APRIL 25, 20261:51 PM ET By Willem Marx The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8 in Vatican City, Vatican. The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8 in Vatican City, Vatican. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe The Trump administration announced Friday that it will authorize firing squads as a federally permitted method of execution, deepening its push to revive the death penalty — underscoring a sharp divide with Pope Leo XIV and recent Catholic teaching. Hours after the Justice Department made its announcement, the pontiff condemned the death penalty as an attack on human dignity. RELIGION Catholics in Chicago react to Trump and Vance's comments on Pope Leo In a prerecorded video message shared with DePaul University in Chicago to mark the 15th anniversary of Illinois' abolition of the death penalty, Pope Leo declared that the Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves protection. "We affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed," Leo said. Hours earlier, the pontiff had condemned capital punishment aboard the papal plane, when asked about executions carried out by the Iranian government. The timing comes amid a widening divide between the Trump administration and Catholic leaders, who have also opposed the administration's immigration tactics, including widespread arrests of undocumented immigrants. In February, as part of a case contesting the administration's position on birthright citizenship, U.S. bishops filed an amicus brief outlining its opposition