Pope Calls Death Penalty Inadmissible as US Plans Livestream
Pope Leo XIV declared the death penalty inadmissible in a Saturday post on X. He said detention systems can protect the public without executions.
- October 7: Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis urged a global moratorium on executions at the UN.
- 13 soldiers were killed by Hasan at Fort Hood in 2009.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the execution would be shown live.
- 2018: Pope Francis revised the Catechism to call executions inadmissible.
Why it matters: The pope's statement adds Vatican weight to a US debate over capital punishment. The Trump administration is pushing to expand its use.
- Archbishop Paul Coakley called the livestream plan "a barbaric promotion of a culture of death."
- Trump pledged on October 2 to seek death sentences for large-scale drug dealers.
How 16 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the Church's current stance continues its tradition or breaks from centuries of teaching permitting executions.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center sees the pope's statement as a likely response to the administration's plan to livestream Hasan's execution.
Right coverage, 4 sources: The right reports the pope's opposition to the execution plan, while some Catholic outlets argue Church tradition long upheld the state's right to execute.
What’s next: Hasan's firing-squad execution is set for December. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the livestream plan.
- Christa Pike survived an execution attempt. No new execution date has been set.
- Will the Pentagon reconsider livestreaming Hasan's execution?
- Will Catholic officials in the administration respond to the pope's statement?
