Skip to content

‘You Are Not Alone’: Pope Francis Meets Women Who Escaped the Mafia

Pope Francis on Monday encouraged a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy to keep fighting despite fear and to know they are not alone.

Pope Francis on Monday encouraged a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy to keep fighting despite fear and to know they are not alone.

“You, dear women, were born and raised in contexts corrupted by Mafia crime, and you have decided to come out of it. I bless this choice of yours, and I encourage you to move forward,” he said during an audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on the morning of Oct. 30.

“I imagine that there are moments of fear, of bewilderment; this is normal. In these moments think of the Lord Jesus who walks by your side,” he said. “You are not alone; keep fighting.”

The women were accompanied by Father Luigi Ciotti. The 78-year-old Italian priest is the founder of two associations: Gruppo Abele helps those with drug and other addictions and Libera combats the abuses of criminal organizations in Italy and around the world.

 

Pope Francis meets with Father Luigi Ciotti, who accompanied a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy, on Oct. 30, 2023, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis meets with Father Luigi Ciotti, who accompanied a group of women who escaped criminal organizations in Italy, on Oct. 30, 2023, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

In the audience, Pope Francis recalled that some of Jesus’ disciples were women.

“Those women — as well as the rest of the men — were not perfect people, they were not ‘angelic’: They were women tried by life, sometimes ‘infected’ by evil,” he said.

Francis said Jesus had compassion for those women and healed them from their sin. They were freed, he continued, “not by magic” but by walking with the Lord and sharing in his cross and resurrection.

“This gives us freedom!” he underlined.

Pope Francis recommended that the women keep a pocket-sized copy of the Gospels with them wherever they go and read a little bit every day.

“Every day read a passage from it, quietly, and imagine that you are with him, with the Lord, in the midst of the disciples,” he said, adding that he would ensure Ciotti provided a copy of the Gospels for each of them.

Jesus, the pope said, “walks with us every day on the road of life. His cross gives meaning to our crosses and his resurrection is a source of hope.”

“I accompany you with prayer for you and for your loved ones, especially for your children,” he concluded. “May the Lord bless you and may Our Lady protect you.”

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency. 

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Pope’s final journey: 11 symbolic moments from Francis’ funeral procession

The six-kilometer journey that transported Pope Francis’ body from St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Mary Major featured profound symbolism and emotion.

Synod on Synodality: Who is overseeing the draft report at the end of the assembly?

Synod on Synodality delegates elected this week the members of a commission who will supervise the drafting of

Americans in St. Peter’s Square celebrate historic election of Pope Leo XIV

Americans gathered in St. Peter’s Square on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. The 69-year-old Augustinian friar, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, was elected after just two days of conclave.

Pope Francis hears young people’s confessions in Lisbon

As part of the Word Youth Day celebrations this week in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis this morning heard

Pope Francis Approves Decree To Advance Sainthood Causes Of 5 People

Pope Francis has advanced five people’s paths to sainthood after approving decrees promulgated by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on March 28.

Benedict XVI’s final resting place decided: He will be buried in Vatican crypt

Benedict XVI will be buried in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican said Saturday afternoon. Benedict’s

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTN.it