Pope Leo XIV declares death penalty 'inadmissible'

Pope Leo XIV declared the death penalty inadmissible on Saturday to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty. In a post on X, the pope stated that justice and the common good can be protected without capital punishment. He noted that modern detention systems can protect citizens while still allowing those found guilty the possibility of redemption.

The pope's statement follows an announcement from the U.S. Defense Department that the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed. Hasan, who was convicted of a 2009 shooting at the Fort Hood military base that killed 13 people and wounded 32 others, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad at Fort Hood on Dec. 3. U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he would make a final decision regarding whether the execution is livestreamed.

In his post, Pope Leo XIV referenced revised Catholic teaching that capital punishment attacks the inherent dignity of human beings. While the pope did not mention the specific U.S. execution or recent botched lethal injections in Tennessee, his comments coincided with the global commemoration of the World Day Against the Death Penalty.