Pope to Catholic Leaders: Do Not Allow Executions this Year
Reposted from Equal Justice USA
February 21, 2016
Pope Francis on Sunday urged Catholic leaders
to show "exemplary" courage by not allowing executions this year,
while expressing hope that eventually the death penalty will be abolished
worldwide. Francis told tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square that
"the commandment 'do not kill' holds absolute value and applies to both
the innocent and the guilty." He added that there is
"an ever more widespread opposition in public opinion to the death
penalty, even only as an instrument of legitimate social defense."
"I appeal to the conscience of those who govern so that
international consensus is reached for the abolishment of the death
penalty," the pope said. "And I propose to all those among them who
are Catholic to make a courageous and exemplary gesture: may no execution
sentence be carried out in this Holy Year of Mercy."
