The Vangelo is a high rank within the
'Ndrangheta
The 'Ndrangheta (, , ) is a prominent Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate and secret society, criminal society based in the peninsular and mountainous region of Calabria and dating back to the late 18th century. It is considered one of ...
, a criminal organisation in
Calabria
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(
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
). Vangelo literally means Gospel
[Vangelo derives from the Greek word evagelio (ευαγγελιο) or its more popular rendition vangelio (βαγγελιο)] and a member is called a ''vangelista'' (plural: ''vangelisti''). The rank was established around 1978, when the rank of ''santista'' (a member of
La Santa
''La Santa'' is a secret society within the Ndrangheta'', a criminal organisation in Calabria (Italy). The name probably derives from the shortening of '' mamma santissima''.Paoli, ''Mafia Brotherhoods'', pp. 114-16 In mafia slang, the expressio ...
) 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 'Ndrangheta
Pino Scriva in 1984.
['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 pentito
Francesco Fonti
Francesco Fonti (February 22, 1948 – December 5, 2012) was an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria, who became a turncoat (''pentito'') collaborating with the authorities. He revealed radioactive ...
.
[ Gratteri & Nicaso, ''Fratelli di Sangue'', p. 74]
The referential religious figures are all the Apostles
An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...
and Saint Peter
Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...
and Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
, while the historical figures are Giuseppe Mazzini as the founder and promoter of secret societies in general, and Count Camillo Benso di Cavour
Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, Isolabella and Leri (, 10 August 1810 – 6 June 1861), generally known as Cavour ( , ), was an Italian politician, businessman, economist and noble, and a leading figure in the movement towa ...
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 from ]Siderno
Siderno ( scn, label= Calabrian, Sidernu or ; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, southern Italy, about 3 kilometres from Locri.
Some notable people from Siderno are Marco stalteri, Patrizia lunch s ...
, Domenico Martino, Sebastiano Romeo, Antonio Pelle and members from the Nirta family from San Luca.
References
* Gratteri, Nicola & Antonio Nicaso (2006). ''Fratelli di Sangue'', Cosenza: Luigi Pellegrini Editore
*Paoli, Letizia (2003). ''Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style'', Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press
{{Ndrangheta
History of the 'Ndrangheta
Organized crime terminology
Organized crime members by role