Vatican: Priest killed by mafia put on road to sainthood

Vatican City, 28 June (AKI) - A Sicilian priest killed by the mafia almost 20 years ago was put on the road to sainthood by Pope Benedict XVI.

Giuseppe 'Pino' Puglisi ''killed in hatred of the faith in Palermo" was declared a martyr by the pope., the Vatican said on Thursday . Now a miracle must be attributed to the slain priest before he can be declared a saint.

Puglisi was inspired to fight the mafia in his native Palermo when a cardinal from the city brushed off the criminal organisation, questioning its very existence.

"We can, we must criticize the church when we feel it doesn't respond to our expectations, because it's absolutely right to seek to improve it," Puglisi said regarding inaction by the church in combating the mafia.

Puglisi was shot dead in front of his parish church on 15 September, 1993 - his 56th birthday. A mafia hitman said his last worlds were, "I've been expecting you."