The Death Penalty: Are Recent Popes Contradicting Their Predecessors?

Are recent popes contradicting their predecessors on the death penalty? What does “inadmissible” mean, and how does it fit with earlier Catholic teaching?Dr. Stephen Boyce is joined by Suan Sonna from‪@intellectualcatholicism‬ and Daniel Vecchio to examine the debate, including comparisons with the statements of Pope Pius XII and Pope Innocent III. We’ll consider their words in context, the scope of papal authority, and the distinction between doctrinal development, prudential judgment, and contradiction.Do the apparent tensions hold up under closer examination? Let’s look at the sources.