Pope Leo Reaffirms Opposition as Pentagon Plans Execution Livestream

Pope Leo XIV reiterated the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment on October 10, saying justice and public safety can be achieved without executions. His statement came as the Pentagon’s plan to livestream the scheduled execution of Nidal Malik Hasan drew criticism from Catholic leaders and uncertainty over whether the broadcast will proceed. In a post marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Leo called capital punishment inadmissible because it attacks the dignity of the person. He also said effective detention systems can protect the public while leaving convicted people the possibility of redemption. The pope did not mention Hasan or the planned broadcast. The Pentagon has announced plans to livestream Hasan’s execution by firing squad at Fort Hood on December 3, 2026. Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. If carried out, the execution would be the first U.S. military execution in decades, according to reports. The broadcast plan has prompted objections from Catholic leaders. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S.