Vatican downplays mob threats against Pope Francis

Eric J. Lyman

ROME (RNS) The Vatican on Friday downplayed reported mob threats against Pope Francis, just two days after a high-profile anti-mafia prosecutor said Francis could be a target from the ‘Ndrangheta mafia organization in southern Italy.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican’s chief spokesman, told reporters on Friday (Nov. 15) that the Vatican was “extremely calm” regarding a possible mob threat against the pope.

“There is absolutely no reason for concern, no need to feed alarmism,” Lombardi said.

The statement comes a day after Francis traveled the three miles between the Vatican City and the Quirinale Palace in Rome with his normal staff and without a police escort or any additional security to visit Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/11/15/vatican-downplays-mafia-threats-pope-francis/