Pope Leo XIV hits out at Trump again over his plans for firing squad execution

WASHINGTON, DC: After a brief halt, attacks and counterattacks between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump appear to have begun again as the Pontiff has strongly criticised the Trump admin for its plans regarding firing squad execution.

Pope’s criticism comes after the Trump administration announced its plans to expand the federal death penalty in the US, including the use of firing squads.

Pope Leo XIV slams Trump admin over firing squad execution

The Trump administration on Friday, April 24, announced that it is planning to expand the death penalty methods in the US and include the firing squad in the execution.

“Today, the Department of Justice acted to restore its solemn duty to seek, obtain, and implement lawful capital sentences – clearing the way for the Department to carry out executions once death-sentenced inmates have exhausted their appeals,” the US Department of Justice said on Saturday.

The DoJ said it plans on “readopting the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration”, which “relies on pentobarbital as the lethal agent”, as well as “expanding the protocol to include additional manners of execution such as the firing squad”.

Pope Leo XIV says, ‘Every human life is sacred’

After the DoJ announced its plans regarding the various methods of the death penalty for criminals in the United States, Pope Leo XIV took to the social media platform X to criticise the move.

The pope hit out at the plans, stating that each human life is sacred and deserves to be protected.

“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.  

“Indeed, the right to life is the very foundation of every other human right.  For this reason, only when a society,” the pope said in an X post.

Pontiff offers support to those against death penalty

He continued in the subsequent post and offered his support to those who advocate the abolition of the death penalty.

"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.

"I pray that your efforts will lead to a greater acknowledgement of the dignity of every person, and will inspire others to work for the same just cause."

Trump signed an executive order last January, soon after taking office, promising to pursue federal death sentences and asking the attorney general to ensure states had enough lethal injection drugs.