A landmark statement from the Vatican condemns the death penalty outright as "inadmissible," marking a sharp shift in Catholic doctrine amid growing global opposition to capital punishment. The declaration coincides with a rare public execution in the United States, where authorities have announced plans to livestream a firing squad procedure—a method not used in decades. The juxtaposition of moral and legal debates over state-sanctioned killing has reignited discussions on human rights and justice systems worldwide. Critics and supporters alike are weighing the implications of these contrasting approaches to punishment.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday declared capital punishment ''inadmissible” as he marked the World Day Against the Death Penalty and his native United States announced plans to livestream an execution by firing squad.
