Today, at the Archbishop's Palace in Largo Donnaregina in Naples, a protocol was signed involving the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Naples, represented by Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, the Archdiocese of Naples, represented by Metropolitan Archbishop Monsignor Domenico Battaglia, and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, represented by the Director General, Attorney Luigi La Rocca.
This protocol is aimed at promoting initiatives aimed at protecting and enhancing the cultural assets belonging to the Archbishop's Curia of Naples, which constitute a significant part of the rich historical and artistic heritage of the historic center of Naples, already recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1995. The Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, was present during the signing.
The protocol aims to implement what is established by Article 9 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Cultural Heritage Code. Furthermore, it refers to the agreement signed on 26 January 2005 between the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, regarding the protection of cultural assets of religious interest belonging to ecclesiastical bodies and institutions.
According to this legislation, a common interest emerges on the part of the Prosecutor's Office, the Diocese and the Superintendency in providing forms of collaboration with mutual exchange of information and shared interventions. The objective is to achieve a legal and transparent management of the assets of archaeological, artistic and historical interest owned by the Diocese and other ecclesiastical entities under the supervision of the Ordinary. This collaboration offers methodological support for activities of conservation, protection and enhancement of architectural and cultural assets, also considering their symbolic value.
To this end, this protocol will ensure a constant exchange of information and mutual collaboration, mainly focused on:
Counteract the illegal occupation of properties owned by the Diocese, which are particularly interesting from a historical and artistic point of view.
Counteract unauthorized building and urban planning activities, which may significantly affect the stability of the assets, representing a source of danger for public or private safety. Furthermore, we will intervene on practices that seriously compromise the public enjoyment of the asset or determine a significant compromise of its historical and artistic value.
Counteract actions of damage, devastation and looting of buildings, as well as objects of art or of historical, artistic and archival interest owned by the Diocese.
Carry out a survey of the historical and artistic assets subjected to criminal seizure over the years and entrusted to the judicial custody of the Superintendency or to premises and warehouses of the Diocese. Through a detailed inventory, the current legal status will be verified, ascertaining whether assignment and confiscation orders have been issued following the original seizure and custody orders.
Analyze the judicial documents not covered by investigative seizure and the available archive documents to trace the original provenance of the goods still in storage.
Carry out a survey of the state of spoliation regarding the main monuments subject to constraints by the Superintendency.
For the complete implementation of the protocol, the referents for the coordination activities are identified in the figures of the Public Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri and the Deputy Prosecutor Pierpaolo Filippelli, the Coordinator of the Legal Service, Francesco Greco, the Director of the Cultural Heritage Office - Archbishop Delegate for relations with the Superintendency Giacomo Equestre, and Luigi La Rocca and the architect Sara Orabona for the Superintendency.
Article published on November 28, 2023 - 17:42
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