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To some extent, the idea behind it is the retributive theory of justice; that, in part, the purpose of punishment is to inflict harm on someone in proportion to the harm that they have caused. The taking of a life is so heinous an action that it can only be adequately paid for by the death of the guilty party. There's something to this, but this is probably not the thread to argue theories of punishment. In any case, I think the Catholic Church is right on this one. There may have been good reason for capital punishment in the past, but in the modern age, there's almost never going to be a case where it's necessary.
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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."
"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
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