Pope condemns organised crime in south Italy visit

LAMEZIA TERME, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Sunday condemned "ferocious" organised crime groups in the southern Calabria region, where lawlessness, corruption and underdevelopment have resulted in one of Italy's highest unemployment rates.

The pope, in a homily for tens of thousands of people from all over the region that forms the "toe" of Italy, said the area seemed to be in a constant state of emergency and that he wanted to encourage the people's efforts to improve their condition.