Pope John Paul II appealed to Texas Governor, George W

Pope John Paul II appealed to Texas Governor, George W.Bush, to spare the life of convicted murderer Odell Barnes, who faced execution on March 1 for a murder he claimed he never committed. The pontiff "prays the life of Mr Barnes may be saved through the compassion and magnanimity of yourself, Mr Governor, and through the Board of Pardons and Paroles," Washington Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo said in a letter sent to Bush on the Pope's behalf.