[ninenot]

the death penalty?

The short explanation: JPII established a 'preferential option' for life-in-prison rather than State-sponsored killing, especially for those countries (read: most of the West) which can afford such imprisonment.

He did NOT change the Church's position which is, briefly, that the State has the right to execute felons (given the usual fair trial, nature of the crime, etc.)

[ultima ratio]

Wrong. The Pope changed the theological argument entirely. The Catholic Church has always upheld the right of the state to take the lives of those who commit serious crimes against society. This had always been considered a matter of NATURAL JUSTICE. It is the Pope's teaching, however, that human dignity PRECLUDES such punishment. This is contrary to all that the Church has affirmed throughout its history.

It's interesting to note that when Justice Scalia made note of this anomalous teaching of JnPII which is so out of line with past popes and teachings, he was castigated by neo-Catholics. Patrick Buchanan defended him thus: "For Scalia had not contradicted or defied any Catholic doctrine. Rather, it is the Holy Father and the bishops who are outside the Catholic mainstream, and are at odds with Scripture, tradition and natural law." (WorldNetDaily, February 8, 2002.)