Pope Leo XIV calls for death‑penalty ban and rehabilitation‑focused justice at OSCE conference

On 15 May 2026, Pope Leo XIV addressed a delegation of OSCE parliamentarians in the Vatican, urging a shift in criminal‑justice policy away from capital punishment and toward the re‑education and full social reintegration of offenders. He stressed that combating drug trafficking and organized crime requires respect for human dignity, rejecting the death penalty, torture and any cruel or degrading treatment. The Pope called for comprehensive prevention measures, including medical treatment, psychological support and education in families and schools, to curb drug dependence and curb criminal networks.

The speech, delivered in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican and attended by about 120 legislators and experts, highlighted the need for a just, humane, and credible penal system that balances law enforcement with protective, rehabilitative programmes.