Pope Leo XIV has again spoken strongly against the death penalty, calling it an attack on human dignity and saying every human life should be protected. His remarks came shortly after President Donald Trump’s Justice Department announced it would allow execution by firing squad as part of a broader expansion of federal death penalty methods.

In his message, Pope Leo said that the right to life is the foundation of all other human rights. He stressed that a person does not lose dignity even after committing very serious crimes and reminded people that the Catholic Church teaches capital punishment is “inadmissible” because it violates the dignity of the human person.

He also argued that modern prison systems can protect society without completely removing the chance for redemption. According to him, justice and public safety can still be achieved without taking a human life, a position strongly supported by his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, responded by saying the administration would continue trying to apply moral principles in difficult real-world situations. While he acknowledged disagreements between the White House and the Vatican, he also said the pope should continue preaching the Gospel as he sees it.

The issue has added new tension to the ongoing public disagreements between Trump and Pope Leo, especially over war, foreign policy, and the death penalty. For many people, it has become a larger debate about justice, mercy, and how far government power should go when dealing with the most serious crimes.