Pope Leo XIV has declared capital punishment “inadmissible” on the same day the United States government announced it will livestream an upcoming execution by firing squad, as reported by Global News. The declaration came on Saturday as the world marked the World Day Against the Death Penalty, and it highlights a major clash between the Vatican and the current administration.
The Pope used his official X account, @Pontifex, to share his stance with the world. He quoted the revised Catholic teaching on the death penalty, which emphasizes that such actions attack the inherent dignity of a human being. The post stated, “The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment.”
It further explained that modern systems of detention are effective enough to protect citizens while still allowing guilty individuals the possibility of redemption. The message concluded with the hashtag #NoDeathPenalty.
This papal declaration follows a controversial announcement from the U.S. Defense Department on Thursday
The military plans to execute Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad at the Fort Hood military base on December 3, and they intend to broadcast the event via a livestream. Hasan was convicted for his role in a 2009 shooting at the same base that resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left 32 others wounded.
While the Pope did not explicitly name the Fort Hood case in his post, his top deputy, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, spoke out quite clearly against the plan. As the Vatican secretary of state, Parolin called the decision to livestream the event “truly incomprehensible” and described the plan as “unacceptable to turn death into a spectacle.”
He noted that the church remains in total opposition to the death penalty, arguing that it is incompatible with human dignity and serves no purpose as a deterrent. Parolin stated, “It is truly incomprehensible that anyone would want to use this system today — I don’t know for what purpose. It is certainly unacceptable to turn death into a spectacle; even if the person is guilty, of course, there are other methods.”
Archbishop Paul Coakley, who leads the U.S. bishops conference, also issued a statement regarding the Pentagon’s plans. He expressed “shock” and “great sorrow” over the decision. In his statement released on Friday, Coakley argued that while Hasan’s actions cannot be condoned, the government’s plan is a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.” He believes that a public execution of this nature will only serve to undermine the moral fabric of the nation.
The current Vatican position stems from a 2018 amendment made by Pope Francis, who officially updated the Catechism of the Catholic Church to label capital punishment as inadmissible in all circumstances. This was a significant shift from previous teachings that allowed for the practice if it was the only way to defend human lives against an unjust aggressor. Pope Leo XIV has continued this focus by making prison ministry a central part of his travel.
During his visit to the Bata prison in Equatorial Guinea in April, Leo told inmates, “If any of you fear being abandoned by everyone, know that God will never abandon you, and that the church will stand by your side.”
He is scheduled to visit another prison in Buenos Aires during an upcoming tour through Latin America.
Published: Oct 11, 2026 02:36 pm