Pope excommunicates mafia for 'adoration of evil'

Pope Francis has ‘excommunicated’ Italy’s mafia from the church — the first time any pontiff has done so publicly.

Pope Francis has issued the strongest attack on organised crime groups by a pontiff in two decades, accusing them of practising the “the adoration of evil” and saying mafiosi (members of the mafia) are excommunicated. It was the first time a pope had used the word ‘excommunication’ — a total cutoff from the Church — in direct reference to members of organised crime.