A local Catholic Church procession deviated from its planned course in the town of Oppido Mamertina in Calabria, Italy, to pay respects to a mafia leader confined under house arrest.  It’s being condemned by the Italian government and is seen as a challenge to the authority of Pope Francis.

On 21 June 21, Pope Francis visited Calabria to denounce the mafia, and specifically to publicly excommunicate all members of the ‘Ndrangheta crime family, which he singled out for its “adoration of evil”.  The ‘Ndrangheta controls much of the cocaine trade, and makes billions of Euros on unsafe disposal of toxic chemicals which foul the local environment. 

On 2 July, the town’s mayor and clergy led the procession for the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, taking a statue of the Virgin Mary past the home of the 82-year old mobster, who is serving a conviction under house arrest because of his advanced age (really, check out the video.. It looks like a scene from “The Godfather, Part II”).  Angry police walked off the procession line and went to the local church to demand an explanation.  The bishop promised an investigation.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano denounced the tribute as “deplorable and disgusting”.  Calabria’s anti-Mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said the special favor to detour the parade to pass the mobster’s house appeared to be a direct “challenge” to the authority of Pope Francis.