White House / President·Faith & Justice

Pope Leo calls death penalty "inadmissible" as Trump weighs Pentagon plan to livestream Fort Hood shooter's execution

Published 6:00 AM CT, Monday, October 12, 2026
In the 6 AM CT update

Pope Leo XIV wrote Saturday that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person," without directly naming the U.S. plan, days after the Pentagon scheduled the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, for Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. It would be the first U.S. military execution by firing squad since 1945, and President Trump said Saturday he had not decided whether to allow the livestream pushed by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Several lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, oppose broadcasting it, and Vice President JD Vance said he would not watch.

• Nidal Hasan
• Fort Hood
• Pope Leo XIV
• Death penalty
• Firing squad
• Pete Hegseth
• Pentagon
• JD Vance
• Catholic Church
• Thom Tillis
• Vatican City
• United States