Pope Francis Denounces, Ex-Communicates Italian Mafia: Could Become Target

In the strongest language ever to come from the Vatican against Italy’s powerful and often brutal Mafia, Pope Francis denounced the criminal enterprise and ex-communicated all Mafia members this weekend.

The Pope visited Calabria, considered a stronghold of the 'ndrangheta.  The Mafia in Calabria is said to act as  a drug trafficking syndicate that enriches itself by extorting businesses and infiltrating public works contracts in that underdeveloped town.  The 'ndrangheta  tentacles have spread worldwide.  They are believed to run money laundering facilities, illegal gambling operations and have even been accused of stock market manipulation in Quebec and Toronto.

During his visit to Calabria, Pope Francis met with relatives of a three-year-old boy slain in the region's drug war this past January.  He also visited 200 prisoners, many of whom have ties to the criminal enterprise.

During an outdoor Mass, Francis denounced the 'ndrangheta for what he called its "adoration of evil and contempt for the common good. "

"Those who go down the evil path, as the Mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated," he warned.

In recent months there are growing fears that the Pope could become a target of the Mafia.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com