The recent announcement by the US Department of Justice to broaden the use of the federal death penalty, including the consideration of firing squads, has sparked controversy once again. The department outlined its legal rationale for various execution methods, emphasizing the need to carry out lawful capital sentences after all appeals have been exhausted.
In response to these plans, Pope Leo expressed opposition, citing the sacredness of every human life according to Catholic Church teachings. He voiced support for those advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in the US and globally, urging a greater respect for human dignity and a unified effort towards justice.
Additionally, the Department of Justice disclosed its intention to resume the execution protocol from the previous Trump administration, which involves pentobarbital as the lethal agent and the potential inclusion of firing squads. The department stated its commitment to expediting death penalty cases, lifting the Biden-era moratorium on federal executions, and pursuing death sentences against multiple defendants.
Former President Donald Trump had previously issued an executive order early in his term, emphasizing the pursuit of federal death sentences and ensuring access to lethal injection drugs for states. The current acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, has already greenlit seeking death sentences for a significant number of defendants in alignment with these directives.