Executions across the world fell by 31 per cent last year as many countries decreased their use of the punishment, most notably in Iran where they stopped using the death penalty for drug-related crimes.
The latest statistics by Amnesty International do not include China after fears that they were altering their figures and also are suspected to be the biggest user of the punishment.
However, more than two thirds of countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
In response to the apparent decline globally, the lead Catholic bishop for international affairs, Bishop Declan Lang, has called on the UK to use its diplomatic and economic influence to promote the global abolition of the death penalty.
Bishop Declan said: "The continued decline in capital punishment gives us cause for hope that this attack on the inviolability and dignity of every human person may eventually be confined to history.
"Once again, I urge our government to redouble its efforts towards promoting global abolition of the death penalty. There are both diplomatic and economic means of driving forward this goal. For example the UK has trade offices in more than half of the twenty countries that executed their own citizens last year."
"I hope that Catholics will continue to speak up on behalf of those at risk of execution and pray for all those affected."
Last year Pope Francis approved a new revision the Catechism, reflecting the Church's opposition to capital punishment which said: "The Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that 'the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person', and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide."
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