Pope prays with victims' families, urges Mafia members to give up crime

St Gregory VII church, Rome

This evening (Friday 21 March), Pope Francis prayed at St Gregory VII Church in Rome, with families whose loved ones have been killed by the Mafia.

At the service, organised by the Libera Foundation, Pope Francis listened quietly, his head hung low, his hands clasped in prayer, as the 842 names of victims of Mafia violence, including 80 children, were read one by one.

During the vigil, the Pope expressed his empathy, sympathy and solidarity with the 700 people present. He praised them for their witness and courage in sharing their suffering with others and their hope that corruption will be overcome.

The congregation applauded when Pope Francis said: “ I feel that I cannot conclude without saying a word to... the protagonists who are absent today -- the men and women Mafiosi. Please change your lives, convert yourselves, stop perpetrating evil,"

“We pray for you. I ask this on my knees. It is for your good... This life that you live now will not give us pleasure; it will not give us joy. It will not give you happiness. The power and money that you have now from many dirty dealings, from many Mafia crimes – blood money, power gained with blood – you cannot bring them with you to the next life,” the Pope continued.

“Convert yourselves. You still have time so as not to end up in hell. And that is what is waiting for you if you continue on this path,” he said. “You have a father and a mother. Think of them. Cry a little and convert yourselves.”

He concluded his remarks, leading the assembly in a Hail Mary, followed by the Lord’s Prayer.

The prayer vigil came one day ahead of the 19th Day of Memory and Commitment in remembrance of the innocent victims of organized crime. On Saturday, hundreds are expected to march in Latina, a city south of Rome, and then participate in workshop on how civil society can better organize to bring an end to corruption.