Pope takes on the Mafia and international corruption

By Christine Duhaime | August 6th, 2017

The Vatican’s justice branch has released its statement emanating from its recent anti-Mafia meeting with global law enforcement agencies to take-down the Mafia around the world through excommunication, if necessary.

The Pope believes that he can make a difference in eradicating the Mafia and transactional criminal organizations through the reach of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church has committed to use its reach to address, in particular, countries that are rife with corrupt persons that cause suffering as a result (where for example the rule of law does not prevail).

 

A new group was established to take on the Mafia and corruption and its goals include:

  • Define the Mafia so that people understand it, and explain the relevance of the rule of law, and in particular the Palermo Convention;
  • Help foster a culture globally of respect for the law;
  • Teach about the consequences of corruption;
  • Envourage International agencies to follow international treaties on corruption and organized crime;
  • Tell the stories of victims of the Mafia and of corruption so that people understand the harm that comes to regular people;
  • Locate and foster relationships with institutions and thought leaders in the space; and
  • Publish magazine, stories, newsletters and hold conferences to address the issues.

On June 15, the International Consultation Group for justice, corruption, organized crime and mafia, part of the Vatican dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, organized an International Debate on Corruption. The event, hosted in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, drew some 50 participants from all over the world, including anti-mafia and anti-corruption magistrates, bishops, Vatican officials, representatives from the U.N. and various States, heads of movements, victims and ambassadors.

On July 15, 2017, (summarized here), the Pope said that taking down the Mafia and those who support them, is necessary to save humanity.

The reference to the Palermo Convention is among the goals because it is the international treaty dealing with global anti-money laundering law that is the basis for the criminalization of moving, dealing with, accepting etc. proceeds of crime from one country to another, which prohibits banks from wiring proceeds of crime internationally.

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