«Support for those who fight for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States of America and throughout the world.” Pope Leo XIV’s encouragement to do without capital punishment arrives with a video in English, directed at DePaul University in Chicago, in the United States. On the fifteenth anniversary of the cancellation of this type of punishment in the State of Illinois, an event celebrated on the evening of April 24, the Pontiff underlines that «it is possible to protect the common good and safeguard the requirements of justice without resorting to capital punishment». Recalling the teachings of Pope Francis and the entire Catholic Church, he recalls that “every human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, is sacred and deserves to be protected”.
The video arrives the day after returning from the trip to Africa. On the return flight Leone had firmly condemned «the killing of people. I condemn the death penalty”he said because “the life of all people – from conception to natural death – must be respected and protected”.
Furthermore, he adds, in the video message that «the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes have been committed. Furthermore, effective detention systems can and have been developed that protect citizens without completely depriving offenders of the possibility of redemption.” And so, as the Church teaches, “the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person” and all necessary efforts must be made that “lead to a greater recognition of the dignity of every person and inspire others to work for the same just cause”.
«I therefore join you in celebrating the decision made by the Governor of Illinois in 2011 and I offer my support», concludes the pope in the video, «to those who fight for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States of America and in the world. I pray that your efforts lead to greater recognition of the dignity of every person and inspire others to work for the same just cause».
