POPE Francis took on one of Italy's most dangerous organised crime groups yesterday, describing it as "the adoration of evil" and saying all its Mafiosi "are excommunicated".

The pope, speaking about the 'Ndrangheta crime group during Mass before tens of thousands of people in southern Italy, said: "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated."

The pope added that the Catholic Church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.