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Pope to mafia: Repent or face hell

Pope Francis waves to staff and families of the Italian Steel Works company Acciaierie di Terni celebrating its 130th anniversary during an audience on March 20, 2014 at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis has a very strong message for Italy’s mafia: Repent or hell awaits you.

Francis delivered a powerful rebuke of organized crime on Friday during a vigil at a Roman church for relatives of children killed by the mafia, the Associated Press reports.

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The pontiff also made an emotional appeal for Italy’s mobsters to give up their criminal activity and repent.

The National Catholic Reporter reports:

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Francis continued plea with:

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