Rome, Italy, Mar 13, 2016 / 15:02 pm
Reports that the valuable treasure of St. Januarius will be placed in the hands of the Vatican rather than the city of Naples are inaccurate, says a monsignor who oversees the assets.
"The information given by newspapers is completely misleading. The decree of the Italian Ministry for Internal Affairs is intended to heal a legal problem that has not been fixed until now," Msgr. Vincenzo De Gregorio, Abbot prelate of the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro told CNA.
"I would like to stress at first that the chapel of the treasure of St. Januarius is completely owned by the City of Naples, and it is completely autonomous: this is fully acknowledged by the Ministry," he added. "The chapel of the Treasury of St. January is considered of 'lay property' with a statute issued by Pius XI in 1927."
Earlier this week, about 3,000 people in Naples, Italy stood in front of the San Gennaro (the Italian pronunciation of the saint's name) museum and chapel Saturday, waving white handkerchiefs and shouting "Hands off San Gennaro."