He has appealed for a moratorium on recourse to the death penalty, at least on the occasion of the forthcoming Jubilee Year. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. All too often, in many societies, the carrying out of the death penalty is accompanied by unacceptable public signs of frightening vengeance and revenge. All too often it is persons who are poor or who belong to ethnic minorities who are more likely to incur this penalty. Even young people and people with limited mental capacity are executed.
Criminal activity demands effective punishment.
But there is no definitive evidence to support the belief that the death penalty reduces the likelihood of capital crimes being committed. Populist exploitation of feelings of fear or insecurity is no substitute for hard evidence. Crime will be overcome significantly by comprehensive policies of moral education, of effective police work and by addressing the root causes of criminality. Punishment should be secure and proportionate to the crime, but should also be directed at restoring the criminal, wherever possible, to being a constructive member of society. At the dawn of a new millennium, it is befitting that humanity becomes more humane and less cruel.