(ANSA) - New York, October 1 - Pope Francis has written
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to plead for mercy for
convicted serial rapist and killer Alfred Prieto, who is set to
be executed by lethal injection on Thursday.
This is the third time in two days the pontiff has asked
American authorities to refrain from carrying out the death
penalty and to commute the sentences to life in prison instead.
On Wednesday, Francis appealed to Oklahoma Governor Mary
Fallin to spare the life of Richard Glossip, who was convicted
of orchestrating the 1997 murder of his boss Barry Van Treese to
cover up a theft.
Commuting his death sentence to life in prison would "give
clearer witness to the value and dignity of every person's
life," Francis wrote Fallin.
Glossip has repeatedly claimed his innocence, saying he was
framed.
His execution was postponed to November 6 over doubts about
the chemicals to be used for the lethal injection.
The Catholic pope also intervened to try to spare the life
of Kelly Renee Gissendaner, a mother of two who was executed
Wednesday in Georgia for masterminding the murder of her husband
in order to cash in on his life insurance.
http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/
Pope urges mercy for death row inmate
Third appeal in three days