Livatino’s relic in Canosa, a message against the mafia

Last Updated: May 22, 2024

La reliquia di Livatino a Canosa, messaggio contro la mafia

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A silver reliquary, resting on two volumes. The same volumes that characterized the life of judge Rosario Livatino: the Gospel and the penal code. Inside, surrounded by branches of palm symbols of martyrdom, a checkered shirt stained with blood. Because it is the same shirt that the judge, proclaimed blessed by Pope Francis three years ago, was wearing when the mafia assassinated him in 1990 in Agrigento. The reliquary is located in Canosa di Puglia, in northern Bari, a town that marks the last stop of the Puglia pilgrimage wanted to make known the figure of the judge.

“Livatino is less known in the media than other judges, also due to his privacy,” explains the custodian of the relic, Don Gero Manganello shortly after his arrival at the parish of Jesus liberator where he will stay until tomorrow. “The judge’s message is that it is possible to live differently in our lands. The land of Puglia – adds Don Gero – is not different from that of Sicily: they are lands as beautiful as they are tormented by the mafia mentality. So the message to bring to everyone is that it is possible to live differently in our lands, and it is possible to erase the mafia mentality and truly live fraternally.”

“I expect a strong awareness from the people because having here, in our parish, the relic of such a strong witness of life and the Gospel challenges us on legality and faith,” concludes Don Michele Pace, the parish priest of the church hosting the relic (in the photo).