issued the bull also called "Officium Sacerdotale", in which he confirmed for the archbishops of Salerno the right of consecrating bishops for (in addition to those named by Pope Leo) Malvito, Policastro, Marsico, Martirano, and Caciano.

At Cava de'Tirreni the cathedral was damaged, and the church of S. Francesco lost half of its bell tower.

In Salerno itself, the cathedral was damaged, along with the episcopal palace, the church of S. Matteo, and the convent of the Augustinians.

[9] A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy, to which other interested parties might be invited.

In attendance were the bishops of Sarno, Cava, Campagna, Capaccio, Nusco, Acerna, and the Marsi.

The right of the king to nominate the candidate for a vacant bishopric was recognized, as in the Concordat of 1741, subject to papal confirmation (preconisation).

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, as was the case with Salerno and Acerno, was to be abolished.