Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced hours before the execution that he would not block the death sentence from being carried out despite appeals from attorneys, mental health advocates and state lawmakers that Morva's mental illness made it impossible for him to distinguish between delusions and reality.

Faith is a journey guided by the Holy Spirit, who helps the church grow in understanding the sinful nature of once-accepted practices like slavery and the death penalty, Pope Francis said.

Each person taking the pledge promises to educate, advocate and pray for an end to capital punishment.

Oklahomans overwhelmingly support capital punishment, despite highly publicized problems with lethal-injection drugs that prompted state officials to put a temporary moratorium on executions in 2015.

To take Holy Communion in the face of death is to say that it is fellowship, and not food, that matters most.