Italian anti-mob prosecutor says Pope faces threat from the mafia . John Dickie says Francis represents serious threat to established criminal interests . Religion offers the Mafias a way to bind their organizations together , and gives them the feeling that they are extorting and killing in the name of a cause more noble than their own greed . Comment: Dickie says killing the Pope would be a `` catastrophic own goal '' for the mafias .
Italian anti-mob prosecutor says Pope faces threat from the mafia . John Dickie says Francis represents serious threat to established criminal interests . Comment: Dickie says killing the Pope would be a `` catastrophic own goal '' for the mafias .