The Mafia Never Kills on Sunday

In southern Italy, the Mafias have flourished for over 150 years. However, in these historically pious regions, it was not until the 1970s that the Church finally recognized their existence and condemned, sometimes very timidly, the Mafiosi way of life. It was a deafening and incomprehensible silence during times of extreme violence, on the part of an institution supposed to preach peace and tolerance. Why did the Church not fight this phenomenon, walling itself in silence? And how can the Mafiosi claim to have faith and use religion to create a cultural legitimacy that allows them to consolidate their power?