Papal backing for efforts to end capital punishment

November 30, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI encouraged efforts to eliminate the death penalty during his regular weekly public audience on November 30.

At the conclusion of his prepared remarks, the Pope recognized some of the groups that were on hand for his audience, including participants in a conference on the death penalty, organized by the St. Egidio community. Speaking in English, the Pontiff said:

I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Benedict: support for efforts to eliminate death penalty (Vatican Radio)
• Encouraging Initiatives to Eliminate the Death Penalty (VIS)
• Windows open to Heaven (L'Osservatore Romano)