Vatican City
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 23, 1999 · On January 23, addressing 10,000 Roman Catholics crammed...
- News items in the archive
- 84
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Vatican City is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 84 news items on Vatican City, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
DECEMBER 12, 2024Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYPOPE CALLS FOR DEBT FORGIVENESS, ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Pope Francis called for debt relief for the poor countries of the South of the globe and the universal abolition of the death penalty in his message for World Peace Day 2025, which takes place on January 1.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2022Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYPOPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE END TO DEATH PENALTY
Pope Francis called for a worldwide end to the death penalty in a video released on 31 August 2022 announcing his prayer intention for September.
OCTOBER 20, 2020Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVatican City - Orthodox Church Patriarch Calls Death Penalty Incompatible with Christian Beliefs.
Vatican City - Orthodox Church Patriarch Calls Death Penalty Incompatible with Christian Beliefs.
- OCTOBER 3, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Vatican City. New Papal Encyclical Tells Catholics There is ‘No Stepping Back’ From Opposition to Death Penalty.
USA - Vatican City. New Papal Encyclical Tells Catholics There is ‘No Stepping Back’ From Opposition to Death Penalty.
JUNE 25, 2020Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVATICAN CITY - “The new Directory for Catechesis”, recalls that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
VATICAN CITY - “The new Directory for Catechesis”, recalls that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
- JANUARY 1, 2020Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2019Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- AUGUST 17, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Vatican City. 75 Catholic priests and scholars ask Francis to backtrack on death penalty
USA - Vatican City. 75 Catholic priests and scholars ask Francis to backtrack on death penalty
- AUGUST 2, 2018Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE CHANGES CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING ON DEATH PENALTY, BRANDS IT ‘INADMISSIBLE’ & WANTS ABOLITION
The Roman Catholic Church said that the death penalty is always inadmissible as it “attacks” human dignity, calling for its abolition worldwide. The statement marks a change in Catholic Church teaching.
- AUGUST 1, 2018Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis Formally Changes Catholic Church Stance on Death Penalty, Calling It “Inadmissible”.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis Formally Changes Catholic Church Stance on Death Penalty, Calling It “Inadmissible”.
- JANUARY 1, 2018Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- OCTOBER 11, 2017Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE FRANCIS: DEATH PENALTY IS CONTRARY TO THE GOSPEL
In a speech to members of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, Pope Francis said the topic of the death penalty should have “a more adequate and coherent space” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- JANUARY 1, 2017Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JUNE 21, 2016Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE FRANCIS: VIDEO MESSAGE TO DEATH PENALTY CONFERENCE
Pope Francis sent a video message to the participants in the Sixth World Conference Against the Death Penalty, taking place this week in Oslo, Norway.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2016Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Pope Francis called for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, saying the commandment "You shall not kill" was absolute and equally valid for the guilty as for the innocent. Using some of his strongest words ever against capital punishment, he als
- JANUARY 1, 2016Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
MARCH 5, 2015Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVATICAN CITY STATE: HOLY SEE CALLS FOR A GLOBAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
The Holy See called today for a global moratorium on the use of the death penalty aiming at the abolition.
- JANUARY 1, 2015Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- OCTOBER 23, 2014Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE: ‘ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY - LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS A HIDDEN DEATH PENALTY’
“Abolish the death penalty, be it legal or illegal, and in all its forms. Abolish it also in order to improve prison
- OCTOBER 23, 2014Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY: POPE FRANCIS BLASTS SUPERMAX PRISONS AS ‘TORTURE’
Pope Francis said that keeping inmates isolated in maximum security prisons is “a form of torture,” and called life sentences “a hidden death penalty” that should be abolished along with capital punishment.
- JANUARY 1, 2014Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2013Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JUNE 5, 2012Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
USA - Vatican City. 'Vatileaks' sheds light on Chicago's Cardinal Francis George's role in politics
USA - Vatican City. 'Vatileaks' sheds light on Chicago's Cardinal Francis George's role in politics
JUNE 5, 2012Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVATICAN CITY: 'VATILEAKS' SHEDS LIGHT ON CARDINAL GEORGE'S ROLE IN POLITICS
Reams of private Vatican correspondence published in a new Italian best-seller reportedly include
- JANUARY 1, 2012Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2011Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE SEEKS END TO DEATH PENALTY
Pope Benedict XVI voiced support for political actions around the world aimed at eliminating the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2011Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2010Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- APRIL 15, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
- JANUARY 5, 2009Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
HOLY SEE: POPE HAILS UN CALL FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
Pope Benedict XVI hailed last month's UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and called for a debate on the sanctity of life.