The world is leaving the death penalty behind. In his book, Mario Marazziti, shares an optimistic outlook, despite the difficult subject matter. He is a journalist, politician and spokesperson for the Community of Sant'Egidio, one of the most active institutions against capital punishment.
In 1970, only 20 countries banned the death penalty. Currently, 150 countries have abolished it. The world has quickly changed its views on capital punishment, says the author of 'Life: From Cain to the Caliphate, to a world without the death penalty.â?
MARIO MARAZZITI
Author, 'Life: From Cain to the Caliphate, to a world without the death penaltyâ?
'I think we are not far from a time when most of the world's countries will completely do away with it. Last year, only 20 out of 200 countries used the death penalty, even though about 50 states allow for it under their laws.â?
Marazziti says that the European Union and the Catholic Church are among those responsible for this progress. He believes that Pope Francis is finishing the work that Pope John Paul II started.
POPE FRANCIS
September 24, 2015
'I am convinced that this is the best way, because every life is sacred.â?
MARIO MARAZZITI
Author, 'Life: From Cain to the Caliphate, to a world without the death penaltyâ?
'The Church is the largest agency against the death penalty, joined by the EU. I think Pope Francis will help instill that the world is safer without revenge and without humiliating life with the death penalty and suggests that for every evil there is always a chance of redemption.â?
The author believes that there is no relationship between the application of the death penalty and the reduction of crime. He cites Canada as an example, where the number of crimes has fallen since the death penalty was abolished.
Ironically, the former head of Death Row in Texas is now against the death penalty, after seeing it up close.
While capital punishment is declining in the world, the Community of Sant'Egidio works quietly to support those who are on death row and raise awareness about the inhumanity of the killings.
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