The first US-born Pope calls the death penalty inadmissible in all cases
Speaking via video message to a gathering at DePaul University, Pope Leo XIV made a special point to condemn the use of the death penalty, especially in the United States. Pope Leo urged abolition worldwide, and pledged his support to all who advocate for abolition in the United States and around the world.
In his April 24 message, the Pope cited Catholic doctrine, stating that “the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed,” and that justice systems can protect citizens without depriving the guilty of the possibility of redemption.
The announcement comes as the Trump Administration and U.S. Justice Department continue seeking to expand use of the death penalty and speed up executions. On the first day of his second Presidential term, Trump issued an executive order directing the Attorney General to “seek the death penalty regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime.” The order singled out “alien[s] illegally present in this country” as targets for execution, and further directed the Attorney General to encourage State officials to pursue the death penalty. During his first term, Trump led a federal execution spree that killed more American civilians in six months than in the previous 70 years.
Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, used his authority to commute the sentences of all but three people on federal death row. Biden, a one-time advocate for the death penalty, said at the time that he was “more convinced then ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” In that same statement, Biden said the “he could not in good conscience stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” Trump, who was President-Elect at the time, had promised in his campaign to expand use of the death penalty.
More recently, Trump’s DOJ has sought to loosen federal rules and allow states to fast-track executions, and on April 24 (the same day the Pope delivered his message) the Justice Department announced that the United States will resume executing people by firing squad, along with the electric chair and gas chamber. This announcement comes as Gallup polls show American opposition to the death penalty at record levels.
Illinois, home to DePaul University where the Pope delivered his video message, abolished the death penalty in 2011. His speech was delivered to a gathering of people celebrating the 15-year anniversary of that abolition. In his speech, Pope Leo praised that decision and also quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis:
“This is why Pope Francis and my recent predecessors repeatedly insisted that the common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment. Consequently, the Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
The message met praise from USCEDP partner Catholic Mobilizing Network. Executive Director Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy called it “absolutely thrilling to hear the first American Pope’s encouraging words about death penalty abolition efforts in his home state and country.”
The announcement follows previous statements in which the Pope has condemned capital punishment: In October, Pope Leo stated that “Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion’ but says, ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life.” According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Pope (at the time a priest based in Rome) sent a message to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in March of 2011, thanking the governor for signing death penalty abolition into law.
You can watch Pope Leo’s message below.
