Address some of the most serious emergencies in the Naples area: poverty and youth unemployment. This is the objective of the two social welfare projects that the archbishop (and next cardinal) Mimmo Battaglia decided, with the support of Foundation With the South, to achieve. It’s about the “Casa Bartimeo” Charity Center and of MUDD – Widespread Diocesan Museum of Naples, presented Friday morning during a press conference.
Casa Bartimeo will be built in the complex of the Basilica of San Pietro ad Aram, along Corso Umberto I, one of the main arteries of the city, and represents an act of profound attention to a difficult area, characterized by major social, cultural and educational problems. Here we intend to play a crucial role, offering welcome and assistance, both material and moral, to those who find themselves in vulnerable conditions, providing concrete responses to the daily needs of those living in poverty through a variety of services, including hospitality, listening, job placement opportunities, and artistic and cultural activities capable of generating beauty and social redemption.
The MUDD – a project in which Fondazione con il Sud will double the initial capital raised – was born from a new vision of the Church of Naples: return its artistic and religious heritage to the city and visitors, while addressing the challenge of youth unemployment. In a context in which many monumental churches in the historic center of Naples risk closing, the MUDD aims to guarantee their ordinary opening, making them accessible not only to tourists but also to Neapolitan citizens. The Diffuse Diocesan Museum, which will officially start in 2025 with the valorisation of the Cathedral of Naplesthe historic center of the city will become a living, inclusive and accessible museum.
«Two years ago», explained Archbishop Don Mimmo Battaglia, «speaking to young people during World Youth Day, I announced to them that our Church of Naples has a great heritage of art, churches, land and, thanks to their work supported by a Commission that has studied the heritage, we can now develop youth entrepreneurship that becomes generative for the social life of our territory. Casa Bartimeo in San Pietro ad Aram and the Diocesan Diffuso Museum will be the two torches of hope to be lit in the next Jubilee, the first fruits of the Third Sector commitment of the Church of Naples”.
For several months the Neapolitan Curia has decided to equip itself with two new operational tools, Archdiocese of Naples – ETS Branch – the branch of the Third Sector of the Neapolitan Church, an organization that works in favor of the poor of the city together with Caritas, sharing its principles and operating methods – which will deal with the marginal and marginalized groups of Naples and “Napoli C’entro” Foundation, a reality that will launch job placement projects for young people through the valorisation and recovery of part of the impressive heritage of churches available to the Neapolitan diocese. Accompanying the Church will be the Con il Sud Foundation which will co-finance the projects by doubling the capital raised thanks to the generosity of some partners who have decided to invest in the future of our city: the Neapolitan Province of the Friars Minor, the Grimaldi Foundation, the San Gennaro EF Community Foundation , Archconfraternity of Pilgrims and the Campania Region.
He also spoke at the press conference Don Antonio Loffredo, vice-president of the “Napoli C’entro” Foundation: «It’s about a visionary idea that starts from the bottom and aims to encourage the participation and inclusion of local communities», he explained, «a Participation Foundation that was created first and foremost to put the precious and fruitful, material and immaterial seed of its history, its art and its culture in the hearts of Neapolitans, especially young people. A wonderful shared dream: that of delivering to the city and its young people, that heritage of humanity that the world envies us, confident that, in this fertile land, the assets will flourish and bear numerous fruits”.
With a view to sharing and community, it was also launched “For Charity”, fundraising campaign which aims to raise funds to be allocated to strengthening the projects already implemented by the Church of Naples and Caritas and to give life to new realities that intercept the needs of the many who live in marginal conditions. The campaign is aimed at everyone because a small gesture by many can become a great work: the appeal to donate therefore goes to the Neapolitan citizens, to the faithful, to the entrepreneurial forces and to those who believe in a project of welcome and sharing, where there is a firm belief in the fact that we need to move “from the strength of dreams to the concreteness of signs”, as Battaglia has often repeated, giving the inspiration for the claim of the “Pe’ Carità” campaign. It will be possible to find out how to donate on the Caritas website of Naples, in the donate now section, and in the parishes of the diocese of Naples.
«With the establishment of the Ets branch of the archdiocese of Naples», he explainsto Sister Marisa Pitrella, director of Caritas of Naples, «we finally have a useful tool to “do good well” and to also improve our daily work alongside the least and most marginal. The first work of this branch will be the Casa Bartimeo, a house of welcome, inclusion and charity in the heart of Naples which will include a residential community, a clinic and the diocesan listening centre, it is a tangible sign of Caritas’ commitment to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable”.
The project not only responds to the immediate needs of the territory, but represents a Sign Work for the entire archdiocese. It is a strong symbol of ecclesial commitment and of the attempt to build a new and integrated social sustainability model, a real appeal to the community to actively unite, sharing resources, time and skills to build together a better future for those who are “guilty” only of finding themselves in poverty. A speech that received full approval and concrete support from the Con il Sud Foundation which decided to co-finance the project, doubling the capital raised.
“In such a difficult moment,” he underlined Stefano Consiglio, president of Fondazione Con il Sud«the meaning of our action is measured by the ability to work together with those who share objectives. We must strengthen the cohesion of those in the territories who try to improve things. Underline the importance of the Dioceses. Underline the desire to replicate the exemplary projects carried out. Create links between the many projects. We start from Naples but we work to extend this collaboration to other cities and other dioceses.”
«A visionary idea – explains Don Antonio Loffredo, vice-president of the Foundation – which starts from the bottom and aims to encourage the participation and inclusion of local communities. A Participatory Foundation that was created first and foremost to put the precious and fruitful, material and immaterial seed of its history, its art and its culture in the hearts of Neapolitans, especially young people. A wonderful shared dream: that of delivering to the city and its young people, that heritage of humanity that the world envies us, confident that, in this fertile land, the assets will flourish and bear numerous fruits”. With the Diffuse Diocesan Museum, which will officially start in 2025 with the valorization of the Cathedral of Naples, the historic center of the city will become a living, inclusive and accessible museum.
