Pope Leo reiterates opposition to death penalty on same day U.S. approves firing squads - BERITAJA

The recently elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first clip from the Vatican pavilion connected May 8 successful Vatican City, Vatican. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

The Trump administration announced Friday that it will authorize firing squads arsenic a federally permitted method of execution, deepening its push to revive the decease punishment — underscoring a crisp disagreement pinch Pope Leo XIV and caller Catholic teaching. Hours aft the Justice Department made its announcement, the pontiff condemned the decease punishment arsenic an onslaught connected quality dignity.

In a prerecorded video connection shared pinch DePaul University successful Chicago to people the 15th day of Illinois' abolition of the decease penalty, Pope Leo declared that the Catholic Church has consistently taught that each quality life, from conception until earthy death, is ineffable and deserves protection.

"We affirm that the dignity of the personification is not mislaid moreover aft very superior crimes are committed," Leo said.

Hours earlier, the pontiff had condemned superior reward aboard the papal plane, erstwhile asked about executions carried retired by the Iranian government. The timing comes amid a widening disagreement betwixt the Trump management and Catholic leaders, who person also opposed the administration's migration tactics, including wide arrests of undocumented immigrants. In February, arsenic portion of a lawsuit contesting the administration's position connected birthright citizenship, U.S. bishops revenge an amicus brief outlining its opposition.

A caller execution toolkit for the national government

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department is besides reauthorizing lethal injection utilizing the sedative pentobarbital, which was withdrawn by the Biden management aft a government review recovered the injection whitethorn origin unnecessary symptom and suffering.

The changes bespeak a broader directive from Trump, who since returning to agency has ordered the Justice Department to prioritize pursuing and carrying retired decease sentences.

The pentobarbital protocol was originally developed during Trump's first word – pinch the reintroduction of the national decease punishment – nether then-Attorney General Bill Barr. It replaced a three-drug substance past utilized during the early 2000s.

The Trump administration's study released Friday pushes backmost connected the Biden administration's finding, arguing the reappraisal misread the subject and that pentobarbital renders a captive unconscious quickly capable to forestall pain.

The Death Penalty Information Center, a nationalist nonprofit, says 5 states presently licence the usage of firing squads: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.

Few national decease statement inmates remain, but caller cases are moving forward 

The description of execution methods comes arsenic the number of prisoners awaiting national executions has been sharply reduced. Only 3 prisoners stay connected national decease statement aft erstwhile President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 condemned inmates to life successful situation during his last days successful office. Those 3 are Dylann Roof, who murdered 9 Black parishioners astatine Mother Emanuel AME Church successful Charleston, South Carolina, successful 2015; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for carrying retired the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 congregants astatine Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue successful 2018, the deadliest antisemitic onslaught successful American history.

Despite the depleted roster, the Trump management has moved to activity death sentences against 44 defendants. Executions person risen sharply, climbing from 25 successful 2024 to 47 successful 2025, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Much of that summation came successful Florida, pinch executions successful the authorities accounting for 19 of the 47 total.