Pope Leo reiterated the Catholic Church’s teaching that the death penalty is “inadmissible,” in a video message released hours after the Justice Department said it would allow firing squads for federal executions.
Death Penalty
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Executions nearly double in 2025 due to dramatic rise in Florida
This year, 48 people are expected to be executed in the U.S. Meanwhile, fewer new death sentences are being issued, and public support for the death penalty is at its lowest point in over 50 years.
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Japan executes man convicted of murder for killing and dismembering 9 people
Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the “Twitter killer,” was sentenced to death in 2020 for the killings in 2017 of the nine victims, most of whom had posted suicidal thoughts on social media.
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Luigi Mangione’s case marks a shift in politics of the death penalty in the U.S.
Over the last half-century, the political leanings of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidency contributed to dramatically different approaches to the federal death penalty.
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South Carolina plans to carry out a firing squad execution. Is it safe for witnesses?
South Carolina plans to execute its first prisoner by firing squad on March 7 inside the same death chamber it’s used for dozens of other executions. Firearms experts say that could be risky.
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Supreme Court throws out death sentence, murder conviction of Okla. death row inmate
The court reversed the state court’s judgement and sent the case back for a new trial.
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Alabama puts man to death in the nation’s fourth execution using nitrogen gas
Frazier in his final words criticized Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for not returning him to serve out a previous life sentence in her state, which doesn’t have the death penalty.
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Trump’s executive order resumes executions, after Biden dialed them back
The Department of Justice will seek the death penalty for capital crimes “committed by an alien illegally present in this country.” Lawyers say the order could be difficult to enforce.
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Man set to be put to death in Indiana’s first execution in 15 years
Barring intervention by Gov. Eric Holcomb, Corcoran is scheduled to be executed before sunrise Wednesday at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.
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Alabama executes man who killed 5 and asked to be put to death
Alabama executed a man Thursday who admitted to killing five people with an ax and gun during a drug-fueled rampage in 2016 and dropped his appeals and asked to be put to death.
