HOLY FATHER ASKS THAT DEATH PENALTY BE ABOLISHED

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 1999 (VIS) - Today, after praying the angelus with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul appealed for the abolition of the death penalty.

"This evening, at the Colosseum," he said, "there will be a demonstration which is part of a worldwide campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty. The Great Jubilee is a privileged occasion to promote around the world ever more mature forms of respect for the life and dignity of each person. I therefore renew my appeal to all leaders to reach an international consensus to abolish the death penalty, given that (according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church) 'the cases of absolute necessity for executing malefactors are by now so rare, if not practically non-existent'."

During the Holy Year, the Colosseum will be lit up during the day with special gold lights each time that a condemned person is spared the death penalty.

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