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The
1.2 billion-member Catholic Church has allowed the death penalty
in extreme cases for centuries, but the position began to change
under the late Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005.
The Vatican said it had changed its universal catechism, a
summary of Church teaching, to reflect Pope Francis' total
opposition to capital punishment.
According to the new entry in the catechism, "the death penalty
is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and
dignity of the person", it said, citing an address by Pope
Francis.
The new provision is expected to run into stiff opposition from
Catholics in countries such as the United States, where many
Catholics support the death penalty.
The change was enacted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, which is the body responsible for promulgating and
defending Catholic doctrine.
(Reporting by Phil Pulella and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by
Kevin Liffey)
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