Facing the exceptional heat wave affecting Naples, the Archdiocese, with the support of the diocesan Caritas, promoted a significant solidarity initiative by opening some of the city’s monumental churches and diocesan welfare facilities as climate refuges, resting places, and refreshment points for the most vulnerable and homeless people. Among them is the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, the reference church for the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. The Delegation has expressed its full support for the spirit of the initiative, announcing its willingness to collaborate concretely with the ecclesial and volunteer organizations involved.

Once again, the face of a Church emerges with strength, faithful to its evangelizing mission, transforming its places of worship into spaces of proximity and service, offering not only a cool and safe environment but above all welcome, listening, and dignity to those living in particularly vulnerable situations. In a time when climate emergencies increasingly affect especially the most vulnerable, this network of solidarity represents a concrete testimony of Christian charity, able to combine the protection of the person with the living presence of the ecclesial community in the city fabric. The Naples and Campania Delegation, in keeping with the charitable aims of the Constantinian Order, intends to offer its contribution so that this initiative can translate into genuine service to others, confirming that acts of charitable action constitute one of the fundamental pillars of Constantinian spirituality and activity.

A network of welcome to face the heat emergency

In the face of the exceptional temperatures affecting the City of Naples, the Archdiocese, with the support of Caritas Diocesana, promoted an extraordinary solidarity and hospitality initiative, making available some of the most important monumental churches in the historic center and the diocesan welfare facilities as climate refuges intended to welcome the most fragile people and the homeless.

The initiative, launched starting Friday, 26 June 2026, arises from the desire to offer a concrete response to an emergency that particularly affects the elderly, the lonely, and citizens in social vulnerability, providing cool environments, refreshment points, and spaces where to take shelter during the hottest hours of the day.

The network of welcome

  • Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore: open Thursday morning and Saturday morning.
  • Church of Saints Philip and James: open Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore: open Tuesday and Thursday.
  • The Welcome Platform: open every day.

In each of these facilities there will be welcome, fresh water, refreshments, and the possibility to stay in a safe, climate-controlled environment, so that no one has to face the consequences of the heat wave alone.

The Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore and the commitment of the Delegation

Of particular significance is the presence, among the places identified by the Archdiocese, of the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore (photo above), the reference church of the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George at the Oratorio del Santissimo Crocifisso, the Grand Chapel in Naples.

The Naples and Campania Delegation has welcomed this initiative with firm support, inviting everyone to become aware of it and expressing full readiness to concretely support the activities promoted by the Archdiocese.

Fully sharing the evangelical spirit that animates this project, the Delegation will actively engage in collaborating with the ecclesial and volunteer realities involved, offering its service to the most needy.

A concrete testimony of Christian charity

As emphasized by the Rector of the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore, Father Salvatore Giuliano, Chaplain of Merit of the Constantinian Order and Dean of the Historic Center of Naples, the goal is not only to offer a cool place but to make the presence of the Church felt: “We have decided to keep the basilica open even during the warmest hours of the day so that those living on the street can find some refreshment. We simply offer a glass of water, a cool place to stop, and a discreet welcome. We are not doing anything extraordinary: the meal service is already guaranteed by the Binario della Solidarietà and the Mensa del Carmine, which do valuable work. We want to be a sign of closeness, to make these people feel that they are not alone and that there is a Church that opens its doors and welcomes them.”

These are simple but profoundly meaningful gestures, testifying that churches can become authentic “oases of refreshment and proximity,” capable of transforming ecclesial heritage into a network of concrete solidarity.