The procession of the relics of San Gennaro scheduled for Naples on Saturday 2 May goes towards the annulment, due to coronavirus. It would be the first time that such an event has occurred. The curia has not yet been officially expressed but sources of the Deputation of San Gennaro, the ancient association that takes care of the custody of the patron's relics, underline that "common sense suggests a stop" regardless of the extension in Italy of the lockdown.
"A stop of the procession? It has never happened before - says historian Paolo Jorio, director of the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro - Even during the war it was not stopped". A possible celebration should be behind closed doors, without faithful, as Riccardo Imperiali of Francavilla, of the Deputation of San Gennaro hypothesizes. "The procession is to be excluded due to the inevitable promiscuity of the situation, with many people rubbing shoulders with the elbows - he says - It would be desirable to have a ceremony in the Chapel with a symbolic procession inside, so as not to interrupt the tradition". And, if necessary, to foresee, for the Eucharistic celebrations, the "presence of Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe and a delegation from the Deputation, together with a religious representation". "It would be very sad - Imperiali di Francavilla continues - but in this sense respect for the measures must prevail and the good example must start from the institutions. Our Saint protects us even without the procession. In any case, the prayers of May 2 will be all aimed at ending this epidemic. " The procession of the saint's relics has been taking place for centuries from the Duomo to the Basilica of Santa Chiara, crossing the heart of the city on the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of May. It is one of the three annual events in which the faithful await the liquefaction of the blood of the patron saint of Naples and Campania: the other dates of the prodigy are September 19 and December 16.
