Italian anti - mob movement says Pope faces threat from the mafia . Many suspect that the Mafias and sundry other shady cabals have for years been concealing money under the noses of bishops and cardinals . Pope Paul says Francis represents serious threat to his criminal interests . Mafias originated in 1860 but Pope did n't explicitly mention the mafia until 1993 . Dickie says killing the Pope would be a ` ` catastrophic own goal '' for the mafias .
Italian anti - mob movement says Pope faces threat from the mafia . Pope Paul says Francis represents serious threat to his criminal interests . Mafias originated in 1860 but Pope did n't explicitly mention the mafia until 1993 . Dickie says killing the Pope would be a ` ` catastrophic own goal '' for the mafias .