Prayer for the World October 7, 2026
Prayer to End the Death Penalty
Introduction: We lend support to “Catholic Mobilizing Network” in their work to end the death penalty by our prayer, by signing petitions when invited by Death Penalty Action and by our financial contribution. Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, their Executive Director, who visited Victory Noll in March, met with Pope Leo on June 17 and presented him a framed drawing from a man on Ohio’s death row with 28 names of men who have scheduled execution dates. We pray for the day when justice may be rooted in mercy and restoration instead of vengeance and death.
Song: Taize O Lord Heart My Prayer,
O Lord Hear my prayer, O Lord Hear my prayer. Come and Listen to me.
Reading for Reflection:
It is an intense and distressing time for those of us fighting against the death penalty in the United States. …
Last year there were 47 executions—the most in a decade—and we are already up to 24 in 2026.
In the face of such death there is an urgent need for strong, moral voices to demand a stop to the immoral practice of state-sanctioned homicide.
Our Catholic faith calls each one of us to be that voice. And thankfully we have leaders setting prophetic examples.
Starting at the top, Pope Leo XIV has put it succinctly: “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion’ but says, ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life.” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy
Silent prayer and Reflection
Intercessions Our response: we thank you, God, and pray for mercy.
In gratitude and support we pray:
For Bishop William Wack of Pensacola—Tallahassee who held vigil the entire day in front of the prison, when Florida killed two men in one day.
For Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami who has publicly condemned the execution rampage and spoke with Catholic Mobilizing Network on “Does Every Life Really Mean Every Life?”
For the Florida bishops who unanimously issued a compelling pastoral letter on the death penalty in July.
For South Dakota State Republican Rep. Tim Reisch, who changed his view on the death penalty, after hearing Pope Leo speak about what it means to be pro-life, and wrote a bill to repeal the death penalty in his state.
For Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine who changed from being a state legislator who co-wrote the bill to reinstate Ohio’s death penalty to a governor who has postponed every execution while in office to announcing his belief that Ohio should abolish the death penalty. In his words, “I no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent to murder.”
For California Gov. Gavin Newsome who put a moratorium on executions and dismantled California’s death chamber.
God of Compassion, You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust.Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life.For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death row and kill the killers in the name of justice, in the name of peace.Jesus, our brother, you suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you.
Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal.Holy Spirit of God, You strengthen us in the struggle for justice,
Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart,
so that violence will be no more. Amen. - Sister Helen Prejean
Silent Prayer
Song: Taize O Lord Hear My Prayer