On Monday, September 21, 2026, the City of Salerno and the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno experienced a significant day in honor of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, Patron Saint of the City and the Archdiocese.
In the Metropolitan Primatial Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Angels, Saint Matthew and Saint Gregory VII, the Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated, the central moment of the patronal feast, presided over by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, H.E. Most Rev. Filippo Iannone, an archbishop of Neapolitan origin. Concelebrating were the Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, H.E. Most Rev. Andrea Bellandi, Primate of the ancient Principality of Lucania and Bruttium; H.E. Most Rev. Alfonso Raimo, former Auxiliary Bishop of Salerno, appointed Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia this past September 15; and diocesan and religious priests.
Confirming the deep bond that unites Salerno to its Patron Saint, the religious and civil authorities of the territory participated, together with the provincial and regional heads of the Law Enforcement agencies and representatives of the Financial Guard, the Carabinieri, the State Police, the Local Police, the Port Authority, the Army, the Navy, and the Fire Department. The ecclesial and civil communities thus found themselves united in the sign of Faith, tradition, and devotion to the Patron Saint.
Representatives of the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and local religious and lay congregations, confraternities, and associations also took part in the celebration, on a day experienced in the sign of peace and fraternity.
The participation of the Constantinian delegation
The Delegation of Naples and Campania, which participated in the Sacred Rite at the invitation of the Metropolitan Archbishop Andrea Bellandi and the Parish Priest of the Cathedral, Father Felice Moliterno, was led, in place of the Delegate, Count Don Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona, of the Dukes of Laurenzana, Neapolitan Patrician, Knight of Justice, by the Interim Secretary General, Nob. Antonio Masselli, Knight of Jure Sanguinis, with the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs, Nob. Attorney Antonino Sersale of the Marquesses Sersale, Knight of Justice.
Also participating were Attorney Gesualdo Marotta, Knight of Merit with Silver Star; Architect Carlo Iavazzo, Knight of Merit; and the confrères from Salerno, Professor Italo Valente and Lieutenant Raffaele Sguazzo, Knights of Merit.
At the high altar, an honor guard was stationed, composed of soldiers from the Guardia di Finanza, of which Saint Matthew is the Patron. Two officers of the Local Police, in full dress uniform, stood as an honor guard for the Labarum of the City of Salerno, bearing the city’s coat of arms with the figure of the Patron Saint.
