Pope In Sicily To Honour 'Martyr' Priest Killed By Mafia

Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he leaves following a visit to Piazza Armerina, central Sicily, on September 15, 2018. Pope Francis pays a one-day pastoral visit on September 15 to the Dioceses of Piazza Armerina and Palermo in Sicily, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the killing by the mafia of Sicilian priest Pino Puglisi. Tiziana FABI / AFP


Pope Francis arrived in Sicily on Saturday to pay homage to a priest murdered by the mafia 25 years ago while trying to save youngsters in poor neighbourhoods from falling into their hands.
The brief visit, which will see the 81-year-old pontiff stay on the Italian island until evening, is part of a wider campaign he has been waging against organised crime.

Before arriving in Palermo to hold a mass in honour of Father Giuseppe “Pino” Puglisi, Francis stopped in Piazza Armerina, a small impoverished town in central Sicily.

“The wounds which afflict you are many, and they have a name: social and cultural under-development, the exploitation of workers and a lack of decent work for young people,” he said to widespread applause.

Although he didn’t mention organised crime, he spoke about “extortionate money-lending” and “gambling”.

The trip will be dedicated to Puglisi, who served as parish priest in the rough Palermo neighbourhood of Brancaccio for two years, trying to engage local youngsters and keep them away from drugs and the mafia suppliers.

But on September 15, 1993 his 56th birthday — he was shot dead at point-