Pope Francis on Monday condemned Iran for using the death penalty against protesters demanding greater respect for women.
The Pope's remarks, made in his annual address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican, were the strongest since the start of nationwide protests in Iran following the death last September of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Francis also repeated a call for an end to the death penalty worldwide.
The right to life is also threatened in those places where the death penalty continues to be imposed, as is happening lately in Iran, following demonstrations demanding more respect for the dignity of women. The death penalty cannot be used as an alleged state justice, because it does not constitute a deterrent, nor does it bring justice to the victims, it only feeds the thirst for revenge. Therefore, I appeal for the death penalty to be always inadmissible, because it violates the inviolability and dignity of the person and that it be abolished in all countries of the world.
It is recalled that four demonstrators have been executed following protests in Iran.
In addition, Pope Francis said that wars like the one in Ukraine, where civilian areas are subjected to what he called indiscriminate destruction, are "a crime against God and humanity."