The Department of Justice has announced plans on Friday to expand federal execution methods, including the reintroduction of firing squads—a move that directly confronts Pope Leo XIV’s recent reaffirmation of his opposition to capital punishment. The announcement marks a new escalation in tensions between the White House and the Vatican over moral and political issues, with President Donald J. Trump previously accusing Pope Leo of advocating for Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
Pope Leo XIV’s remarks on the death penalty were addressed to the 15th anniversary of its abolition in his home state of Illinois, though they are not directly tied to the DOJ’s announcement. His position aligns with Vatican policy under Pope Francis, who revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 2018 to declare that “the death penalty is inadmissible.” The Pope emphasized that “dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed,” asserting that effective detention systems can protect citizens without denying individuals redemption.
Historically, capital punishment was practiced under the Papal States and remained part of Vatican City State law until 1969. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—stated that Catholics may hold differing views on capital punishment and war but not on abortion or euthanasia.
The timing of the DOJ’s decision and the Pope’s comments risks reigniting diplomatic friction between the White House and the Holy See. President Trump has recently claimed that Pope Leo, an American citizen, was selected by the College of Cardinals due to his nationality—a statement that underscores the deepening divide over religious and political leadership.
