ROME – It has emerged that one of Pope Francis's special nominees to the Synod on Synodality, Luca Casarini, is under investigation in Sicily. The case centres on an Italian non-governmental organization called “Mediterranea,” which Casarini runs. Casarini is a former leader in the “no-global” movement and a leftist activist; in October he took part in the Synod on Synodality at the Pope's personal invitation.
Founded in 2018, Mediterranea operates the lone private rescue ship involved in saving migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean Sea flying the Italian flag, a vessel called the Mare Jonio. In the past five years, it’s carried out thirteen missions and is credited with saving roughly 2,000 victims of shipwrecks.
