Pope Francis has urged young people in Italy to resist the lure of "easy earnings or dishonest income" and instead find honest work.
The Holy Father was speaking in an impoverished area of Naples where more than half of young people are jobless and many will end up joining the Mafia.
Francis said young people must hold onto hope and not be taken into a life of crime by local 'dons'.
Speaking to the residents of Scampia, a rundown neighbourhood dominated by mobsters, the Pope bemoaned the unemployment level.
He also called on the Mafia to abandon its criminal ways and turn to God.
Young people must resist the "easy earnings or dishonest income" of crime, he said.
News you can believe in. Stand with Premier Christian News today.
Your gift today ensures that Premier Christian News can press forward in strength, reaching more people with biblical truth and shaping the future of Christian thought. It’s more than just a donation—it’s an investment in renewed minds and transformed lives.
Without continued support, the ability to create and distribute resources that strengthen faith and equip the church will be compromised. But with your help, we can grow deeper, stand firmer, and shine brighter in the culture.
Your support today is critical.
Support Us