Pope Francis Message to 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, June 22 2016
“There is no fitting punishment without hope! Punishment for its own sake, without room for hope, is a form of torture, not of punishment.”
In a video message to the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, Pope Francis spoke before a crowd of over 1,000 people about the importance of criminal justice reform. He highlighted the need for respect of all life, including the lives of criminals as well as the importance of maintaining the possibility of redemption for those convicted. The Pope referenced the Ten Commandments to stress that “thou shalt not kill” applies to all people and called once again for an end to state-sanctioned killings.