The latest move by the US Department of Justice to expand the federal death penalty, including the consideration of firing squads, has drawn criticism from Pope Leo. The department announced its intentions today, outlining the legal basis for various execution methods.
In response to the plans, the Department of Justice emphasized its commitment to carrying out lawful capital sentences after all appeals have been exhausted. It mentioned a return to the lethal injection protocol used during the previous Trump Administration, featuring pentobarbital as the lethal agent, and the addition of new execution methods like firing squads.
Pope Leo expressed his opposition to the death penalty expansion, citing the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death according to Catholic teachings. He voiced support for those advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in the US and globally, hoping for increased recognition of human dignity and inspiring others to join the cause.
Furthermore, the Department of Justice mentioned its efforts to expedite death penalty cases by streamlining internal processes and lifting the Biden-era moratorium on federal executions. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has already approved seeking death sentences for nine defendants out of 44.
Former President Donald Trump’s executive order from last January, which aimed to pursue federal death sentences and ensure states had access to lethal injection drugs, was also highlighted.