Pope Francis blast mafia godfathers during sermon

During the pontiff’s visit to Naples were he went to have lunch with 100 gay and transgender prison inmates on Saturday March the 21st , the pope made a brief stop-over at  the notorious Scampia neighbourhood in Naples.

In his message he urged the mafia lords to stop violence and repent, Citing that their fight for the control of territory have brought destruction and poverty to the lives of many in the neighbourhood.

In the glare of many mafia lords, he said that violence in the area has brought sorrow to mothers. He was speaking in the shadow of a dilapidated sailboat-shaped housing estate known as Le Vele, so dangerous that even police are sometimes afraid to enter, residents say.

He encouraged residents of the area, which is the seat of power of the Camorra- a leading mafia family in Naples to stand up and not to let criminals rob them of their hope.

Also, during a mass at the city centre, he was quoted saying "To the criminals and all their accomplices, I, today, humbly and as a brother, repeat: convert yourselves to love and justice. It is possible to return to honesty. The tears of the mothers of Naples are asking this of you,"