In 1818, a new concordat with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies committed the pope to the suppression of more than fifty small dioceses in the kingdom. Pope Pius VII, in the bull "De Utiliori" of 27 June 1818, suppressed the dioceses of Massa Lubrense, Vico Equense (Vicana), and Capri, and their territories were added to Sorrento. Sorrento was left with only one suffragan, the diocese of Castellamare.Archiepiscopalis ecclesia Sorrentina suffraganeam habebit episcopalem ecclesiam Castri Maris (Castellamare); ecclesias vero episcopales Massalubrensem , Vicanam , et Capritanam actu vacantes perpetuo supprimimus , earumque civitates , totumque dioecesanum territorium archiepiscopali Sùrrentinae unimus et assignamus." In the same concordat, the King was confirmed in the right to nominate candidates for vacant bishoprics, subject to the approval of the pope. That situation persisted down until the final overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy in 1860.Bullarii Romani continuatio Tomus 15, p. 7 column 1, "Articulus XXVIII".
