[1][2] While it was part of the Byzantine empire, Ugento had Greek bishops and was subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Of the Latin bishops, the earliest known is the Benedictine monk of Montecassino, Symon, of unknown date.

[8] In 1959, Bishop Giuseppe Ruotolo (1937–1968) petitioned the Vatican for permission to add the name of the local manifestation of the Virgin Mary, S. Maria de Leuca, to the name of the diocese.

After wide consultations among all affected parties, Pope John Paul II issued a decree on 20 October 1980, elevating Lecce to the status of metropolitan see.

When a new cathedral was built, in 1745 it was dedicated to the taking up (assumption) of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

[3] A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy.

Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See.