Rome – A Catholic nun, Sister Anna Donelli, aged 57 and a member of the Sisters of Charity Institute in Milan, was among 25 individuals arrested on Thursday morning in a large-scale anti-mafia operation. The charges against her include aiding and abetting extortion, drug trafficking, receiving stolen goods, usury, tax crimes, and money laundering.
Sister Donelli, known as “Sister Collina” by inmates during her volunteer work in prisons around Brescia in northern Italy, allegedly used her spiritual role as a cover to act as a liaison for the ’Ndrangheta crime syndicate, one of Italy’s most powerful mafia organizations based in Calabria.
According to prosecutor Francesco Prete, Donelli facilitated communication between incarcerated mafia bosses and their associates outside prison. “She carried out orders, delivered directives, and provided moral and material support while gathering information to aid criminal strategies,” Prete said during a press conference announcing the arrests.
The operation, involving 300 anti-mafia officers and specialized drug-sniffing dogs, led to the seizure of €1.8 million (approximately $1.9 million USD) in cash, along with weapons and drugs recovered from locations in Bergamo, Verona, and Treviso.
Among those arrested was a physician and member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party. The doctor is accused of treating injuries related to mafia activities to avoid detection within the public healthcare system.
Sister Donelli, officially serving as a liaison between prison staff and inmates, also acted as a soccer referee during inmates’ recreational activities. In a 2020 interview with the religious network TV2000, she discussed her prison ministry work, but recent revelations suggest her activities extended far beyond her official duties.
Currently under house arrest, Donelli has been described by Prete as being “at the service of the criminal organization, ensuring communication between jailed members and those operating outside.”
The Sisters of Charity Institute in Milan has not responded to requests for comment.
