Responding to Jesus' invitation in Matthew 25, communities of Sant'Egidio throughout the world reach out to those who are in prison, serving prisoners through letter-writing, visitation, and friendship. Through friendship with a young man on death row in Texas, Dominique Green, the Sant'Egidio Community has also joined with others in the effort to end the use of the death penalty. On Dec. 18, 2000, in collaboration with Amnesty International and Sister Helen Prejean, the Community of Sant'Egidio presented more than 3 million signatures in support of ending the death penalty -- collected in more than 140 countries -- to Kofi Annan at the United Nations in New York City. Since then, the Sant'Egidio communities of the United States have continued to collect signatures for a moratorium, held various events on college campuses to raise awareness about the death penalty, and befriended and assisted prisoners on death row. This year we are also joining in the activities of an international day against the death penalty, “Cities for Life,” which is held on November 30.

Cities for Life is an international initiative organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio and in collaboration with the major human rights organizations of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Throughout the world, cities are invited to illuminate a symbolic monument in the city to express their opposition to the death penalty and their support for justice with life. For instance, the city of Rome lights up the Colosseum and hosts various events in support of this testimony for life.

In Boston, the Community of Sant'Egidio would like to invite you to join us in supporting this international day against the death penalty in solidarity with the US Catholic Bishops campaign to end the use of the death penalty in the United States.

Voice of America article on Cities for Life.