Italy anger at 'Godfather' funeral for alleged Rome mafia boss Published duration 21 August 2015

image copyright EPA image caption An ornate hearse pulled by six black horses carried the coffin to the church

The funeral of an alleged mafia boss in Rome has sparked anger after a lavish cortege with black-plumed horses, petals dropped from a helicopter and the theme tune from The Godfather.

Italian politicians denounced the ostentatious send-off for Vittorio Casamonica, 65.

Banners outside the San Giovanni Bosco church on the city's outskirts described him as the "King of Rome".

The priest said he had no control over what happened outside the church.

It comes amid a spiralling mafia investigation in the capital, in which local criminal bosses allegedly worked with city officials to secure lucrative public contracts.

'Message of impunity'

Hundreds of tearful mourners gathered to pay their final respects to Casamonica, who reportedly died of cancer.

Officials identified him as one of the leaders of the Casamonica clan, which has been accused of racketeering, extortion and drug trafficking.

image copyright AP image caption A banner showing Vittorio Casamonica and reading "King of Rome" hangs from the facade of the San Giovanni Bosco church

image copyright EPA image caption Hundreds of mourners gathered outside the church and were showered with red rose petals dropped from a helicopter

Politicians said the Hollywood-style funeral sent "a clear message of impunity" and demanded action to stop such events being used to honour criminal gangs.

A gilded horse-drawn coach carried Casamonica's body to the church, where mourners were showered with red rose petals.

"You conquered Rome, now you'll conquer paradise," read one banner affixed to the building's entrance.

image copyright AP image caption Many outside the church wept as the coffin was taken inside

image copyright EPA image caption A brass band (right) played The Godfather theme tune

The coffin was carried inside to the theme tune from The Godfather trilogy, which follows the rise and fall of a fictional Corleone Mafia family.

"Never again. Rome cannot be defaced by those who want it to became the set of the Godfather," Matteo Orfini, president of the ruling Democratic Party, said on Twitter.

Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino, who has previously refused to resign over the current anti-mafia probe, said he had called Rome's prefect demanding to know how such a scene could have taken place

He said it was "intolerable that funerals are used by the living to send mafia messages".

Meanwhile Arturo Scotto and Celeste Costantino, of the Left Ecology Liberty (SEL) party, called on Interior Minister Angelino Alfano to explain how such a funeral could take place.

"These funerals might seem like a folkloric custom, but in reality, they send a clear message of impunity on the part of the clans: we still exist and we are powerful," they said in a statement (in Italian)

Some 100 people are being investigated as part of the "Mafia Capital" inquiry into allegations that elected officials and business figures were part of a crime syndicate targeting Rome contracts.

Commentators noted that Thursday's funeral took place at the same church where in 2006 the Archdiocese of Rome blocked a ceremony for Piergiorgio Welby, then a symbol of Italy's right-to-die movement.