- Vangelo
The Vangelo is a high rank within the
'Ndrangheta , a criminal organisation inCalabria (Italy ). Vangelo literally means Gospel and a member is called a "vangelista" (plural: "vangelisti"). The rank was established around 1978, when the rank of "santista" (a member ofLa Santa ) became inflated because the original membership of 33 expanded.Paoli, "Mafia Brotherhoods", pp. 114-16]The grade was revealed by the historical
pentito of the 'NdranghetaPino Scriva in 1984.it icon [http://www.fondazionecesar.it/uploads/tx_useregidoc/Ndrangheta.pdf 'Ndrangheta 2005] , Nisio Palmieri, Dossier della Fondazione Cesar e dell’Associazione Sicurstrada per conto della Consulta Nazionale dei Consigli Regionali Unipol Assicurazioni] The "vangelisti" are “superior personalities who know the rights and obligations of the honoured society with decision-making duties at the highest level,” according to the pentitoFrancesco Fonte .it icon Gratteri & Nicaso, "Fratelli di Sangue", p. 74]The referential religious figures are all the Apostles and
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, while the historical figures areGiuseppe Mazzini as the founder and promoter of secret societies in general, andCount Camillo Benso di Cavour representing the mind of a statesman.Later the rank of "vangelista" was followed by the institution of the position of "
trequartino " (three-quarters) or "quintino " (fifth). Finally, the current highest rank of "associazione " (society) was established – reserved for the supreme bosses of the 'Ndrangheta.Important "vangelista" were
Giuseppe Muià fromSiderno ,Domenico Martino ,Sebastiano Romeo ,Antonio Pelle and members from the Nirta family fromSan Luca .it icon Gratteri & Nicaso, "Fratelli di Sangue", p. 74]References
*it icon Gratteri, Nicola & Antonio Nicaso (2006). "Fratelli di Sangue", Cosenza: Luigi Pellegrini Editore ISBN 88-8101-373-8
*Paoli, Letizia (2003). "Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style", Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-515724-9
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