r/todayilearned • u/MyKinkyCountess • 6d ago

TIL that Michelangelo spent two months hiding in the underground chamber while evading a death sentence ordered by the Pope

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/oct/31/michelangelo-secret-sketches-under-church-in-florence-open-to-public
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u/Lokarin 6d ago

Can our current Pope order death sentences?

19

u/Hatweed 6d ago

Not at the moment as capital punishment was taken off the books in the Vatican in 1969, but seeing as the Pope is the absolute sovereign of the Holy See and it is a distinct legal entity from Italy, it’s theoretically possible for one to reinstate it and order an execution.

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u/bfume 6d ago

he would only theoretically be able to order the execution of a citizen of Vatican City

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u/Corporate-Shill406 5d ago

Why, is someone going to stop him otherwise? What's the last time sanctions actually stopped a government from doing whatever they want?