{"id":13062,"date":"2016-02-21T22:39:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-21T22:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-francis-against-the-death-penalty-criminals-too-have-the-right-to-life-34283\/"},"modified":"2016-02-21T22:39:00","modified_gmt":"2016-02-21T22:39:00","slug":"pope-francis-against-the-death-penalty-criminals-too-have-the-right-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/02\/pope-francis-against-the-death-penalty-criminals-too-have-the-right-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis against the death penalty: criminals too have the right to life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Feb 21, 2016 \/ 03:39 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday.<\/p>\n

After praying the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter\u2019s Square, Pope Francis called on all Christians and people of good will to work \u201cnot only for the abolition of the death penalty\u201d but also to improve the conditions in prison. These efforts would respect the human dignity of prisoners, he said.<\/p>\n

He appealed to the consciences of government leaders to join \u201cthe international consensus for the abolition of the death penalty.\u201d He asked Catholic leaders not to hold executions during the Year of Mercy. This would be as a \u201ccourageous and exemplary act,\u201d he said Feb. 21.<\/p>\n

Rome will host an international convention for those working to abolish the death penalty on Feb. 22. The event is being promoted by the Sant\u2019Egidio Community.<\/p>\n

Pope Francis said he hoped that the gathering can strengthen efforts to abolish capital punishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe commandment \u2018Thou shall not kill\u2019 has absolute value and concerns both the innocent and the guilty,\u201d he said. Even criminals \u201cmaintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the penal system must always be open to the hope of reintegrating criminals into society.<\/p>\n

The Pope condemned the death penalty on Sept. 24, 2015 during his visit to the United States
\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n\u201cThe Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development,\u201d he told a joint meeting of Congress.<\/p>\n

Before the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis discussed the Gospel reading and the Transfiguration of Jesus. He connected this to his recent trip to Mexico.
\n\u00a0
\nThe Pope said his apostolic visit to Mexico was \u201can experience of transfiguration.\u201d He added: \u201cthe Lord has shown us the light of his glory through the body of the Church, the body of his holy people who live in that land.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pope spoke with many people during the Feb. 12-18 visit, including families, workers and prisoners.<\/p>\n

He said these people gave \u201ca testimony of a clear and strong faith, the testimony of a lived faith, of a faith that transfigures life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Vatican City, Feb 21, 2016 \/ 03:39 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday.<\/p>\n

After praying the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis called …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nPope Francis against the death penalty: criminals too have the right to life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Feb 21, 2016 \/ 03:39 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday. 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