U radu je prikazan napredak crkvenog učenja o pitanju smrtne kazne u vrijeme trojice posljednjih papa. Premda je tek uredbom pape Franje smrtna kazna proglašena definitivno nedopustivom zbog nepovredivosti dostojanstva čovjeka i prava na život, učenje i istupi njegovih prethodnika Ivana Pavla II. i Benedikta XVI. potvrđuju jednak stav. Svakako, primjetan je razvoj shvaćanja u izmjenama članaka 2266 i 2267 Katekizma Katoličke Crkve, kako bi se bolje sačuvao i izložio dragocjeni polog kršćanskog nauka, a za koji je potrebno sazrijevanje vremena. U skladu s apostolskom konstitucijom Fidei depositum, kojom je sam Katekizam odobren 1992. godine trojica su papa u ovom pitanju vjerno stajali na braniku čovjekova dostojanstva, izlažući nauk na temelju Objave, Svetoga pisma i Crkvene predaje, nastojeći osvjetlati svjetlom vjere nove prilike i poimanja suvremenog društva. The paper presents the progress of church teaching on the issue of death penalty at the time of the last three popes. Although it was only with the ordinance of Pope Francis that the death penalty was defi nitely declared inadmissible for the inviolability of the dignity of man and the right to life, the teaching and declarations of his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI confirm the same attitude. Certainly, the development of understanding the issue is evident in the Amendments to Articles 2266 and 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, made with the aim of preserving and exhibiting the valuable deposit of Christian teaching, which takes time to mature. In accordance with the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, by which the Catechism itself was approved in 1992, the three popes have faithfully stood in defence of man’s dignity in this matter, exposing the doctrine based on the Revelation, the Scriptures, and the Church Tradition, striving to illuminate with the light of faith the new circumstances and perceptions of contemporary society.