The Vatican
The Roman Catholic Church, however, was just as quick to condemn the use of capital punishment. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, "A capital punishment is always tragic news, a reason for sadness, even if it deals with a person who was guilty of grave crimes...
"The killing of the guilty party is not the way to reconstruct justice and reconcile society. On the contrary, there is a risk that it will feed a spirit of vendetta and sow new violence.
"In these dark times for the Iraqi people, one can only hope that all responsible parties truly make every effort so that glimmers of reconciliation and peace can be found in such a dramatic situation."
World Council of Churches
At the execution of Saddam Hussein, The global ecumenical representative body, the World Council of Churches' General Secretary, Dr Samuel Kobia issued a statement asking God to grant the nation of Iraq "the mercy, justice and compassion that it has long been denied" and "an end to fear and death that marked Saddam Hussein's rule and that continue now".
"We pray that those who hold power in Iraq now and in the future will create a new heritage of government for its people," said Dr Samuel Kobia. "May Iraq's leaders pursue reconciliation and mutual respect among all its communities."
While holding a leader responsible for his crimes is significant, Kobia said, "each taking of a person's life is a part of a larger tragedy and nowhere is this more apparent than in a land of daily killings". The WCC is opposed to the death penalty.
French Foreign Ministry
"France calls upon all Iraqis to look towards the future and work towards reconciliation and national unity. Now more than ever, the objective should be a return to full sovereignty and stability in Iraq."
"France, which like the rest of its European partners advocates the universal abolition of capital punishment, notes the execution of Saddam Hussein on Saturday. That decision was made by the people and the sovereign authorities of Iraq."
Alexander Downer, Australia Foreign Minister
"No matter what one might think about the death penalty, and the government of Iraq is aware of the Australian government's position on capital punishment, we must also respect the right of sovereign states to pass judgement relating to crimes committed against their people, within their jurisdictions."
"He has been brought to justice, following a process of fair trial and appeal, something he denied to countless thousands of victims of his regime."
"His death marks an important step in consigning his tyrannical regime to the judgement of history and pursuing a process of reconciliation."
