.A statue of St. Padre Pio is seen outside one of the so-called Sails of Scampia, a tower block known as a stronghold of Naples mafia, during the demolition of the tower in Naples, Italy, Feb. 20, 2020. A new department at the Pontifical Marian International Academy is dedicated to the analysis, studying and monitoring of criminal and mafia-related phenomena. (CNS photo/Ciro De Luca, Reuters) .Pope Francis presents flowers as he visits the site where Father Pino Puglisi was killed by the Mafia in 1993, during his visit to Palermo, Italy, in this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo. A new department at the Pontifical Marian International Academy is dedicated to the analysis, studying and monitoring of criminal and mafia-related phenomena. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)
Knisja u Mafja is a new book by Robert Aloisio to be launched on the occasion of the beatification of Judge Rosario Livatino on May 9.
When the Italian police arrested Bernardo Provenzano on April 11, 2006 after 43 years on the run, everyone was amazed at how the head of Cosa Nostra, the powerful Sicilian mafia, was hiding in a poor place, living a simple life.
But what most people overlooked was the fact that his hideout was full of holy pictures and statues, symbols of the Catholic faith and instruments of prayer.
Aloisio writes that at first he dismissed this as an insignificant detail related to Provenzano, but his research revealed that almost all mafiosi are religious people who claim to do what they do with good intentions.
Pope Francis agrees to beatify Italian anti-Mafia judge Livatino
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Pope Francis
Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of a slain Italian anti-Mafia judge, paving the way for his beatification, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
Rosario Livatino was shot dead by members of the Stidda, the Mafia organization from Agrigento, Sicily, on September 21, 1990, a couple of weeks away before his 38th birthday.
Beatification is one step removed from sainthood, or canonization.
Following the pope’s decision, Livatino is expected be beatified in a Mass in the coming months.
The late judge was a deeply religious man, according to Archbishop Vincenzo Bertolone, the Catholic priest who is promoting Livatino’s sainthood cause at the Vatican.
Pope Francis agrees to beatify Italian anti-Mafia judge, Livatino premiumtimesng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from premiumtimesng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.