Archdiocese of Bangalore mourns the passing of Pope Francis
Bengaluru: The Archdiocese of Bangalore has issued an official statement following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this morning.
The statement, signed by Archbishop Peter Machado, begins: “It is with deep anguish and heavy hearts that we, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, join the Universal Church in mourning the sudden and untimely demise of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, who passed away this morning.”
The Archbishop described the Pope as “not just the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, but a shepherd, a father, a friend of the poor, and a living embodiment of the Gospel.” The statement continues: “His Papacy [was] marked not by grandeur, but by grace — a grace that reached out to the peripheries of the world.”
Highlighting Pope Francis’ personal lifestyle choices, the statement says: “In his humility, he chose not to reside in the traditional Apostolic Palace, but in the modest Vatican guest house — a choice that echoed the Gospel call to simplicity and solidarity.”
The Archdiocese noted his focus on the marginalized: “One of the most striking hallmarks of Pope Francis’ pontificate was his tireless advocacy for migrants, refugees, and the displaced. He dared the world to see in the face of the migrant not a problem to be solved, but a brother or sister to be embraced.”
Reflecting on his broader legacy, the statement says: “Today, our hearts are broken, but our spirits are lifted in gratitude for the gift of Pope Francis. His gentle presence, his wise counsel, and his radiant smile will live on in the hearts of millions.”
The Archbishop offered condolences on behalf of the local Church: “On behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, I extend my deepest condolences to the College of Cardinals, to the entire Catholic Church, and to all people of goodwill who saw in Pope Francis a beacon of light in troubled times.”
The statement concludes: “May our dear Holy Father now rest in the eternal embrace of the God he served so faithfully. Let us continue to honour his legacy by walking humbly, loving tenderly, and acting justly — just as he did. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”
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High courts upheld only 8 per cent of death sentences; SC confirms none in recent years: Report
New Delhi (PTI): Highlighting that a high acquittal rate of death row convicts by the Supreme Court and high courts demonstrates a pattern of "erroneous or unjustified convictions", a study of 10 years of death penalty data has revealed that the top court did not confirm any death sentences in recent years.
The study by Square Circle Clinic, a criminal laws advocacy group with the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, found that an overwhelming majority of death sentences imposed by trial courts did not withstand scrutiny at higher judicial levels. Acquittals far outnumbered confirmations at both the high courts and Supreme Court levels.
According to the report, the trial courts across India awarded 1,310 death sentences in 822 cases between 2016 and 2025. High courts considered 842 of these sentences in confirmation proceedings but upheld only 70 or 8.31 per cent.
In contrast, 258 death sentences (30.64 per cent) resulted in acquittals. The study noted that the acquittal rate at the high court level was nearly four times the confirmation rate.
Data showed that of the 70 death sentences confirmed by high courts, the Supreme Court decided 38 and did not uphold a single one. The apex court has confirmed no death sentences between 2023 and 2025.
"Wrongful or erroneous or unjustified convictions, then, are not random or freak accidents in the Indian criminal justice system. The data indicates they are a persistent and serious systemic concern," the report said.
Over the last decade, high courts adjudicated 1,085 death sentences in 647 cases, confirming only 106 (9.77 per cent). During this period, 326 persons in 191 cases, were acquitted.
The report attributed low confirmation rates to the appellate judiciary’s concerns regarding failures in due process. "This coincides with increased Supreme Court scrutiny of safeguards at the sentencing stage," the report said.
Of the 153 death sentences decided by the apex court over the last decade, the accused were acquitted in 38 cases. In 2025 alone, high courts overturned death sentences into acquittals in 22 out of 85 cases (over 25 per cent). The same year, Supreme Court acquitted accused persons in more than half of the death penalty cases it decided (10 out of 19), the report said.
The study highlighted that 364 persons who were ultimately acquitted "should not even have been convicted and unjustifiably suffered the trauma of death row". It added that such failures extend beyond adjudication and reflect serious lapses in investigation and prosecution.
The question of remedies for wrongful convictions remains pending before the Supreme Court. In September 2025, three persons acquitted by the apex court filed writ petitions seeking compensation from the state and argued that their wrongful convictions violated their fundamental right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
"In 2022, the Supreme Court crystallised a sentencing process in Manoj v. State of Madhya Pradesh , and mandated all courts to follow those guidelines before imposing or confirming a death sentence," the report read.
In 2025, the apex court held in Vasanta Sampat Dupare v. Union of India that death penalty sentencing hearings form part of the right to a fair trial and stressed that capital punishment can be imposed only after a constitutionally compliant sentencing process.
"However, even at the high courts whether the process mandated under Manoj is being complied with is in doubt,” the report said.
