Others on this thread have repeated the truth that the Catholic Church does not categorically condemn the death penalty.
It should be borne in mind that in many countries—Muslim countries above all—that the death penalty is imposed with reckless abandon. And this is to be condemned.
This Pope is one that we cannot look to for accurate statements of Catholic teaching.
The best course of action for the individual is to pray for the Pope, pray for the Church, and wait until the Cardinals choose a Pope who is qualified for the job.
From Matthew 18:6 our Lord proclaimed
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Let not what Christ has sanctioned be overturned by the corruptness of man.