Pope Leo Declares Death Penalty “Inadmissible” as U.S. Plans Livestreamed Execution

Pope Leo XIV reiterated the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment on Saturday, saying it is “inadmissible” and that justice can be served without executions. His statement came as the U.S. military prepares to livestream the planned firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The execution is scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, though legal proceedings could delay it. The pope did not directly mention Hasan’s case.