Pope Francis has delivered his most damning denunciation of organised crime yet, warning Mafia mobsters to repent or end up in hell.

The pontiff’s stern caution came after a prayer vigil at a Roman Catholic church for relatives of innocents killed by the Mafia, during which the names of 842 victims were read aloud as a sombre Francis looked on.

After voicing his solidarity with the family members, he said he could not leave the service without addressing the "protagonists" of Mafia violence.

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Addressing these absentee mafiosi, Francis was unrelenting: "This life that you live now won't give you pleasure. It won't give you joy or happiness," he said.

Shape Created with Sketch. Pope Francis - the first year: From white smoke to selfies, a look back at 12 months in pictures Show all 40 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Pope Francis - the first year: From white smoke to selfies, a look back at 12 months in pictures 1/40 3 March 2014 Pope Francis leads his Sunday Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican 2/40 9 March 2013 Days before becoming Pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrives for a pre-conclave meeting on March 9, 2013 at the Vatican. The conclave of 115 'cardinal electors' began a few days after this picture was taken, on March 12, gathering to choose the 266th pope 3/40 13 March 2013 The sign that the decision has been made. White smoke is seen from the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating that the College of Cardinals have elected a new Pope Getty Images 4/40 13 March 2013 Facing the crowds for the first time. All eyes are on the newly elected Pope Francis I as he looks out at the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square 5/40 14 March 2013 Pope Francis leading Mass at the Sistine Chapel, a day after his election AFP/Getty Images 6/40 17 March 2013 One young pilgrim with a picture of Pope Francis Getty Images 7/40 19 March 2013 Pope Francis walks to the altar during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square 8/40 19 March 2013 In the Popemobile on St Peter's square. The Pope arrives for his grandiose inauguration mass on March 19, 2013 9/40 19 March 2013 The much loved smile. Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the papamobile during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square on March 19, 2013 at the Vatican 10/40 March 2013 Pope Francis washes the feet of a prisoner at the Casal Del Marmo Youth Detention Centre Getty Images/2013 L'Osservatore Romano 11/40 18 April 2013 Miguel Delgado Galindo presents a jersey of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi to Pope Francis, at the Vatican AP 12/40 22 May 2013 Pope Francis in St Peter's Square Getty Images 13/40 June 2013 Pope Francis at the Vatican in June 2013 AFP/Getty Images 14/40 14 June 2013 Pope Francis welcomes the Archbishop of Canterbury Reuters 15/40 8 July 2013 The first time they let him out of Rome. Pope Francis waves excitedly to the crowds in Lampedusa during his first official trip out of Rome. 16/40 26 July 2013 Another trip in the Popemobile. Pope Francis travels in style on his way to Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day celebrations on July 26, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 17/40 26 July 2013 Pope Francis delivers a speech to Catholic faithful at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro AFP/Getty Images 18/40 13 August 2013 Pleased with his gift. A private audience with the Italy and Argentina Football Teams at The Vatican on August 13, 2013 19/40 21 August 2013 Pope Francis with his predecessor Pope Emeritus AP 20/40 29 August 2013 The selfie Pope Francis had taken inside St. Peter's Basilica with youths from the Italian Diocese of Piacenza and Bobbio who came to Rome for a pilgrimage, at the Vatican 21/40 7 September 2013 Pope Francis said he asked the priest for "mercy" AFP/Getty 22/40 7 November 2013 Pope Francis caresses a sick person in Saint Peter's Square EPA 23/40 20 November 2013 Blessing a disfigured man in St. Peter's Square Rex Features 24/40 December 2013 Pope Francis has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year Time 25/40 8 December 2013 In silent prayer. Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conception at Spanish Steps December 8, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The statue was consecrated in 1857, several years after the church adopted the dogma which states that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. Following tradition, Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by venerating the statue 26/40 14 December 2013 What an interesting skull cap you have there.. A child inspects Pope Francis' attire during an audience with beneficiaries and volunteers of the Santa Marta pediatric dispensary in Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican on December 14, 2013 27/40 December 2013 Pope Francis holds a scarf of Argentine football team San Lorenzo of which he is a fan, during his visit to the Sao Jeromino Emiliani church at the Varginha favela in Rio de Janeiro GETTY IMAGES 28/40 December 2013 Pope Francis wears his papal vestment during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square as Latin America's first pontiff GETTY IMAGES 29/40 December 2013 Pope Francis wears a Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-plated silver, symbolising the Holy Father's role as a 'fishers of men' GETTY IMAGES 30/40 January 2014 "The Times They Are A-Changing" indeed: Pope Francis waves on his Rolling Stone cover shoot 31/40 5 January 2014 A seagull flies past pope Francis as he arrives for the Angelus noon prayer he celebrates from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday 5 January AP 32/40 6 January 2014 The lamb of God. The pope has a lamb put around his neck by a woman dressed as a character from the nativity scene at Church of St Alfonso Maria dei Liguori in the outskirts of Rome 33/40 13 January 2014 Pope Francis baptises one of 32 babies during a mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican 34/40 14 January 2014 Pope Francis being presented with a Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide motorcycle in Vatican 35/40 22 January 2014 Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square on January 22, 2014 at the Vatican AFP/Getty Images 36/40 January 2014 Pope Francis at the weekly papal audience in Rome, January 2014 Rex Features 37/40 February 2014 A close-up of Pope Francis' passport 38/40 19 February 2014 Facing some challenges. A gust of wind blows Pope Francis' mantle as he reads his speech during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square 39/40 26 February 2014 Pope Francis kissing a child dressed as Pope as he arrives in Saint Peter's Square to lead his Wednesday's General Audience, in Vatican City AP 40/40 5 March 2014 At work, in concentration. Pope Francis blesses the altar in the Santa Sabina church in Rome on March 5, 2014, as he celebrates the mass for Ash Wednesday, opening Lent 1/40 3 March 2014 Pope Francis leads his Sunday Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican 2/40 9 March 2013 Days before becoming Pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrives for a pre-conclave meeting on March 9, 2013 at the Vatican. The conclave of 115 'cardinal electors' began a few days after this picture was taken, on March 12, gathering to choose the 266th pope 3/40 13 March 2013 The sign that the decision has been made. White smoke is seen from the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating that the College of Cardinals have elected a new Pope Getty Images 4/40 13 March 2013 Facing the crowds for the first time. All eyes are on the newly elected Pope Francis I as he looks out at the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square 5/40 14 March 2013 Pope Francis leading Mass at the Sistine Chapel, a day after his election AFP/Getty Images 6/40 17 March 2013 One young pilgrim with a picture of Pope Francis Getty Images 7/40 19 March 2013 Pope Francis walks to the altar during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square 8/40 19 March 2013 In the Popemobile on St Peter's square. The Pope arrives for his grandiose inauguration mass on March 19, 2013 9/40 19 March 2013 The much loved smile. Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the papamobile during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square on March 19, 2013 at the Vatican 10/40 March 2013 Pope Francis washes the feet of a prisoner at the Casal Del Marmo Youth Detention Centre Getty Images/2013 L'Osservatore Romano 11/40 18 April 2013 Miguel Delgado Galindo presents a jersey of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi to Pope Francis, at the Vatican AP 12/40 22 May 2013 Pope Francis in St Peter's Square Getty Images 13/40 June 2013 Pope Francis at the Vatican in June 2013 AFP/Getty Images 14/40 14 June 2013 Pope Francis welcomes the Archbishop of Canterbury Reuters 15/40 8 July 2013 The first time they let him out of Rome. Pope Francis waves excitedly to the crowds in Lampedusa during his first official trip out of Rome. 16/40 26 July 2013 Another trip in the Popemobile. Pope Francis travels in style on his way to Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day celebrations on July 26, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 17/40 26 July 2013 Pope Francis delivers a speech to Catholic faithful at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro AFP/Getty Images 18/40 13 August 2013 Pleased with his gift. A private audience with the Italy and Argentina Football Teams at The Vatican on August 13, 2013 19/40 21 August 2013 Pope Francis with his predecessor Pope Emeritus AP 20/40 29 August 2013 The selfie Pope Francis had taken inside St. Peter's Basilica with youths from the Italian Diocese of Piacenza and Bobbio who came to Rome for a pilgrimage, at the Vatican 21/40 7 September 2013 Pope Francis said he asked the priest for "mercy" AFP/Getty 22/40 7 November 2013 Pope Francis caresses a sick person in Saint Peter's Square EPA 23/40 20 November 2013 Blessing a disfigured man in St. Peter's Square Rex Features 24/40 December 2013 Pope Francis has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year Time 25/40 8 December 2013 In silent prayer. Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conception at Spanish Steps December 8, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The statue was consecrated in 1857, several years after the church adopted the dogma which states that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. Following tradition, Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by venerating the statue 26/40 14 December 2013 What an interesting skull cap you have there.. A child inspects Pope Francis' attire during an audience with beneficiaries and volunteers of the Santa Marta pediatric dispensary in Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican on December 14, 2013 27/40 December 2013 Pope Francis holds a scarf of Argentine football team San Lorenzo of which he is a fan, during his visit to the Sao Jeromino Emiliani church at the Varginha favela in Rio de Janeiro GETTY IMAGES 28/40 December 2013 Pope Francis wears his papal vestment during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square as Latin America's first pontiff GETTY IMAGES 29/40 December 2013 Pope Francis wears a Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-plated silver, symbolising the Holy Father's role as a 'fishers of men' GETTY IMAGES 30/40 January 2014 "The Times They Are A-Changing" indeed: Pope Francis waves on his Rolling Stone cover shoot 31/40 5 January 2014 A seagull flies past pope Francis as he arrives for the Angelus noon prayer he celebrates from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday 5 January AP 32/40 6 January 2014 The lamb of God. The pope has a lamb put around his neck by a woman dressed as a character from the nativity scene at Church of St Alfonso Maria dei Liguori in the outskirts of Rome 33/40 13 January 2014 Pope Francis baptises one of 32 babies during a mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican 34/40 14 January 2014 Pope Francis being presented with a Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide motorcycle in Vatican 35/40 22 January 2014 Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square on January 22, 2014 at the Vatican AFP/Getty Images 36/40 January 2014 Pope Francis at the weekly papal audience in Rome, January 2014 Rex Features 37/40 February 2014 A close-up of Pope Francis' passport 38/40 19 February 2014 Facing some challenges. A gust of wind blows Pope Francis' mantle as he reads his speech during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square 39/40 26 February 2014 Pope Francis kissing a child dressed as Pope as he arrives in Saint Peter's Square to lead his Wednesday's General Audience, in Vatican City AP 40/40 5 March 2014 At work, in concentration. Pope Francis blesses the altar in the Santa Sabina church in Rome on March 5, 2014, as he celebrates the mass for Ash Wednesday, opening Lent

"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."

His comments came after the death of three-year-old Domenico Petruzzelli this week, who was brutally murdered along with his mother and her companion during a mob hit in southern Taranto in which assailants opened fire on their car.

Domenico's two older brothers, sitting in the backseat, escaped unharmed.

In January this year the remains of another toddler, Nicola Campolongo, were found in a burnt-out car in the neighbouring region of Calabria, along with his grandfather and another man.

Francis highlighted the attack in his remarks, ending his exhortation to mobsters with a reminder.

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