World
Pope Declares Death Penalty Inadmissible Amid U.S. Plan to Livestream Execution
Pope Leo XIV said the death penalty is “inadmissible” because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person, posting the statement on X on World Day Against the Death Penalty. He added that the common good can be safeguarded and justice achieved without capital punishment, and that effective detention systems can protect citizens while still allowing the possibility of redemption for the guilty.
The pope’s remarks came after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the firing‑squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people and injured 32, would be livestreamed on December 3. Pope Leo did not specifically mention Hasan’s execution or the botched attempt on Christa Pike last month, but his post followed a statement from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, who called the livestream plan “unacceptable.”
In 2018 Pope Francis had amended Catholic teaching to declare capital punishment inadmissible in all circumstances, replacing the earlier Catechism position that it could be used if it was the only way to defend human lives.
The planned livestream has drawn criticism across the U.S. political spectrum. Republican Representative Austin Scott said he supported Hasan’s execution but opposed livestreaming, while Democratic Senator Mark Kelly urged that public executions resemble those carried out by Iran and the Taliban. A Pentagon official confirmed the livestream plans on Thursday, but Vice President J.D. Vance, a practising Catholic, expressed doubt that it would proceed, stating he would not watch it if it did.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Pope Leo XIV declare the death penalty inadmissible?
He said it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person and that justice can be achieved without capital punishment.
What was the U.S. plan regarding Nidal Malik Hasan's execution?
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Hasan's firing‑squad execution would be livestreamed on December 3.
How did Cardinal Pietro Parolin react to the livestream plan?
He called the livestream plan "unacceptable."