Guard for bishop who defied Mafia

Bishop Michele Pennisi, 63, stood his ground against the gangsters and said that he would not allow the funeral of boss Daniele Emmanuello, 43, to take place in his church.

Within days of making the ruling he was the victim of a mysterious poison pen campaign and posters of him appeared overnight containing threats against him.

Emmanuello, 43, was the godfather of his family and had been on the run for more than ten years before he was tracked down by police to an isolated country farmhouse in Sicily two months ago.

After a shoot out, and as he lay dying, officers pulled from his throat pizzini, or notes, that he had used to pass on orders to members of his crime family.

Emmanuello was said to control a multi-million drug and construction empire and had been accused of more than a dozen murders by police.

Yesterday, the bishop's home and office was ringed by armed guards and officials said it was the first time an escort had been assigned to a bishop since 1984.

Bishop Pennisi said: "The Lord will protect us and free us from the Mafia and from the pizzo (protection money payments). I have been the target of threats and insinuations.

"The police told me not to underestimate these people and as such I have been assigned protection. It is the Christian duty of everyone to fight crime and make these so called men of honour new people."

Emmanuello's funeral has since been held, but it is not known if there was any religious element to the service.