{
  "id": 13450859,
  "title": "Pope says death penalty \"inadmissible\" amid U.S. plans to livestream execution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-says-death-penalty-inadmissible-amid-u-s-plans-to-livestream",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T15:28:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-death-penalty-us-fort-hood-execution-firing-squad/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV has declared capital punishment inadmissible, as the United States prepares to livestream an execution by firing squad. The Pope, through his official X account, @Pontifex, referenced the revised Catholic teachings on capital punishment issued by his predecessor, Pope Francis. These teachings state that capital punishment violates the inherent dignity of a human being and fails to meet the requirements of justice. Effective detention systems exist that protect citizens without resorting to capital punishment.\n\nThe U.S. Defense Department announced that Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, would be executed by firing squad on December 3. This will be the first U.S. military execution since 1961. The decision to broadcast the execution in real-time has sparked widespread criticism. In his post, Pope Leo XIV did not specifically reference the planned execution in the U.S., nor the botched lethal injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee, which reignited debate over the death penalty in the United States. However, it is customary for the Pope's social media accounts to post messages on such occasions, like the World Day Against the Death Penalty.\n\nCardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, explicitly condemned the planned public execution in the U.S. He described it as \"truly incomprehensible\" and \"unacceptable\" to turn death into a spectacle. Cardinal Parolin emphasized that the Church's position is a total opposition to the death penalty, as it is incompatible with human dignity and serves no deterrent purpose.\n\nThe head of the U.S. bishops conference, Archbishop Paul Coakley, expressed shock and deep sorrow over the Pentagon's plans. He stated that while Hasan's actions cannot be condoned, this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The public execution of even a grave offender will further undermine the moral fabric of the nation and be a blight on its conscience.\n\nPresident Trump, who has previously expressed support for the death penalty, said he approves of Hasan's execution by firing squad. He stated that he does not care how Hasan goes, as long as he dies. Trump did not specify whether he would watch the execution or if it would be livestreamed. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, suggested that he would not watch the livestream and questioned whether it would actually take place.",
  "summary": "Pope Francis has declared the death penalty \"inadmissible\". He stated that the death penalty attacks the inherent dignity of a human being and that effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while allowing those who are guilty the possibility of redemption.\n\nThe U.S. Defense Department has announced plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. According to CBS News, the execution is scheduled to take place on December 3.\n\nThe Pope's comments were made on World Day Against the Death Penalty. He quoted revised Catholic teaching on capital punishment, saying that the common good can be safeguarded and justice met without recourse to it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Pope Attacks Death Penalty as US Plans Livestream Execution: 'Inadmissible'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-attacks-death-penalty-as-us-plans-livestream-execution",
        "published": "2026-10-10T13:44:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Pope Leo declares death penalty ‘inadmissible’ as his native U.S. plans to livestream execution",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-leo-declares-death-penalty-inadmissible-as-his-native-u-s-plans",
        "published": "2026-10-10T13:47:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Pope Leo condemns death penalty, Vance vows not to watch Hasan’s execution live",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-leo-condemns-death-penalty-vance-vows-not-to-watch-hasans",
        "published": "2026-10-10T16:12:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Pope Leo decries death penalty as Hegseth's public execution plan sparks backlash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-leo-decries-death-penalty-as-hegseths-public-execution-plan",
        "published": "2026-10-10T17:37:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Pope says death penalty ‘inadmissible’ as US plans to livestream execution",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/pope-says-death-penalty-inadmissible-as-us-plans-to-livestream",
        "published": "2026-10-10T17:38:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}