Pope Francis says mafia members 'excommunicated' from the Church

Pope Francis yesterday took on one of Italy's most dangerous organised crime groups, calling it an example of "the adoration of evil" and saying mafiosi "are excommunicated".

The pope, speaking about the 'Ndrangheta crime group during a mass in southern Italy, issued the strongest attacks on organised crime since the late Pope John Paul lambasted the Sicilian mafia in 1993.

"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 in impromptu comments at a mass before tens of thousands of people. He told the crowd: "This evil must be fought against. It must be pushed aside. We must say no to it."

He branded the 'Ndrangheta as the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and said the Catholic Church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.

"Our children are asking for it. Our young people are asking for it. They are in need of hope and faith can help respond to this need," he said.

Earlier, the pope comforted the jailed father of a three-year-old boy killed in an ambush and condemned mob violence against children. Francis flew by helicopter to the southern Calabria region, home of the mafia-style 'Ndrangheta.