The Trump administration has reintroduced execution by firing squad for federal inmates, reviving a method not used by the U.S. government in centuries, on the same day Pope Leo called for the abolition of the death penalty.
DOJ Directive Revives Firing Squads
The Department of Justice issued a directive on Friday instructing prison officials to bring back firing squads as a means of carrying out federal executions. This move marks a significant shift in federal execution policy, which had previously relied on lethal injection. The decision comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to strengthen the death penalty.
Pope Leo's Abolition Advocacy
On the same day, Pope Leo participated in an event at DePaul University in Chicago, marking the fifteenth anniversary of Illinois's decision to abolish the death penalty. In a statement, the pope wrote: "The Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves to be protected. I offer my support to those who advocate for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States of America and around the world."
This is the latest development in a public feud between Pope Leo and President Trump. Trump has repeatedly verbally attacked the pope after he spoke out against the war in Iran and Trump's threats to wipe out Iranian civilization. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the pope's criticisms, saying, "Pope’s gonna do his own thing."
The reintroduction of firing squads is seen as a direct challenge to the pope's moral authority on the issue of capital punishment. The method, which has not been used by the federal government since the 17th century, is considered by some to be more reliable than lethal injection, which has faced legal challenges and botched executions.
Human rights groups have condemned the move, arguing that it represents a step backward for justice. The American Civil Liberties Union called it "a cruel and unusual punishment that has no place in a modern society." The Trump administration, however, maintains that the death penalty is a necessary tool for punishing the most heinous crimes.
The timing of the directive has drawn particular criticism, as it coincides with the pope's call for abolition. The White House has not commented on the coincidence, but the move is likely to further strain relations between the U.S. and the Vatican.
