Pope Leo declares death penalty ‘inadmissible’ as his native U.S. plans to livestream execution

On Saturday, marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Pope Leo XIV declared capital punishment "inadmissible." The announcement from Rome coincided with plans in the pope's native United States to livestream an upcoming execution by firing squad.

The timing of the pontiff's declaration highlights a direct juxtaposition with American penal practices. In conjunction with his public statement, the American-born pope utilized social media, posting a quotation on X regarding the sanctity of life in connection with the debated practice.