Catholic and Jewish leaders condemn fascist display at Rome funeral

Outrage in Italy after mourners give fascist salute outside church and coffin is draped in Nazi flag

Catholic and Jewish leaders condemn fascist display at Rome funeral (Guardian)
Catholic and Jewish leaders in Rome have condemned an “offensive and unacceptable” funeral procession in which the coffin was draped in a Nazi flag and mourners gave the fascist salute outside a church.

Photos and video of the Monday funeral service published online showed about two dozen people gathered outside the church as the swastika-draped coffin emerged, shouting “presente!” with their right arms extended.

In a statement on Tuesday, the vicariate of Rome strongly condemned the scene and stressed that neither the parish priest nor the priest who celebrated the funeral, had known what was going to transpire outside after the funeral mass ended.

It called the swastika-emblazoned Nazi flag “a horrendous symbol irreconcilable with Christianity”.

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Photo: People gathered around a swastika-covered casket outside the St Lucia church, in Rome, Monday, January 10 (Open/AP)