Pope Francis made his first trip into a southern heartland of the Italian Mafia on Saturday, visiting a poverty-stricken town and comforting the detained father of a 3-year-old who was murdered in an alleged mob-related killing in January . The pope's first stop in the town of Cassano all’Ionio in the southern region of Calabria was the "Rosetta Sisca" penitentiary of Castrovillari, where he met with detainees, prison staff and their families. “The Lord always forgives, always accompanies, always includes; let us understand it, let us forgive, let us accompany,” the Pontiff told the inmates, according to the Vatican . Sign up for breaking news alerts from NBC News Following a visit to a hospital for the terminally ill, the pontiff celebrated Holy Mass at Piana di Sibari, where he condemned the 'Ndrangheta Mafia, which is centered in Cassano all’Ionio. “Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated,” Pope Francis said during the mass, according to Reuters. Pope Says, ‘No To All Types Of Drugs’ June 20, 2014 02:34 'Ndrangheta is the most powerful Mafia in Italy and specializes in drug trafficking that often includes kidnappings,… Read full this story
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