The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to capital punishment as practiced in most nations in the modern world, viewing death penalty as an invalid form of punishment as it is non-reformative and non-rehabilitative. However the official teaching of the Church is that the death penalty is permissible but only in certain rare circumstances. Church doctrine is that a death penalty can be necessary at times when a society does not have the means to keep its citizens safe from criminals, but that Catholics are called to oppose the death penalty if the condemned can be successfully kept behind bars to protect society. If, however, the condemned poses a threat to the well-being of society and is not likely to be able to be kept behind bars then under the principle of double effect in order to protect life, the implementation of a death penalty is permissible. The exception to the prohibition on the death penalty allowed by the Church is rare in the modern world, except in some third world countries in which governments are unstable or corrupt.[2]

Pope John Paul II was strongly opposed to capital punishment as an individual, and described it as part of a "culture of death". The current Pope, Benedict XVI, has previously stated whilst Prefect of The Congregation for The Doctrine of The Faith, that capital punishment is completely irreconcilable with the Christian Catechism, indicating a position similar to that of his predecessor.

Despite the official teachings of the church many Catholics support the death penalty, especially in countries in which it is practiced.