3339 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE. N.W.

WASHINGTON. D . C. 200083610

A I'()ST()I.IC'
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S'I'.

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Tr-:S OF ru ll':IW 'A

29 September 2015

Prot. N. 12300

Your 1\:cclkllCY.
The Secretarial or State recently asked me to intervene on behal r of' the Holy
Father. i r possible. ill order to seck from the competent authority a commutation oC the
death sentellee of Ms . Kelly Gissendaner. who is scheduled to be executed by the State of'
(,eorgia today at 7:00 pm.
i-'or your ill formation, [ have enclosed a copy of the letter that I have written to the
State Board 01' Pardons and Paroles with a request lor such a commutation. The Board is
meeting at II :00 am today to consider supplemental information Crolll Ms . Gissenclancr"s
ckl"cllse team. which may prompt a move for clemency by the Board.
With gratitude ['or your collaboration in this important maller, and \vishing you
lllilll)' blessings. [ a111

Sincerely yours in Christ.

-t-

~ y-u~\S .~
+ Carlo Maria Vigan6
IJpOSlo/ic Nuncio

The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory

Archbishop or Atlanta
240 I r.ake Park Drive
Smyrna. GA 30080
(\\)117 eJle/oslIre)

3339 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE. N.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20008-3610

ArOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE

UNlTlm STATES OF AMERICA

29 Septembc[ 2015

Dear \\embers of the Board ,

.\s the I')c[sollal [epreselltati\"e of His Holiness Pope Franci~ to the Linlted Stares of
;\l1leriCI, I make an urgent appeal. on his behalf, for the COllullutatiOI1 of the death sentence of j-.,Is,
l,ell\, (~isselJdancr, who is scheduled to be executed later today,

.\s the Holy Father said in his address to the Jomt Session of Congress last Thursday:
"This cOI1\iction [of our responsibility to defend human life at eyery stage] has led
me, from the beginning of my' 111ini~try, to advocate at different levels for the global
abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this \Va~' is rhe best, since e\'ery
life is sacred. ever), human person is endowed with an lI1alienable dignity. and
society can ollly benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes,"
\'\!hile l10r \vishjng to rnillim.ize the gravity of the crime for which 1\1s. Gissendaner has been
cOl1YIC[ed, and while sympathizing with the victims, I nonetheless implore }rou, in consideration of
the reasons chat have been pre~ented to your Board, to commute the sentence to one that would
better express both justice and mercy.
Please be assured of my prayers as )'OU consider tlus request br Pope Francis for \vhat I
belie\'e would be a ju~t act of clemenc y.
\Vith deer respect :wd aprreciation for your dedicated service to rhe people of Georgia, I am

Sincerely yours,

-;.~W~\~~
Archbishop Carlo I\ilaria Vig~no

./lpoJ/olil' Nllllcio
Stare Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 !\Iarwl Luther King, J1'. Drive SE
Suite 458. Balcony Le\"cl, East Tower
Atlanta, C,.\ 30334-4909
cc: The Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor
The I\lost Rev. Wilton D, Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta