Did Pope Francis succeed in stopping an execution? Man skirts the death penalty for the fourth time in a row

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin issued a 37 day stay of execution

Richard Glossip escaped the death penalty at the last minute once again, this time due to questions about lethal injection protocols.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Hours before Glossip's sentence NBC News announced a letter sent from Pope Francis asking Glossip's sentence be reduced to life in prison, claiming it would "give clearer witness to the value and dignity of every person's life."

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin stopped Glossip's execution, stating, "Last minute questions were raised today about Oklahoma's execution protocol and the chemicals used for lethal injection.

After consulting with the attorney general and the Department of Corrections, I have issued a 37 day stay of execution while the state addresses those questions and ensures it is complying fully with the protocols approved by federal courts."

The state was looking specifically into whether or not potassium acetate could be used in an execution. Potassium acetate is normally replaced with potassium chloride during executions, which stops the heart.

The director of the Department of Corrections did not take questions form reporters and officials have yet to disclose information regarding potassium acetate.

The event is the fourth stay of execution for Glossip, who was convicted of coordinating the murder of his boss, Barry Van Treese, in 1997.

Van Treese's son heard about the pontiff's letter and called it "interesting" but believes "that if the death penalty was a more frequently used method it would in turn lessen heinous crimes simply because no one wants to die before their time."

"If people feared the reproductions of their actions, they would presumably take different actions," he added.

Though it was proven Glossip did not physically murder Van Treese, the victim's family believes he was involved due to an attempt to cover up a $10,000 embezzlement.

Justin Sneed, the man who bludgeoned Van Treese to death, was given a life sentence.

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