ADOM :: Pope Francis: 'Death penalty is inadmissible'

By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

VATICAN CITY | The Pope Video for September has just been released with the prayer intention that the Holy Father is entrusting to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. This month, Francis invites us to pray “that the death penalty, which attacks the dignity of the human person, may be legally abolished in every country.”

Capital punishment continues to be present in the world.

In this edition of the Pope Video — produced in collaboration with the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a U.S. based Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice through education, advocacy, and prayer — Pope Francis celebrates the fact that rejection of the death penalty is spreading throughout the world, something the Church considers “a sign of hope.”

Indeed, according to data from the United Nations, some 170 countries have abolished the death penalty, have imposed a moratorium on its implementation in legislation or in practice, or have suspended executions for more than 10 years. Nevertheless, capital punishment continues to be applied in 55 countries on various continents.

The Church’s position on the death penalty

From John Paul II to Benedict XVI, the popes have spoken out firmly in recent decades against the use of capital punishment by governments. Pope Francis took an additional step in 2018 by approving a new paragraph in the catechism, clearly condemning capital punishment and expressing the Church’s commitment to its complete abolition.

In this month’s video, which arrives at a moment marked by news of death sentences and executions in various parts of the world, the Holy Father calls upon not only Christians, but all people of good will.

He reiterates that “capital punishment offers no justice to victims, but rather encourages revenge.” From a moral perspective, it is inadmissible because “it destroys the most important gift we have received: life.”

Finally, “in the light of the Gospel, the death penalty is unacceptable. The commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ refers to both the innocent and the guilty.” In addition, there are other motives for rejecting the death penalty: possible miscarriages of justice, and the fact that “up to the very last moment, a person can convert and can change.”

“Always, in every legal sentence, there must be a window of hope,” Francis explains.

Comments from readers

Alain - 09/14/2022 10:53 PM

I believe at least in America we need to outlaw abortion before even taking on the problem of capital punishment 👍

Rey Bonachea - 09/08/2022 12:00 PM

To me the issue is a lot simpler. Look at how many people in death row have been exonerated by DNA and other evidence. If someone is executed, even if new evidence exonerates, there is nothing one can do to bring that person back. Given the imperfect system of justice which is administered by imperfect humans as demonstrated by the many exonerations, a single execution of an innocent person is enough for me to say, "do not execute anyone".

Gustavo - 09/05/2022 07:23 PM

Even when it is a question of the execution of a condemned man, the State does not dispose of the individual’s right to life. In this case it is reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned person of the **enjoyment** of life in expiation of his crime when, by his crime, he has already disposed himself of his right to live. --Pope Pious XII

Dudley Sharp - 09/04/2022 07:18 AM

1) Pope Francis (PF) says: "The death penalty is morally inadmissible, for it destroys the most important gift we have received: life." Reply: Since Genesis 9:6, or for 6000 years (biblical timeline), then with the Catholic Church, from Jesus to 2018, the Church found the death penalty admissible, as nearly all Popes, Fathers and Doctors of the Church, somehow, knew that executions took life, but found it appropriate, by scripture, theology,tradition and reason (1). 2) PF: "The commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ refers to both the innocent and the guilty.” Reply: This is a huge biblical blunder. "Thou shalt not kill", only, applies to unlawful killings, such as murder (1). We may, if deemed necessary, kill in self defense, defense of others, in a just war and with executions, all against unjust aggressors (1). 3) PF: " Let us not forget that, up to the very last moment, a person can convert and change." Reply: That is, precisely, the point. We can all convert and change, prior to our death, no matter what and when that death may be, be it cancer, old age, in the womb, car wreck, murder, execution, etc.The Church cannot, simply, pick out one type of death, as all of us have that last moment to change, no matter what our type of death. 4) PF: "Revenge resolves nothing". Reply: In a system, as that in the US, the death penalty cannot be revenge. Neither judge, nor jury nor prosecutors can have any connection to the murders, the defendant must be presumed innocent, all laws and punishment are decided by the legislative branch, judges and juries must only decide, by the facts and the law, what punishment is appropriate, under the law, which they did not establish, all of which are contrary to revenge. Obvious. Another Church anti death penalty disaster.

Gustavo - 09/01/2022 11:20 PM

It is against the words of Scripture; in the book of Genesis, capital punishment is permitted precisely because murder violates man’s dignity as being made in the image of God: “Whosoever shall shed man’s blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God.” (Gen 9:6)

Alain - 09/14/2022 10:53 PM: I believe at least in America we need to outlaw abortion before even taking on the problem of capital punishment 👍

Rey Bonachea - 09/08/2022 12:00 PM: To me the issue is a lot simpler. Look at how many people in death row have been exonerated by DNA and other evidence. If someone is executed, even if new evidence exonerates, there is nothing one can do to bring that person back. Given the imperfect system of justice which is administered by imperfect humans as demonstrated by the many exonerations, a single execution of an innocent person is enough for me to say, "do not execute anyone".

Gustavo - 09/05/2022 07:23 PM: Even when it is a question of the execution of a condemned man, the State does not dispose of the individual’s right to life. In this case it is reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned person of the **enjoyment** of life in expiation of his crime when, by his crime, he has already disposed himself of his right to live. --Pope Pious XII

Dudley Sharp - 09/04/2022 07:18 AM: 1) Pope Francis (PF) says: "The death penalty is morally inadmissible, for it destroys the most important gift we have received: life." Reply: Since Genesis 9:6, or for 6000 years (biblical timeline), then with the Catholic Church, from Jesus to 2018, the Church found the death penalty admissible, as nearly all Popes, Fathers and Doctors of the Church, somehow, knew that executions took life, but found it appropriate, by scripture, theology,tradition and reason (1). 2) PF: "The commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ refers to both the innocent and the guilty.” Reply: This is a huge biblical blunder. "Thou shalt not kill", only, applies to unlawful killings, such as murder (1). We may, if deemed necessary, kill in self defense, defense of others, in a just war and with executions, all against unjust aggressors (1). 3) PF: " Let us not forget that, up to the very last moment, a person can convert and change." Reply: That is, precisely, the point. We can all convert and change, prior to our death, no matter what and when that death may be, be it cancer, old age, in the womb, car wreck, murder, execution, etc.The Church cannot, simply, pick out one type of death, as all of us have that last moment to change, no matter what our type of death. 4) PF: "Revenge resolves nothing". Reply: In a system, as that in the US, the death penalty cannot be revenge. Neither judge, nor jury nor prosecutors can have any connection to the murders, the defendant must be presumed innocent, all laws and punishment are decided by the legislative branch, judges and juries must only decide, by the facts and the law, what punishment is appropriate, under the law, which they did not establish, all of which are contrary to revenge. Obvious. Another Church anti death penalty disaster.

Gustavo - 09/01/2022 11:20 PM: It is against the words of Scripture; in the book of Genesis, capital punishment is permitted precisely because murder violates man’s dignity as being made in the image of God: “Whosoever shall shed man’s blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God.” (Gen 9:6)

Feature News | Thursday, September 01, 2022

Pope Francis: 'Death penalty is inadmissible'

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By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

Comments from readers