Amid growing controversy over the Israeli Knesset’s recent approval of a law permitting the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, the Catholic Church in the Holy Land is raising its voice in defense of the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of every human person.
The measure has stirred not only legal and political debate but also deep ethical and moral questions for believers about the meaning of justice and mercy in times of conflict.
In an exclusive interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Bernard Poggi, rector of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, reflected on the Church’s opposition to the death penalty and on how Christian faith can guide society toward alternatives that foster peace and reconciliation rather than deepen cycles of violence.
Poggi said human life is a divine gift that must never be violated and that any effort to impose the death penalty stands in contradiction to the core values of the Gospel and Christian ethics.
He explained that the Church’s teaching is rooted in the Book of Genesis, which affirms that the human person is created in the image of God and therefore possesses a dignity and rights that belong to God alone.
“The divine image in each person grants that person sacredness and intrinsic worth,” Poggi said. “This is why the commandment ‘You shall not kill’ remains one of the foundational principles of the Ten Commandments.”
He added that the sanctity of life extends to all humanity, pointing to the story of Cain and Abel, in which God punishes Cain for killing his brother, underscoring that human life is not for one person to take from another.
“The Church upholds the sanctity of life as a fundamental value that must be protected, and no authority has the right to impose death as punishment,” he said.
Poggi also cited paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which rejects the death penalty as an attack on human dignity and expresses the Church’s commitment to working for its abolition worldwide.
“The Catholic Church, in its official teaching, calls for the rejection of the death penalty as a violation of human dignity,” he said. “The Church is committed to working for the abolition of this punishment everywhere and to raising awareness of the sanctity of life.”
He also referred to the witness of the American religious sister Helen Prejean, whom he met and who became known for accompanying death row inmates in the United States. Prejean is the author of “Dead Man Walking,” published in 1993 and later adapted into a major film in 1995.
“Through her work, we see how the death penalty affects inmates and their families and how it raises profound moral questions about justice and mercy,” Poggi said. “Even in the harshest conditions, prisoners retain their human dignity, and that dignity belongs to God alone.”
Reflecting on the political and ethical consequences of capital punishment, Poggi warned that using the death penalty as a deterrent or political instrument distorts the very meaning of justice.“
Today, ideas of justice are often twisted in many countries and shaped by political interests rather than by human and ethical values,” he said. “Revenge becomes dominant, and innocent people are often punished as scapegoats.”
“Revenge does not achieve justice,” he continued, echoing a phrase often attributed to Mother Teresa: “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
He stressed that capital punishment robs a person of the possibility of repentance and reform and closes the door to hope.
“Every person makes mistakes,” he said. “Punishment should seek correction, not revenge. An ultimate penalty such as execution blocks the path of change and repentance.”
Poggi also warned of the political dangers of applying the death penalty in conflict zones.
“In the Middle East, anyone who politically or ideologically opposes the system can become a target simply because of their beliefs,” he said. “This threatens freedom of expression and weakens society’s ability to build justice and reconciliation.”
Speaking specifically about Palestinians, he said many detainees in Israeli prisons have had only limited opportunities to defend themselves or to receive proper legal representation.
“New laws imposing the death penalty increase the risk of killing innocent people and widen the gap between communities instead of encouraging reconciliation and mercy,” he said.
He also reflected on the spiritual meaning of the issue during Holy Week.
“We are living through Holy Week, when we remember the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, who himself was a victim of laws applied unjustly,” Poggi said. “Jesus did not defend himself through threats or force but offered an example of forgiveness and life.”
He added that the Church’s call to defend human life is the foundation for building true peace and a just society.
“Real justice is fulfilled in life, not in death,” he said. “Every person must have the door of hope left open to return from his mistakes.”
Poggi emphasized that this message is not meant only for Christians but also for the whole world. “The Holy Land needs light, not darkness; life, not blood,” he said. “The message is clear: Human life is sacred, and forgiveness is needed at every moment.”
The priest concluded with a theological reflection: “The human person is created in the image of God, and Christ offered redemption for all humanity,” he said. “Every person is called to a better life. Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and remains the supreme example of mercy and the possibility of change.”
