Naples church to become social pizzeria for inmate reintegration

The historic Santa Caterina de’ Celani chapel in Naples is being transformed into a social pizzeria through the “Brigata Caterina” project. This initiative aims to provide professional training and vocational opportunities to help inmates and former inmates reintegrate into society.

A formal agreement has been signed involving the Archdiocese of Naples, the Municipality of Naples, the Surveillance Court, the Pasquale Mandato prison in Secondigliano, and the Interdistrict Office for External Penal Execution (Uiepe) for Campania. The project also includes the social enterprise cooperative Consul Service.

The initiative seeks to achieve dual goals: urban regeneration of an abandoned historic space in the city center and concrete social inclusion. By teaching the craft of pizza making, the project intends to create a pathway from professional training to actual employment opportunities.