Pope Francis Urges Clemency for Death Row Inmates as Pressure Mounts on Biden

Pope Francis has called on President Joe Biden to use his executive powers to grant clemency to those on death row in the United States, joining a growing coalition of religious leaders, civil rights groups, and former prosecutors urging the president to take action before the possibility of a new administration under Donald Trump.

During his Sunday prayer, Pope Francis, a staunch opponent of the death penalty, specifically asked for prayers for those facing execution. “Let’s pray that their sentence would be commuted or changed,” he said, drawing attention to the plight of death row prisoners.

On Monday, hundreds of advocates from various sectors, including Black pastors, Catholic leaders, mental health advocates, and civil rights organizations, issued letters urging Biden to commute the sentences of those on federal death row before Trump potentially retakes office. These appeals come amid growing concerns that the incoming administration could intensify capital punishment policies, as seen during Trump’s first term when the U.S. executed 13 people in rapid succession—the highest number of federal executions in modern U.S. history.

Biden has faced increasing calls to act, particularly after he granted clemency to his son, Hunter Biden. While Biden has issued a moratorium on federal executions, he has not yet signaled whether he will take further steps to commute sentences.

The push for clemency emphasizes significant concerns about racial bias, mental health, and the potential for executing innocent individuals. Nearly 40 men currently remain on federal death row, with 38% of them being Black, despite Black Americans comprising only 14% of the U.S. population. Many of these inmates were young when they committed their alleged crimes, with almost a quarter under the age of 21.

A group of 38 current and former district attorneys, including former prosecutors and justice department officials, outlined the fundamental flaws in the capital punishment system in a letter released on Monday. They highlighted how the system often targets the most vulnerable individuals, including those with mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. They also argued that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime.

Another letter from current prison officials, including those who have overseen executions, pointed to the severe psychological toll executions take on correctional staff. “We have witnessed depression, suicide, substance abuse, domestic turmoil, and other manifestations of trauma,” the group wrote, urging the president to reconsider the federal death penalty.

Advocates argue that the money spent on executions could be better utilized for crime reduction programs and support for victims’ families. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, the Innocence Project, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness have joined the call for clemency.

Trump’s pro-death penalty stance remains a prominent aspect of his political rhetoric, with calls for executions of individuals involved in drug offenses. His supporters, including those aligned with Project 2025, have advocated for the expansion of the death penalty and the swift execution of federal death row inmates.

As the debate over the future of capital punishment in the U.S. intensifies, the question of clemency remains a critical issue for the Biden administration, with advocates urging the president to act decisively to address what they describe as a "crisis" in the U.S. criminal justice system.