Pope Francis recently did away with his bullet proof “popemobile.” Now, he’s taking on the well-armed Italian mafia by excommunicating its members.
“Those who in their life have gone along the evil ways, as in the case of the mafia, they are not with God, they are excommunicated,” the Pope said, CNN reported Saturday.
The pope’s declaration constitutes the first time a Pope has ever excommunicated members of the mob from the Catholic Church, CNN reported.
Pope Francis continued his speech by denouncing a major southern Italian crime syndicate, called ’Ndrangheta, as an example of “the adoration of evil and contempt for the common good,” CNN reported.
In early June the pope said he wasn’t worried about losing the bulletproof glass historically provided by his security detail. “I know that something could happen to me, but it’s in the hands of God,” he said.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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