Salerno rapper Rocco Hunt, whose legal name is Rocco Pagliarulo, was reported beneath the statue of San Matteo during Salerno's procession for its patron saint.
Il Mattino Salerno reported his presence under the statue and connected it to his grandfather, also named Rocco Pagliarulo. According to that report, his grandfather had recently died and had been a historic bearer of the patron's statue.
San Matteo is the patron saint of Salerno, and the procession in his honour is a major religious and civic event for the city.
The traditional procession takes place on 21 September. According to the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, it includes the simulacra of San Matteo, San Giuseppe, San Gregorio VII, San Gaio, Sant'Ante and San Fortunato.
For readers following the celebration, the route context helps explain the day. Reporting on the 2024 procession described large crowds along the route, with civic and religious representatives taking part. The procession included a stop on the seafront, an arrival at Palazzo di Città, and the traditional return of the statues to the Duomo.
The closing moment is distinctive. The procession includes a traditional final "corsa" of the statue on the steps of the Duomo di Salerno, followed by the return inside the cathedral.
The Archdiocese notes that the relics of San Matteo arrived in Salerno in 954, and identifies 21 September as the date of the annual procession tradition.
