Pope urges McAuliffe to spare Prieto one day before scheduled execution
By Laura Vozzella
Pope Francis greets corrections officers at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, during his visit there Sunday. (Todd Heisler/AP)
RICHMOND — Pope Francis’s representatives in Washington wrote to Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe Wednesday, asking him to call off the looming execution of serial killer Alfred Prieto.
Prieto, 49, could be put to death as early as Thursday night, pending the outcome of a court hearing.
“The U.S. Apostolic Nuncio wrote a letter on behalf of the Holy Father to Governor McAuliffe, asking that Mr. Prieto not be executed,” said Jeff Caruso, executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference.