Lawmakers, pope ask Missouri governor to halt execution

Pope Francis has joined the chorus of people calling on Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency to a death row inmate set to be executed for killing three people during a 1994 robbery. In a letter last week, a representative for Pope Francis wrote that the pope “wishes to place before you the simple fact of Mr. Johnson’s humanity and the sacredness of all human life,” referring to Ernest Johnson. Johnson’s attorney has said executing him would violate the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits executing intellectually disabled people.