Boss of Bosses: A Journey Into the Heart of the Sicilian Mafia by Clare Longrigg

Author:Clare Longrigg [Longrigg, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General, Biography & Autobiography, Biography, Murder, True Crime, Social Science, Sociology, Serial Killers, Mafia, Italy, Organized Crime, Criminals & Outlaws, Mafiosi, Mafia - Italy - History, Provenzano; Bernardo, Mafiosi - Italy
ISBN: 0312533942
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2009-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Keep God on your side

‘May the lord bless you and keep you . . . know that where I can be of use to you, with the will of God, I am completely at your disposal . . .’

Provenzano’s letters, each one signed off in the same way, read like the parish priest’s homily. He would send tracts copied from the Bible to his followers. His show of religious fervour was an important part of the process of rehabilitating Cosa Nostra after the devastation of Riina’s regime.

The Mafia has always laid claim to the religious high ground. ‘The mafioso has God behind him’, writes the editor of the Catholic magazine Segno. ‘His life is at one with the will and the law of God, in relation to which his role is as a kind of official priest and representative.’

The Church has traditionally been reticent about the Mafia: one priest regularly heard the confessions of Pietro Aglieri; another performed the marriage ceremony between the fugitive Totò Riina and Ninetta Bagarella. But Riina’s war against the state finally stirred the Vatican out of its torpor, provoking a surprisingly strong attack from the Pope. In May 1993 John Paul II visited Sicily and made an emotional speech, waving a defiant fist and decrying the Mafia’s inhumanity, its culture of death. ‘Mafiosi, you must convert!’ he cried out.

Re-establishing an ideology rooted in Catholic principles appeared to be an important part of Provenzano’s strategy, and he adopted a pastoral role that would appeal to many of his men: ‘With the will of God I would be a servant. Command me and, if possible, with calm and caution let’s see if we can make progress and work together.’

His pastoral role clearly had the desired effect on some of his followers. His loyal friend Lipari wrote to him: ‘You are altruistic, wise, you take life as it comes, like a gift from God. Your faith is strong and sustains you. God has enlightened you . . .’

In his letters Provenzano invokes the Lord’s good offices in matters of security: ‘It would give me great pleasure to see you in person, but at the moment this isn’t possible, but we will meet, if God wills it, and soon.’ He also invoked God in matters of violence, when necessary. When Provenzano’s aggressive war against the violent splinter groups in Gela was brought to an end, at a cost of 300 mostly young lives, he praised God: ‘I thank you from my heart, if this is true as you say, but for now no compliments, let us pray to our Heavenly Father, who guides us to do Good Works.’

In one of the letters discussing a murder plot, Provenzano writes: ‘I’ve got nothing to say except let the will of God be done.’ With this, the Boss’s implied consent, the man died.25

While Provenzano’s use of pious language was an effective public relations exercise, adding authority and gravitas to his letters, it has been given a more sinister interpretation. The only thing

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