Mafia
The Pope, the Mafia, and the rest of us
By Martin E. Marty — September 19, 2017
So here we have the unquestioned leader of the largest religious organization/communion in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, taking on the presumably most powerful organizational embodiment of crime, at least in the Western world. Who noticed?
On Maundy Thursday, Pope Francis washes the feet of 12 prisoners
By Josephine McKenna — April 13, 2017
ROME (RNS) The 12 inmates who took part included a Muslim who is expected to be baptized as a Catholic in June, three women and two men serving life terms.
Pope Francis’ 2 new Italian archbishops ‘attentive to poor’
By Rosie Scammell — October 27, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Both appointments are seen as strategic for the pontiff’s push to create a “poor church.”
Italian Catholic Church scrambles to explain its role in lavish Mafia boss funeral
By Rosie Scammell — August 23, 2015
ROME (RNS) In the days following the funeral, the church tried to distance itself from the spectacle, with Auxiliary Bishop Giuseppe Mariante stating church officials did not know the ceremony would be accompanied by “Mafia propaganda.”
Pope Francis to mafia: Repent and all will be forgiven
By Reuters — February 23, 2015
The Lord is waiting for you and the Church will welcome you if your willingness to serve good is as clear and public as your choice to serve evil was," Pope Francis said.
Mafia ‘betray the gospel,’ Italian bishops say in rare rebuke
By Josephine McKenna — January 2, 2015
ROME (RNS) Bishops from the heart of Mafia country broke their silence and denounced organized crime, just two days after Pope Francis called for a "conversion" from the mob's sinful ways.
Italian priest, unfazed by death threats, goes after the Mafia
By Josephine McKenna — October 23, 2014
ROME (RNS) The Rev. Luigi Ciotti has had police escorts before, but when a notorious Sicilian boss issued a death threat from his jail cell a couple of months ago, the authorities immediately doubled Ciotti's protection.
Why is Pope Francis spending so much time going after the Mafia?
By Josephine McKenna — July 21, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With his second trip to the heart of Italy's Mafia country, experts are debating the impact of Pope Francis' uncompromising stance against organized crime and what it means for his papacy.
Religious procession past Mafia boss’ home irks Italy’s Catholic clergy
By Josephine McKenna — July 7, 2014
ROME (RNS) Catholic bishops condemned the detour of the traditional procession, which carried a statue of the Madonna past the house of 82-year-old Peppe Mazzagatti, a Mafia boss under house arrest.
Italian archbishop calls for 10-year ban on godparents to stop Mafia infiltration
By Josephine McKenna — July 2, 2014
ROME (RNS) Now that the pope has signaled he wants to challenge Italy’s organized crime groups, an Italian archbishop is suggesting a 10-year moratorium on naming godfathers at baptisms.
Pope Francis says Mafia members are ‘excommunicated’
By Josephine McKenna — June 23, 2014
ROME (RNS) Francis' determination to challenge organized crime groups has provoked warnings that he himself could become a mafia target.
Pope Francis to visit the heart of Italy’s mafia country
By Josephine McKenna — June 19, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis' frank determination to challenge organized crime groups has sparked warnings that he could become a mafia target. Last May, he warned mobsters that they would "go to hell" if they did not repent.
Mob threats aside, Pope Francis will pray with victims of organized crime
By Eric J. Lyman — March 17, 2014
ROME (RNS) In November, famed anti-mob prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said Pope Francis’ financial reforms at the Vatican were making the Calabrian mob “very nervous" and could prompt death threats.
Vatican downplays mob threats against Pope Francis
By Eric J. Lyman — November 15, 2013
ROME (RNS) The Vatican's chief spokesman told reporters on Friday that the Vatican was “extremely calm” regarding a possible mob threat against Pope Francis.
Prosecutor warns of a mob threat against Pope Francis
By Eric J. Lyman — November 13, 2013
ROME (RNS) Pope Francis has spoken out strongly against organized crime in the past, specifically naming the country's four main organized crime groups last May.
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