God and the mafia are not compatible, Pope Francis said on the weekend during a visit to the city of Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily.
“You cannot believe in God and be a member of the mafia,” the Pope was quoted as saying during a Mass. “Those belonging to the mafia are not living as Christians, because with their life they blaspheme the name of God who is love.”
He invited members of the mafia to change and stop thinking of themselves and money.
The Pope’s visit co-incided with the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Guiseppe “Pino” Puglisi, a priest who was killed by the mafia for his efforts in trying to protect youth from organised crime.
The Pope said Fr Pino’s life showed how the victory of faith is “born from the scandal of martyrdom”.
“What brings defeat is love of one’s own life, to love one’s own life,” he said. “Those who live for themselves lose.”
He said that money and power do not liberate humans, despite claims contained in advertising that it does.
