Is Pope Francis Being Targeted By Mafia? Italian Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri Says Yes But Vatican Disagrees

It's hard not to like the new Pope, but according to an Italian prosecutor, not everyone is a fan. Pope Francis has made many changes with the image of the Vatican and they've been received well around the world. But according to new sources, the Argentinian pope is potentially making the Italian mafia "very nervous" and there is a possibility that the Pope is in danger. The anti-mob prosecutor of Italy, Nicola Gratteri, has warned that the Pope could be a target, as his progressive views are making the mafia uncomfortable. According to Gratteri, the "Ndragnheta is not happy with Pope Francis" as reforms mean that corruption in the Church will be eliminated. RELATED: Pope Francis Says Catholic Church Cannot Be 'Obsessed" With Gays, Abortion And Contraception

"I cannot say if the organization is in a position to do something like this, but they are dangerous and it is worth reflecting on," Gratteri said, according to the Washington Post. "If the godfathers can find a way to stop him, they will seriously consider it." The Nhdrangheta is an organized crime family that hails from the Calabria region of Italy and reportedly earns anywhere from $30 million to $50 million a year courtesy of drug trafficking and pirated merchandise. What separates the organization apart is that it does not use the typical pyramid structure, but instead, uses small groups.

The organized crime organization has supposedly benefited from under the table dealings with the Church. "Those who have up until now profited from the influence and wealth drawn from the church are getting very nervous," added Gratteri. "[N]ow the pope is dismantling the poles of economic power in the Vatican, and that is dangerous." This raised concern about whether or not the Pope is safe. That said, the Vatican has responded saying they are not concerned. "We are absolutely calm," he told The Associated Press. "Everything is going ahead normally and it seems there's no reason to fuel such alarmism." RELATED: Pope Francis Makes Forbes World's Most Powerful People 2013 List: 6 Reasons Why He Deserves It