Vatican City: Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the sanctity of human life, the Holy See has once again called for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Addressing the 2025 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference during its plenary session on the rule of law, the Vatican underscored that every person’s dignity bestowed by God remains inviolable from conception to natural death.
Msgr. Lucas Marabese, Deputy Head of Mission of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), delivered the Vatican’s statement, emphasizing that human dignity is not a privilege granted by law but an unchangeable truth rooted in divine creation.
“The dignity of the human person is given by God and cannot be diminished or revoked,” he said, adding that the Church firmly condemns all forms of physical or psychological torture, coercion, or cruelty. Such acts, he explained, are incompatible with both human rights and moral law.
The Vatican delegation reiterated the Church’s consistent opposition to any inhumane treatment, citing international instruments that enshrine the absolute ban on torture as a non-negotiable principle of justice.
Msgr. Marabese also urged institutions tasked with determining criminal responsibility to uphold justice through humane and transparent processes. “Judicial proceedings must always be conducted in full respect of the dignity and rights of the human person,” he said. “The search for truth must never come at the cost of a person’s humanity.”
The Holy See reminded participants that the rule of law must be built upon justice that heals rather than punishes destructively, serving both the individual and the common good.
Turning to the issue of capital punishment, the Vatican representative acknowledged its historical use but highlighted the growing global awareness that the death penalty contradicts the principle of human dignity.
He noted that modern penal systems are increasingly capable of safeguarding public safety without resorting to execution. Such developments, he said, affirm the Church’s conviction that even those guilty of grave crimes retain their innate worth and the possibility of moral conversion.
“Bearing this in mind, the Holy See considers the death penalty excluded,” Msgr. Marabese declared. “It is an attack on the sacredness and dignity of the human person. Therefore, we will continue to press with determination for its worldwide abolition.”
The Holy See’s renewed appeal reflects its long-standing teaching, reinforced by Pope Francis and his predecessors, that the death penalty undermines the Gospel’s call to mercy and reconciliation.
By advocating for its abolition, the Vatican seeks not only to protect the lives of offenders but also to promote a culture of life that recognizes every individual’s capacity for redemption.
In conclusion, Msgr. Marabese urged nations to move toward justice systems rooted in compassion, rehabilitation, and respect for life. “True justice,” he said, “is measured not by the severity of punishment but by the depth of humanity it preserves.”