3339 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE. N.W. WASHINGTON. D .C. 200083610

A I'()ST()I.IC' Nt Nn;\TUnl ~ N ITI ': I) S'I'. Tr-:S OF ru ll':IW 'A

Prot. N. 12300 29 September 2015

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 T

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 clemency.

\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