Although in recent years journalism has offered important research and analysis on the relationship between the Catholic religion and the Mafia, this book by Nino Mantineo offers important new insights. Imbued with civic passion, it carries out a “technical” analysis with detailed attention to the canons governing religious practice and the experience of faith itself; it critically points out “the Church's delay”, explaining its reasons and developments; it captures the new elements that have matured over time; it warns of the decisive point of no return reached in recent years. The question of the relationship between religion and the mafia cannot be addressed in a simplistic or unilateral manner: when we talk about religion, and even more so about the Church and priests, despite appearances, we are never talking about a monolith, but rather a world in which there are prevailing but not entirely exclusive orientations; Therefore, great sensitivity is needed to distinguish and grasp the various facets, even those that operate behind the scenes. Even when “strong” personalities intervene, including those who exercise authority, their voice acts from a perspective of prevalence and not of totality. From the introduction by Tano Grasso