Pope Francis has condemned the use of the death penalty , saying nothing can justify it and there is no 'right ' way to humanely kill another person . He outlined his opposition to capital punishment in a letter to the International Commission Against the Death Penalty , a group of former government officials and jurists . Following their audience with the Pope at the Vatican on Friday , he wrote the principle of 'legitimate personal defence ' does not justify executing someone . Thumbs up : Pope Francis smiles to the crowd as he greets with members of the public in Naples , Italy today . 'No justification ' : Pope Francis has condemned the death penalty as a form of vengeance rather than a way of granting justice to victims . Opposition : Pope Francis said nothing can justify the death penalty and there is no 'right ' way to humanely kill another person . The Argentine pontiff said : 'When the death penalty is applied , it is not for a current act of aggression , but rather for an act committed in the past . 'Nowadays the death penalty is inadmissible , no matter how serious the crime committed . ' He was referencing teachings by the church that suggest modern prison systems make executions unnecessary . Pope Francis added that capital punishment 'does not render justice to the victims , but rather fosters vengeance ' . Condemnation : The pontiff , who has been holding events in Naples today , outlined his opposition to capital punishment in a letter to the International Commission Against the Death Penalty . Self defence : Following the campaign group 's audience with the Pope at the Vatican on Friday , he wrote the principle of 'legitimate personal defence ' does not justify executing someone . The Pope speaks at a meeting with youth and families as part of the pastoral visit in Naples ' this afternoon . Executions : Pope Francis also criticised life imprisonment which he described as a 'covert sort of death sentence ' Hopeless : In his remarks on Friday , he said a lifelong sentence 'deprives detainees not only of their freedom , but also of hope ' Faithful supporters arrived at the seafront in Naples to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis during his pastoral visit today . 'For the rule of law , the death penalty represents a failure , as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice . ' Although he did not mention the United States specifically , he spoke about debates centred around which methods are most humane . He added : 'There is discussion in some quarters about the method of killing , as if it were possible to find ways of `` getting it right '' . But there is no humane way of killing another person . ' In previous comments , Francis even denounced life imprisonment as another punishment that can not be justified . The Argentina pontiff who is visiting Naples today said that 'when the death penalty is applied , it is not for a current act of aggression , but rather for an act committed in the past . Lawless : He claims that for the rule of law , 'the death penalty represents a failure , as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice ' Holy visit : The Pope has been visiting Naples today where he dined with at least 10 gay , transgender and HIV-suffering prisoners of a local prison . Impassioned : Although he did not mention the United States specifically , he condemned debates centred around which methods are most humane . All wrong : The Argentine pontiff said 'there is no humane way of killing another person ' In his remarks on Friday , he called lifelong sentences a 'sort of covert death penalty ' since it 'deprives detainees not only of their freedom , but also of hope ' . He has had lunch with at least ten gay , transgender and HIV-suffering patients on a day trip to Naples today . They were among 90 inmates dining with the pontiff who wished to get to know each of them personally . It formed part of a busy day for the Pope who prayed at a sanctuary in Pompeii in the morning and will hold a number of public events before returning to the Vatican tonight . Pope Francis kisses the ampulla containing the blood of San Gennaro at the Duomo as part of pastoral visit . The pontiff with Naples ' Archbishop Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe ( on his left ) as he blesses a relic believed to be the blood of San Gennaro at Naples ' Cathedral today during his one-day visit .
Pope Francis has outlined his opposition to capital punishment in a letter . Pontiff said death penalty 'fosters vengeance ' and does not 'render justice ' Also criticised life imprisonment , which he says is 'covert death sentence ' He is on a day trip to Naples today where he visited inmates in local prison . Francis had lunch with 10 gay , transgender and HIV-suffering inmates there .