The Pope has condemned the Mafia as the "adoration or evil" and said organised crime group members "are excommunicated".
The comments by Pope Francis represent the strongest attacks on crime networks by the leader of the Catholic Church since the late Pope John Paul criticised the Sicilian Mafia in 1993.
Speaking about the 'Ndrangheta crime group during a mass in the southern Italy, he said: "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated.
"This evil must be fought against, it must be pushed aside. We must say no to it."
He branded the 'Ndrangheta as the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and said the Church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.
"Our children are asking for it, our young people are asking for it. They are in need of hope and faith can help respond to this need," he said.
The 'Ndrangheta is one of the biggest crime networks in Italy, with an annual turnover of an estimated £42bn, according to research firm Demoskopika.
Its influence is believed to extend to local churches in the area of southern Italy in which it mainly operates, with the network famed for tight family ties and secrecy.
