Pope to Catholic Leaders: Don’t Allow Executions This Year

In a heartfelt plea to the Catholics worldwide, Pope Francis called for the death penalty to be abolished across the world, saying the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”, should be applied to both the innocent and guilty.

Before the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis discussed the Gospel reading and the Transfiguration of Jesus.

When the pope spoke to the U.S. Congress in September he also urged legislators to consider an abolishment. Even criminals “maintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God”.

This video includes clips from the Vatican, USA Today and images from Getty Images.

“And I suggest to those who are Catholic to make a courageous and exemplary gesture by ensuring that no condemned prisoners are executed during this Holy Year of Mercy”.

“The commandment “You shall not kill” has absolute value and covers both the innocent that the culprit”.

The pontiff said that there is now “an opposition increasingly strong to the death penalty, even for the legitimate defense of society”, because according to him, modern means exist to “effectively punish a crime without definitively denying the one who committed the possibility of redemption”.

For centuries the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church allowed the death penalty in extreme cases, but the position began changing under the late Pope John Paul, who died in 2005. The capital punishment by firing squad is reserved for especially severe offenses, such as aggravated murder and genocide.

Since the beginning of his papacy almost three years ago, Pope Francis has advocated for inmates rights, expressing concerns that prisoners should be treated with dignity.

Francis called on all Christians and all those of good will to work not only to abolish capital punishment but also to improve prison conditions.