Nun Caught Running Messages for Mafia Bosses
She was supposed to be a woman of God, but Sister Anna Donelli is now at the center of one of Italy's most jaw-dropping mafia scandals. Dubbed the "Godmother Nun," Donelli is accused of using her habit and holy reputation as a cover to help the ruthless 'Ndrangheta mafia. Her arrest stunned the country, revealing a shocking double life that no one saw coming.
From Spiritual Guidance to Criminal Liaison
Donelli, a member of the Sisters of Charity Institute in Milan, volunteered at prisons in and around Brescia, where she ostensibly provided spiritual guidance and support to inmates. However, prosecutors allege she exploited her access to deliver messages, orders, and even strategic directives between jailed mafia bosses and their associates outside. During a press conference, prosecutor Francesco Prete stated that Donelli's actions allowed the mafia to "better plan criminal strategies," using her religious role as cover, as reported by CNN.
Her position granted her "free access to the penitentiary facilities," and privilege investigators say she leveraged to assist in laundering money, aiding extortion, and facilitating drug trafficking. Prete also noted that Donelli was "at the disposal of the criminal association to guarantee the connection with the associates detained in prison and those outside."
The Broader Operation
Donelli's arrest is part of a massive anti-mafia sting involving 24 other individuals, including two politicians and a physician accused of treating mobsters discreetly to avoid public suspicion. The operation, which spanned northern and southern Italy, involved 300 anti-mafia officers, sniffer dogs trained to detect drugs and cash, and resulted in the seizure of €1.8 million in assets, alongside weapons and narcotics.
The investigation uncovered that the group allegedly laundered €12 million through front businesses, including scrap metal trade operations. According to police, Donelli's actions were integral to maintaining communication between incarcerated leaders and their associates on the outside, ensuring that mafia activities continued uninterrupted.
A Hidden Role Revealed
Sister Donelli's dual role has shocked many. Officially, she served as a liaison between prison staff and inmates and even refereed soccer games during prisoners' recreational time. However, her hidden life unraveled during a four-year investigation into the 'Ndrangheta, which is considered one of the world's most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations.
Currently under house arrest, Donelli is accused of providing "moral and material aid" to mafia associates while concealing her illicit activities behind her religious duties. Investigators described her as an "unsuspecting figure" whose role in the church allowed her to bypass scrutiny, according to BBC.
An Ongoing Battle Against the 'Ndrangheta
The 'Ndrangheta, rooted in Calabria, has evolved into a global criminal empire involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion. Last year, over 200 of its members were sentenced to a combined 2,200 years in prison during one of Italy's most extensive mafia trials.
The arrest of Sister Anna Donelli has rocked Italy, proving that the mafia's reach knows no boundaries — even the walls of a convent. As investigators dig deeper into her alleged betrayal, the nation is left wondering: how many other wolves in sheep's clothing are hiding in plain sight?
References: Italian police arrest nun over links to mafia | Curious case of Godmother Italian nun who has been arrested over suspected link to mafia underworld | Catholic nun among 25 arrested in mob bust in northern Italy
