His conviction was based in part on the lyrics of a rap song he wrote as a teenager, with no direct connection to the crime for which he was convicted. His cousin’s subsequent confession, in which he declared James’s innocence, was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Hundreds of thousands of people rallied to his cause. We want to thank each and every one of you, on behalf of James and those who loved him: every voice, every signature, every gesture helped remind the world that the death penalty can—and must—be abolished.

In recent weeks, James had written:

“The overwhelming outpouring of love and support I’ve received has touched me deeply in ways I never could have imagined. It is incredible—and a true blessing—to know that fragments of my life and my story have been able to move so many people around the world. From the widespread support for my release to everyone who signed and shared the petition, to all those who are now becoming aware of the new evidence proving my actual innocence in this case of wrongful conviction… I am somewhat speechless at the number of hands I feel reaching out to me through the darkness. And for the effort each of you has put into helping me, I feel the need to tell you personally that I love you and thank you. No man is an island, and I believe that together we are better. Keep pushing and fighting, because the fight for good never ends.”

James dreamed of being exonerated and regaining his freedom. He planned to come to Italy. He was 38 years old, 19 of which he had spent on death row.

Pope Leo XIV, citing paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as approved by Pope Francis in 2018, reiterated that “the Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible because it violates the inviolability and dignity of the person” and that “today it is possible to protect the common good and uphold the requirements of justice without resorting to capital punishment”.