Cappella Sansevero director resigns over Italy's Green Pass mandate

Fabrizio Masucci, president and director of the Cappella Sansevero in Naples, resigned after nearly 11 years in protest of Italy's Green Pass requirement for museum access, effective August 6, 2021. In an open letter titled "Un passo di lato," Masucci argued that the mandate is not epidemiologically justified for museums, which already enforce strict safety measures (temperature checks, staggered entry, masks, distancing, one-way routes). He claimed the Green Pass is a tool to boost vaccination rates, not a health measure specific to museums, and that instrumentalizing museums for external goals undermines their inclusive mission. Masucci proposed making museums a "neutral space" free from societal divisions. His resignation was criticized by the article's authors, who argue museums should actively support public health efforts. The Cappella Sansevero will continue normal operations under the Green Pass system. Masucci remains on the board unpaid, succeeded by his sister Maria Alessandra Masucci.