Bordeaux- Pope Francis has made it clear he wants to dismantle centres of economic power in the Vatican to bring more transparency. According to leading anti-mob prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, the Italian mafia is not pleased and might take actions against him.
Bordeaux– Pope Francis has made it clear he wants to dismantle centres of economic power in the Vatican to bring more transparency. According to leading anti-mob prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, the Italian mafia is not pleased and might take actions against him.
Nicola Gratteri, a magistrate in the southern city of Reggio Calabria, said the Pontiff’s ambition to bring down financial corruption in the Vatican has angered the bosses of the ‘Ndrangheta. The brutal crime syndicate from Calabria is said to rule Europe’s cocaine trade, and is known for its cold assassinations.
“If the bosses could trip him up they wouldn’t hesitate. I don’t know if organised criminals are in a position to do something, but they are certainly thinking about it. They could be dangerous,” the leading anti-mob prosecutor has warned.
Pope Francis, who is in favor of “a poor church”, wants a reform of the Vatican’s bank, which has been suspected for years of being a channel for the laundering of mob profits. Italian police recently have sequestrated Rome’s luxury Grand Hotel Gianicolo, which the Mariani family, a key member of the ‘Ndrangheta, bought from the church with crime money.
‘Ndrangheta members are all very religious, pray before killing and ask Virgin Mary for protection. The mafia and the church have walked hand in hand for years, the Vatican often turning a blind eye to the mobsters’ activities.
In May, Pope Francis strongly criticized members of the Mafia for “exploiting and enslaving people,” and called on them to repent.
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