In his recent speech to diplomats and other comments, Pope Leo appealed to a certain prudential consideration concerning capital punishment without making the mistake of implying that the death penalty is inherently wrong. Unlike Pope Francis, Leo does not appeal to rhetoric about human dignity. John Paul II did, although always in a qualified way that made it clear that he was not saying the death penalty is always or intrinsically contrary to human dignity. Francis did so in a rhetorically extreme and reckless way, implying it is inherently contrary to human dignity. Pope Benedict’s approach, by contrast, was to appeal to another consideration, namely that refraining from executing the offender leaves open the possibility of his repentance. Pope Leo’s return to a more sober and traditional opposition is a welcome development.
