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ROME -- All eyes this week were turned across the Tiber and toward St. Peter's, where Pope Francis has stumbled twice in the past 10 days, and the Church itself has been bruised by two new books which document alleged grave financial abuse inside the Vatican. The Italian journalists involved are Emiliano Fittipaldi, author of Avarizia, or Avarice, not yet available in English, and Gianluigi Nuzzi, author of Via Crucis, already available in English as Merchants in the Temple, Inside Pope Francis's Secret Battle Against Corruption in the Vatican, published by Henry Holt, $28).

As a result, the Vatican arrested two of its own -- a ranking Roman Curia official and a woman in public relations, who was later released -- and has now launched a judicial inquiry into both authors. The charge, according to Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, is "possible complicity in the crime of divulging confidential news and documents." Lombardi also indicated that the Vatican probe extends into leaks concerning the Administration for the Patrimony of the Holy See (APSA) because "APSA has always cooperated with the competent organs and is not under investigation but continues to conduct its activities in respect to current legal norms." Church spokesmen also deny that Propaganda Fide real estate property is mishandled, and claim that the Vatican regularly pays Italian property taxes. Earnings from its real estate holdings are devolved "totally" to Church missions, and rentals are at normal commercial rates, says Propaganda Fide, albeit with certain exceptions for "indigents."

In defense of the two Italian journalists, Michele Anzaldi, member of Parliament from Premier Matteo Renzi's Partito Demcratico (PD), protested that press freedom is to be "protected everywhere and always." Anzaldi said that he plans to bring the issue before the Chamber of Deputies' Justice Commission. "To learn that two journalists Fittpaldi and Nuzzi are to be investigated by Vatican authorities, and hence by a foreign state, for having published documents that someone wanted to exit from the Vatican raises a lot of questions," said Anzaldi.

These new revelations of financial mismanagement follow in the wake of the embarrassing wave of scandals back in 2012 known as "Vatileaks," which Nuzzi unleashed in his previous book, based upon information from Paolo Gabriele, a butler cum valet in the household of then Pope Benedict XVI, who photocopied thousands of documents which he kept in his home. (Today Gabriele, in a Vatican prison for several months but subsequently pardoned, lives close to the Vatican and has been given a new job in a Vatican-owned hospital.)

"I have nothing to fear," said Fittipaldi, a skilled investigative reporter who writes regularly for the weekly L'Espresso. "I have no knowledge of any international rogatory." In his introduction to Avarizia Fittipaldi claims that the pope must know Vatican finances full well: "He must know that the Vatican owns, in Rome, houses that are worth 4 million euros, and that it's not refugees living there, but VIPs and people with 'recommendations' who pay ridiculously low rents. He must know that the foundations dedicated to Ratzinger [retired Pope Benedict XVI] and to Wojtyla [Pope John Paul II] have grossed so much money that they have over 15 million euros [$16.2 million] in the bank. He must know that there are plenty of cardinals living in apartments of 400, 500 and 600 sq. m., plus penthouse and panoramic terrace. He must know a host of things -- if he does not know something, it is because no one tells him."

Besides discussing alleged financial misdeeds, in his book Nuzzi raises the question of whether Pope Francis may resign. In his view, the new Pope found the Curia, or Church administrative body, in disarray, characterized by "inertias, scandals, thefts, wrongoing, and opaque interests." After hiring professionals to examine Church finances, Francis was nevertheless unable to get many of the reforms he desired off the ground: "Bergoglio's plan to drive out the merchants from the temple was still unfulfilled three years after his election." Many cardinals, Nuzzi avers, admire the pontiff's ability to communicate but simply consider him too far to the left and guilty of inducing "confusion" within the Church.

Nor has  consolidation of Vatican finances, one of the Pope's goals, been achieved, with APSA in a tug-of-war with the Secretariat for the Economy over who keeps count of real estate  holdings. Nor has a census of the Vatican's heritage of art and archaeology been conducted. "Centralization was still a distant dream, despite the fact that it would prevent the many fiefdoms and feuds that foster private interests and privileges," writes Nuzzi. "Francis may never have imagined that he would encounter such entrenched and tenacious resistance."

(To see for yourself the pontiff stumbling in Piazza San Pietro Nov. 7, see >>> ; for his lesser stumble in the Basilica of San Giovanni, see >>> )

“Life is too short to drink bad wine,” an anonymous oenophile is famously quoted as saying. To that, we'll add that life is also too short to read bad books. In this collection of short stories by 13 Italian authorsyou will find engaging crime dramas wherein the flavor of the wine itself becomes almost palpable.

Each of the stories in Vines, Wines and Other Crimesopens a window into an Italian regional landscape through the thrilling lens of noir. Like the bouquet of flavors that defines a good wine, the bouquet of storiesthat compose this anthology are sometimes complex and mysterious, solid and robust, or light and refreshing. Other times, they have an unexpected finish.
 

A forlorn lover travels to exotic locales, a pastor is punished for his sins, a homeless book dealer is murdered in cold blood, three idiot gangsters bite off more than they can chew, a natural beauty has an unnatural temper, a young entrepreneur is tortured for his ambition, messages between mob families creates an intercontinental bloodbath, a Canadian detective goes undercover to find an arsonist, and a batty woman finds police procedurals a little bit too inspiring.

The result is an anthology full of dramatic turn of events, disastrous toasts, and lethal tastings.

The book was first published in 2008 under the title Delitti di vino. It has been recently translated into English and is available as an e-book on Amazon.

Highlights

Most of the authors in this anthology are experienced writers or well-known journalists, however some have received higher levels of recognition, including: Nicoletta Vallorani, who is published with Mondadori, Salani, Einaudi, and Marcos y Marcos. Her books are also published in France by Gallimard and in the UK by Troubadour Publishing, and Massimo Marcotullio, who writes historical novels published by Piemme that have been translated into Spanish and German.

Praises for Delitti di vino

“A book to read in a sip” - Roma

“Sexy, smooth and irreverent” - La Repubblica on Ugo Mazzotta’s story A Bitter Cup

Where to find Vines, Wines and Other Crimes:

The e-book is available for purchase on Amazon and, upon request, in pdf for reviews.

Todaro Editore was founded in 1996 in Lugano, Switzerland. Since 1999, it has specialized in crime stories with the particular goal of publishing first-time writers.

Vespa Manhattan is located at 6 Grand Street in Lower Manhattan, between 6th Avenue and Varick Street. The new dealership that opened yesterday evening offers all of the Piaggio Group's prestigious brands – Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi – under one roof.
 

Vespa Manhattan is an innovative retail concept, aligned with the new global in-storeexperience the Piaggio Group is developing in the major metropolitan areas around the world with the Motoplex multibrand stores the Group has recently opened in cities like Milan, Shanghai and Beijing.

The Vespa Manhattan grand opening took place during the 130th year of the Piaggio Group, founded in December 1884. “We are very pleased to celebrate the opening of this unique destination in the heart of New York City," says Mario Di Maria, Chairman and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas Inc. "Vespa Manhattan is the realization of wider vision of the Piaggio Group in the field of offering our vehicles and our relationship with customers and potential customers. Not only is this a showroom for Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Piaggio motorcycles and scooters, but it is also a fascinating experience of the renowned style, technology and heritage of two-wheeled vehicles which are proudly 'Made in Italy'."
 
In the Vespa Manhattan showroom New York customers will be welcomed into an environment where they can breathe in the stylistic and technological refinement that legendary brands such as Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Piaggio have skilfully infused into motorcycles which have in turn become legendary and in scooters which have forever changed the concept of individual mobility and freedom.

The new Piaggio Group Flagship Store in NYC takes up more than 2,000 sq. ft. It has, like all the other Stores that the Group has opened around the world, a unique and characteristic design that cannot be found in any other two-wheel dealership in North America. Architectural elements include a bi-level loft-style layout featuring a wall of floor-to-ceiling storefront windows, high ceilings and 25 different models of motorcycles and scooters, as well as a complete range of Official accessories and merchandise that the Piaggio Group has developed for its brands. In addition to sales, the dealership offers complete bike and scooter service, accessories installation and vehicle customization through its certified Piaggio Service Center. The Vespa Manhattan store is a true "home" for all two-wheel enthusiasts, for those who have a passion for Italian bikes in their hearts, and it is conceived to provide a relaxing break during an otherwise hectic day with other enthusiasts in a unique environment.

 "Vespa Manhattan is the first Piaggio Group Flagship Store designed to showcase all of the prestigious Piaggio Group brands under one roof", says Andrew Hadjiminas, Chairman & CEO of the Vespa Manhattan store. "We are excited to bring these legendary brands to the greatest city in the world. The opening of Vespa Manhattan is not only an exciting time for us, it is a clear sign of the commitment that the Piaggio Group has made towards the North American market."
 
The European leader in the two-wheel segment with a total of 14.6% of the market in the first half of 2015 which goes up to 24.8% in the scooter sector (about 12 percentage points ahead of the second competitor), with Piaggio Group Americas the Piaggio Group reported sales of EUR60.8 million in 2014 with 16,200 vehicles sold in North America and Latin America.

I believe in the magic of theater... as an audience member you walk into that room to be part of that electric energy between audience and performer.

And magic is what’s happening at La MaMa E.T.C. with Teatro Patologico (Pathological Theater) from Rome in "MEDEA," adapted from Euripides and directed by Dario D'Ambrosi. Until October 18, at the Ellen Stewart Theater of La MaMa E.T.C., audiences can experience a revisitation of the Greek tragedy where professional actors, coming from both the US and Italy, perform, in English, with a chorus of 14 non professional actors, performing in Attic Greek, with various mental disabilities.

“When I started making theater decades and decades ago,” D’Ambrosi, the creator of Teatro Patologico and one of Italy's most accomplished theater artists, told us, “I thought that theater was boring. It was always the same reheated soup... the same thing repeated over and over, night after night. I wanted to do something different, something that would turn into a unique experience for everyone participating, both performers and audience.”

“Tonight when you walk into the theater you as an audience are expecting to see a play, but the truth is that what you are about to see is anything but a 'normal' show,’ D’Ambrosi continued. “Yes, we have costumes, lights, a set, props and all the ingredients for a theater representation but the actors, with the exception of the few professionals, are nothing like regular people. Some have schizophrenia, others are manic-depressive or are affected by autism or Down Syndrome. Before this experience, some of them weren’t able to talk or they have never cried, others have been harming themselves for years. Through our theater program they have learned to act, move, become part of a choreography and achieve a structured movement pattern. Their progress gives me the strength and the enthusiasm to push forward.”

D’Ambrosi, an actor himself, has been working for decades with people with psychiatric disabilities, devising productions with their participation. He founded the First University of the Integrated Theatre of Emotion, a college program at his "La magia del teatro" (The magic of Theatre) drama academy, which offers a three-year college diploma in the performing arts to those with diagnoses of  mental disorders.

“Working with actors with mental disabilities brings us to a new form of theatrical language,” D’Ambrosi continued to explain, “of which they hold the key. Their presence on stage is intentionally 'anti-theatrical.' Anything can happen: they could leave the set at any moment or end the show before its conclusion.” At La Mama, during a performance nothing major happened, but there were a few minor, spontaneous reactions that made the staging even more unique. “Each night is be an absolute surprise both for my 'patient-actors' and for the audience.”
 
Medea's cast features professional actress Celeste Moratti as the title character, Duane Allen as Creon, Mauro F. Cardinali as Jason, and Michela D’Ambrosi as Glauke.  The chorus features Beatrice Agostini, Emanuele Antei, Emanuela Daniele, Fabio De Persio, Andrea Ferrari, Gilberto Giliberti, Paolo Gilberti, Elisa Maruca, Claudio Salvatore, Valerio Serafino, Claudia Terracini, Daniela Tortosa, Paolo Vaselli and Giuliano Verdecchia. On stage with them Papaceccio and Francesco Santalucia playing their original music and leading the chorus.

D'Ambrosi's adaptation of Medea was originally presented as a work in progress by La MaMa E.T.C. in December, 2011 for four performances as part of "Teatro Patologico in New York," a festival of Pathological Theater and Film honoring La MaMa's 50th Anniversary. In 2012, a full production was presented at Wilton's Music Hall in London and won the Wilton Prize 2012/13 as the best show of the season.

Prior to this run, the production was staged, in September, at Teatro Argentina in Rome. Performances will be held until October 18 and there are two special events coming up: on the 15th, a celebration for D'Ambrosi's 35 years of collaboration with La MaMa E.T.C. (it also happens to be his birthday) with dinner catered by Seraphina, and on the 17th, a discussion at the Coffeehouse Chronicles. Listening to D'Ambrosi explain his art and the effects of theater therapy is a real opportunity.

A few last words from D'Ambrosi himself: “This new way of being on a stage is a unique experience that will bring you close to true theatre, the Theatre of Emotion.”