That sound you hear is Republican American Catholics' heads exploding

I really don't put too much thought into what Francis says (but I'd say I lean more Democrat).

Isn't heads exploding kind of dramatic? I don't know anyone who is so staunchly let's use the death penalty, really. If life in prison means life in prison I think almost all are cool with that (as in they can at least accept that) anyhow.

Catholics have also updated their beliefs regarding evolution (though it may not be as formal as on this one). Not that I have any personal opinion on the issue of death penalty, I do like it when a religion or sect changes or updates its stance on any issue to make it more right as per current perceptions. Non-theists should welcome such changes in religious schools. Many times religions keep on following or justifying whatever wrong practises are part of their text or customs. It takes courage to admit that something was wrong about previous stance. Although in this case Pope can justify (from his end) that Christianity was always against the death penalty.

Catholicism and their view of the death penalty should not be new to conservative Catholics even if they disagree with it.

Maybe he'd have just foregone the whole torture/sacrifice thing and just forgiven people?

Almost seems like the story doesn't make sense. As if it's just made  up.

   In my many years of experience it appears that many people who think there should be a "death penalty" are really more concerned about "self defense" and are afraid that unless a "death penalty" is allowed by law they will not adequately be able to defend themselves.  Most people would not kill a person who is locked in a cage.  If the criminal gets out of the cage and starts to go somewhere he shouldn't, then it gets really complicated and there can be endless arguments what qualifies as self defense.

   The argument that the cost of maintaining the life of a criminal justifies killing him in some cases in the cage ignores the cost of determining whether he should be killed, which can be tens of times more expensive than basic subsistence, even over the course of many years.  Compare the minimum wage to the fees of the several top lawyers, judges and courts.

   Some people of course have a problem with how much legal matters cost and would have them made less expensive, but that is another matter entirely.

   That's a problem that gives people in insurance companies nightmares.

   Of course there is no amount of money "equal" to the value of a human life.  There is just an amount they agree in advance to pay.  Similarly in judgements against people who accidentally cause death there is an amount of money equal to the legal penalty, but necessarily equal to the full value of the life lost.

   Of course insurance companies only pay the amount they agreed if the death occurs in one of the ways they agreed they would pay on, the point is the details are agreed in advance mutually arbitrarily and do not attempt to determine the full real value of a human life beyond that.

   As I said at the outset, not many people would kill a man who is locked in a cage.  In countries where there is no advanced legal system or network of detention facilities quite yet then "self defense" becomes the issue far more often.