Pope faces threat from the mafia?

[T@T]

Pope Francis' crusade against corruption in the Catholic Church, including an overhaul of the scandal-scarred Vatican Bank, has put the new pontiff in the Italian mafia's crosshairs, according to two organized crime experts.

"The strong will of Pope Francis, aiming to disrupt the gangrene power centers, puts him at risk. He disturbs the mafia very much," Nicola Gratteri, a top anti-mafia prosecutor in Italy, told CNN on Thursday.
"I don't have precise information about a plan of the mafia against Pope Francis," Gratteri continued. "But if I did, I wouldn't say."

In May, the Vatican Bank, officially known as the Institute for Religious Works, issued its first-ever report (http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/22/news/world/vatican-finances/index.html?iid=EL) on money laundering, an apparent attempt to improve its financial transparency.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/14/prosecutor-pope-faces-mafia-threat/?hpt=hp_t2

[1stLand]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/14/prosecutor-pope-faces-mafia-threat/?hpt=hp_t2

Fata.
This was already covered in The Godfather Part III

[Minnie]

What in the orange hell is a 'gangrene power center?' :lol: Besides a member of the Oilers, I mean.

[To Be Quite Honest]

This corruption in the Italian political system is ancient compared to most. The only reason for change is that someone made a better deal...

[Dion]

http://www.burnabrain.com/wp-content/uploads/popemobile.jpg

[Daradon]

Cool story, though I'm not saying that someone harming the pope is cool. But he's doing something right obviously.

I really like this new pontiff, he's done some great things. I'm a little torn though cause theirs so much more he could do. Top on the list is rooting out pedophilia and punishing priests. Don't know how rampant it still is, but they really haven't addressed the issue, just made Rob Ford style apologies.

They also need to not only get off the 'contraception is bad' train but actively promote it in regions they messed up in the first place with that teaching. Like the Philippines and Africa. So many problems caused in those regions by those teachings. Unwanted kids who just end up street kids, spread of disease, etc.

Still though, this Pope has been nothing but positive so far. He's turning things around. One is not going to get a complete 180 overnight anywhere, but especially in an organization as bloated at the Vatican and the Catholic Church.

P.S. the term gangrene power center is implying the power center of the church is very corrupt, which it is. IE it's rotten, like something with gangrene.