Pope Francis speaks out on Italian mobsters, says they need to repent

Pope Francis spoke on Friday at a vigil mourning those who had been killed by Italian mafia and warned that mobsters must change their ways and repent or they will be going to hell.

Nearly 900 relatives of people murdered by Italian mobsters listened as the pope spoke directly towards the mafia saying, "blood-stained money, blood-stained power, you can't bring it with you to your next life. Repent." The Associated Press reports Francis added that hell awaits those who do not change their ways.

The speech followed on the reading of 842 names of innocent people, stretching back to 1893, that had been killed by the mafia, notes The Telegraph. Francis specifically mentioned 3-year-old Domenico Petruzzelli, his mother and her partner who were fatally shot at the start of the week.

After he was done speaking, Pope Francis put on a ceremonial garment that the late Father Guiseppe Diana once wore before being murdered 20 years ago by the mafia.

Libera organization head Father Don Ciotti applauded the pope for just showing up to the ceremony, saying his appearance was "a gift." Libera, who organized the prayer vigil, is an organization that works against the mafia.

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