mafia

The Latest

Giuseppe Pignatone.

Vatican Court president under investigation for alleged complicity with Sicilian Mafia

On July 31, Giuseppe Pignatone was summoned to testify in court in Sicily for alleged complicity and cover-up of the... Read more

Blessed Rosario Livatino.

Relic of martyr killed by Mafia to be used in prison ministry in Naples

Feb 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The relics of Blessed Rosario Livatino, a Catholic judge brutally killed by the mafia in 1990, will be brought to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy on Oct. 30, 2023, at the Vatican.

‘You are not alone’: Pope Francis meets women who escaped the Mafia

Oct 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Monday encouraged a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy to keep fighting despite fear... Read more

Father Antonio Coluccia, “anti-Mafia” priest in Rome.

Rome Diocese expresses solidarity with anti-Mafia priest following attempted assassination

Aug 31, 2023

By Ary Waldir Ramos Díaz

On Tuesday, the priest was participating in a march for law and order and against the Mafia when a man... Read more

Pope Francis sits in front of an image of Blessed Giuseppe "Don Pino" Puglisi during a meeting with young people in the Archdiocese of Palermo, on the Italian island region Sicily, on Sept. 15, 2018.

‘All the way in love’: Pope Francis praises example of Mafia-slain priest

Aug 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis published a letter to mark the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Giuseppe “Don Pino” Puglisi. Read more

The faithful venerate a relic of Blessed Rosario Livatino at the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro, Italy, Jan. 20, 2023.

Blood-stained shirt of beatified judge killed by Mafia displayed in Rome

Jan 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday, the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro welcomed the relic for a few hours with a ceremony and... Read more

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Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples on feast day

Sep 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The blood of St. Januarius liquefied on Monday at a Mass in Naples, where the archbishop sharply condemned the city’s... Read more

Baptism.

Godfather ban: Sicilian Catholic diocese suspends naming of godparents at baptism for 3 years

Oct 20, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A decree issued by the archbishop of Catania came into full effect this month. Read more

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples, Italy.

‘They are killing Naples’: Catholic archbishop appeals for an end to mafia violence

Oct 12, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia’s appeal followed a spate of deadly violence. Read more

Mafia. Public Domain via Pixabay.

Vatican creates group to study separating mafia from the Catholic Church

May 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The group is being established in honor of Rosario Livatino, a Catholic judge killed by the mafia. Read more

Rosario Livatino.

Rosario Livatino beatified in Sicily, honored as ‘martyr of justice and faith’

May 9, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Blessed Rosario Livatino, a Catholic judge brutally killed by the mafia in 1990, was beatified Sunday in the Cathedral of... Read more

Martyred Italian judge Rosario Livatino (1952-1990). Public domain.

Pope Francis: Martyred Catholic judge showed mafia’s ‘intrinsic denial of the Gospel’

Mar 31, 2021

In the preface to a new book, Pope Francis says that the martyrdom of Italian Catholic judge Rosario Livatino in... Read more

Pope Francis gives the Angelus address Jan. 17, 2021.

Pope Francis: It is our Christian duty to help people know Jesus

Mar 21, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said Sunday it is our Christian duty to help people know Jesus, which we cannot do without giving... Read more

Cardinal says Italy is seeing a surge of ‘new poor’ amid the pandemic

Jan 26, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

An Italian cardinal said Tuesday the country is seeing a surge of “new poor” due to the coronavirus pandemic, and... Read more

Martyred Italian judge Rosario Livatino (1952-1990). Public domain.

Rosario Livatino: Not even criminal defendants spoke badly of martyred judge

Jan 22, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Rosario Livatino, a young judge who was killed in 1990 by the mafia for his efforts to combat organized crime... Read more

Fr. Giuseppe Livatino, postulator and cousin of martyred judge Rosario Livatino. Credit: www.piolatorre.it.

Rosario Livatino’s postulator: Christians urgently need ‘credible witnesses’

Jan 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The postulator of the beatification cause of a judge martyred by the mafia says that Christians today urgently need “credible... Read more

Notices highlight the death of Rosario Livatino in 1990. Credit: Rosario Livatino Study Center.

How a martyr killed by the mafia inspired a generation of Catholic lawyers

Jan 8, 2021

Soon-to-be Blessed Rosario Livatino was a Catholic judge brutally killed by the mafia in Sicily in 1990. Today his legal... Read more

Judge Rosario Livatino. Public domain.

Judge killed by mafia to be beatified

Dec 22, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of Rosario Livatino, a judge who was brutally killed by the mafia on his... Read more

Judge Rosario Livatino. Public domain

Judge killed by mafia 30 years ago is a candidate for sainthood

Sep 21, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Thirty years ago Judge Rosario Livatino was brutally killed by the mafia on his commute to work at a courthouse... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome April 27, 2017.

Cardinal calls for Marian devotion to be protected from mafia exploitation

Sep 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

During a visit to a Marian shrine in southern Italy this week the Vatican Secretary of State issued a warning... Read more