On Saturday 21 September 2024, in the metropolitan primatial cathedral of Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Matteo and San Gregorio VII of Salerno, which was packed with faithful, a solemn Pontifical Mass for was celebrated for the feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, the Patron Saint of the City of Salerno and of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno. The Mass was attended by representatives of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, as well as the various congregations, brotherhoods and religious and secular associations, and civil relief and protection organizations, including the Italian Red Cross. It was a day devoted to peace and brotherhood.
The solemn Pontifical Mass in honor of the Patron Saint was presided over by the Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, the Most Reverend Andrea Bellandi. The concelebrants were the Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Reverend Alfonso Raimo, titular Bishop of Termini Imerese, and the priests of the archdiocese.
In his homily, Fra’ Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, in addition to the commentary on the First Reading (Eph 4,1-7.11-13 – Christ gave to some to be apostles, to others to be evangelists ), of the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 18 (19) – Their announcement spreads throughout the earth) and of the Gospel (Mt 9.9-13 – I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners), highlighted the figure of the Apostle Matthew, linking him and comparing him to Saint Francis of Assisi. “The aggression, often brutal, that we see today at all levels […], is a sign of the deterioration of Us, where the ego prevails and dissolves the ties that keep us together as a community. Celebrating Saint Matthew helps us to re-emphasize this focus!”, underlined Fra’ Fusarelli.
The representation of the Delegation of Naples and Campania of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George – who participated in the Mass at the invitation of Archbishop Andrea Bellandi and the parish priest of the Cathedral, Father Felice Moliterno, through Prof. Italo Valente, Knight of Merit – was led, representing the Delegate, Count Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona of the Dukes of Laurenzana, Knight of Justice (representing the Delegate) and Prof. Antonio De Stefano, Knight of Merit with Silver Star, together with the same Prof. Italo Valente, accompanied by Attorney Gesualdo Marotta, Knight of Merit with Silver Star and by Prof. Valerio Stefano Sacco and S. Magg. Antonio Sommese, Knights of Office.
Among the various personalities present were the Governor of the Campania Region, Hon. Vincenzo De Luca; the Mayor of Salerno, Vincenzo Napoli; the Deputy Piero De Luca; the Prefect Francesco Esposito; the Police Commissioner Giancarlo Conticchio; the Councilor Francesco Morra representing of the province of Salerno; the Councilor for Social Policies Paola De Roberto; various representatives of the municipal administration and the provincial leaders of the Guardia di Finanza (of which San Matteo is the Patron Saint), the Carabinieri, the Police , the Port Authority, the Army, the Fire Brigade, etc.
At the end of the morning, the Constantinian Representative went to the Archbishop’s Palace to greet Archbishop Andrea Bellandi, who, inside the beautiful hall of the so-called Temple of Pomona (a probable pagan temple dedicated to the goddess, which stands to the left of the Archbishop’s palace), welcomed the priests, deacons and some of the Mass attendees.
Prof. Antonio De Stefano brought greetings from the Delegate, thanking the Archbishop for the welcome invitation. The Archbishop reciprocated the greetings to the Delegate, expressing his warmest thanks and appreciation for the participation of the Constantinian knights in the solemn pontifical Mass in honor of the Patron Saint.
