“The death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person”, which are not lost “even after very serious crimes have been committed”. This is what Leo Below, in our translation from English, is the text of the pontifical video message released yesterday evening, Friday 24 April.
Dear friends,
I am pleased to greet all of you gathered here at DePaul University to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the decision to abolish the death penalty in the State of Illinois.
The Catholic Church has always taught that every human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, is sacred and deserves to be protected. In fact, the right to life is the very foundation of every other human right. For this reason, only when a society protects the sacredness of human life can it flourish and prosper (see Speech to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy SeeJanuary 9, 2026).
In this regard, we affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes have been committed. Furthermore, effective detention systems can be developed, and have been developed, which protect citizens but, at the same time, do not completely deprive criminals of the possibility of redeeming themselves (see Catechism of the Catholic Churchn. 2267). This is why Pope Francis and my recent predecessors have repeatedly reiterated that it is possible to protect the common good and safeguard the requirements of justice without resorting to capital punishment. Therefore, the Church teaches that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person” (Ibid).
So I join you in celebrating the Governor of Illinois’ 2011 decision and offer my support to those fighting to abolish the death penalty in the United States of America and around the world. I pray that your efforts will lead to greater recognition of the dignity of every person and inspire others to work for the same just cause.
With these sentiments, I cordially invoke upon all of you the divine blessings of wisdom, joy and peace.
Thank you.
