'Go to hell': Pope warns Mafia what will happen to them if they don't change their ways in the wake of mob hit on mother and two-year-old son

  • Pope Francis issued the stark warning during prayer vigil for Mafia victims
  • It comes after death of Carla Maria Fornari and son Domenico this week
  • The pontiff urged them to renounce their 'blood-stained money and power'

By Emma Glanfield

PUBLISHED: 05:11 EST, 22 March 2014 | UPDATED: 09:06 EST, 22 March 2014

Pope Francis has hit out at Italian mobsters and warned them they will ‘end up in hell’ if they don’t change their ways and renounce their ‘blood-stained money and blood-stained power’.

The pontiff made the stark warning following the death this week of two-year-old Domenico Petruzzelli, his mother Carla Maria Fornari and her partner Cosimo Orlando who were killed in a mob hit after assailants opened fire on their car.

Pope Francis addressed the mobsters after a prayer vigil at a Roman church for relatives of innocent people killed by the mafia, during which the names of 842 victims were read aloud.

Pope Francis, pictured in Saint Peter Basilica, Vatican, in January, warned Italian mobsters they will go to hell if they don't change their ways and renounce their 'blood-stained money and blood-stained power'

Pope Francis, pictured in Saint Peter Basilica, Vatican, in January, warned Italian mobsters they will go to hell if they don't change their ways and renounce their 'blood-stained money and blood-stained power'

After voicing his solidarity with the family members, Francis said he couldn’t leave the service without speaking to those not present: the ‘protagonists’ of mafia violence.

Addressing the absentee mafiosi, Francis said: ‘This life that you live now won’t give you pleasure. It won’t give you joy or happiness.

‘Blood-stained money, blood-stained power, you can’t bring it with you to your next life. Repent.

‘There’s still time to not end up in hell, which is what awaits you if you continue on this path.’

 

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Francis has spoken out frequently about the evils of corruption and wrote a short booklet on corruption and sin in 2005 when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.

But this was his first major address to Italian victims of organised crime, who were gathering near Rome for an annual retreat organised by a mafia-fighting priest that takes place annually on March 21.

The pontiff even mentioned this week’s tragic hit, which occurred in Palagiano, near Taranto, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, during his address.

Cosimo Orlando, 43, left, his partner Carla Maria Fornari, 30, centre, and her son Domenico, right, were killed instantly after hitmen forced their car off the road and then opened fire with machine guns in Palagiano, near Taranto, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, earlier this week

Cosimo Orlando, 43, left, his partner Carla Maria Fornari, 30, centre, and her son Domenico, right, were killed instantly after hitmen forced their car off the road and then opened fire with machine guns in Palagiano, near Taranto, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, earlier this week

Mafia hitmen shot dead convicted mobster Cosimo Orlando, 43, his girlfriend and her two-year-old son after forcing them off the road in high speed chase

Mafia hitmen shot dead convicted mobster Cosimo Orlando, 43, his girlfriend and her two-year-old son after forcing them off the road in high speed chase

‘You had a father, a mother. Think of them,’ he said. ‘Weep a little. And convert yourselves.’

Target Cosimo Orlando, 43, his partner Carla Maria Fornari, 30, and her son Domenico, were killed instantly after hitmen forced their car off the road and then opened fire with machine guns riddling it with bullets - amazingly Domenico’s two older brothers, sitting in the backseat, escaped unharmed.

All three were killed instantly in the hit which happened late on Monday night and apart from the two children - who are now in police protection - there were no witnesses.

A police spokesman said: 'This was a massacre, simple as that. The child stood no chance and was killed instantly along with his mother and Orlando.

‘We are investigating all possibilities - although we believe that Orlando was probably the intended target we have to remember that his partner was also married to a murdered criminal.

Amazingly two other children inside the car survived the incident which happened late on Monday night. Police said other than the two youngsters - who are now in police protection - there were no witnesses

Amazingly two other children inside the car survived the incident which happened late on Monday night. Police said other than the two youngsters - who are now in police protection - there were no witnesses

'There could be several motives revenge or drugs both Orlando and Petruzzelli had connections to drugs trafficking and they were both involved with organised crime.

'The only witnesses are the two children who are in a secret location with police and hopefully they will be able to give us some clues.'

Mrs Fornari’s first husband and father of the three children, Domenico Petruzzelli, was a known mobster who was murdered three years ago.

It is not the first time that children have been innocent victims as a result of mob hits - earlier this year another three-year-old boy was murdered after gunmen targeted a car he was travelling in killing two men as well.

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Christ he has balls saying that, don't think because he is the pope he won't be a target. Silly man

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Very doubtful the mobsters believe in God

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Pope Francis , has, already done SO much for the Catholic Church. So now he's laying down the law with the mafia. People should be cheering , supporting him & his quest. We all know, that some dreadful things having happened within the. Catholic Church , but they have in Every Religion. Pope Francis is trying to change this. The more support he has from the people, the easier this quest shall be. Stop mocking , use your voice , to support Italy, denounce the mafia.

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Glad the pope said this. Now all the priests that take their money should say no to them as well. Don't allow Weddings or Funerals for known mobsters.

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Jokes. I doubt the mafia care about hell and heaven

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God does not send people to hell, people send themselves to hell through their actions and beliefs on this earth. When they are judged they know they do not belong in Heaven and willingly go to hell as they know that is where they belong. How can you expect love in the next world when you don't believe in the creator of love in this world. You will go to darkness, away from God, and there you will stay for eternity surrounded by darkness,madness and evil . Repent while you have a chance, life is very very short.

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Im scared now, and Im not even IN the mafia....

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No they won't!! Does not your 'religion' (IE "superstition"), say that "God forgives all"? You get up to the Pearly Gates, say " I'm sorry" and in you go!

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How many Catholic 'Saints' have distinctly murky pasts? Oh I forgot they murdered the unbelievers who wouldn't convert to God so that's all right.

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No they won't!! Does not your 'religion' (IE "superstition"), say that "God forgives all"? You get up to the Pearly Gates, say " I'm sorry" and in you go!

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