As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Pope Leo XIV has urged Americans to renew their commitment to the nation’s founding ideals, emphasizing that authentic freedom must always be rooted in the dignity of every human person.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father officially accepted the 2026 Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center on Friday. The annual award recognizes individuals whose lives demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing liberty, religious freedom, and human rights around the world.
Receiving the honor from Rome while participants gathered in Philadelphia, Pope Leo reflected on both his own ties to the United States and the enduring principles that shaped the nation’s founding.
“As a son of this great country, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of liberty and of a better life for themselves and for their children, I join you in asking God’s blessings upon America’s future,” the Pope said. He prayed that the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence would continue to guide the nation “in unity, justice and peace.”
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo praised the Declaration’s affirmation that all people are created equal and possess “certain inalienable rights,” including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While acknowledging the influence of Enlightenment thought, he said those principles ultimately rest on the biblical understanding that every person is created in the image of God.
“It is indeed here that we discover the basis of human dignity; dignity which precedes the establishment of any State, and whose custody constitutes its very purpose,” he said.
The Pope also reflected on America’s long history as a destination for immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity, while recognizing that the country’s pursuit of liberty and justice has never been without challenges.
According to Vatican News, he described the nation’s history as an ongoing task that “must be taken up anew in each generation and in the face of ever new challenges.”
Looking toward America’s semiquincentennial celebration, Pope Leo encouraged citizens to revisit the principles that have defined the nation since its founding.
Central to his message was the conviction that the right to life stands above all other rights.
“The first right enshrined by the nation’s founders was the right to life,” the Pope noted, explaining that no one deprived of life can fully enjoy liberty or pursue happiness.
He called on lawmakers and citizens alike to cultivate a profound respect for every human person, urging society to safeguard life “from the moment of conception to natural death.”
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo said the strength of a nation is measured by how it treats those most in need.
“In this regard, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned,” he said.
The Holy Father also praised the American tradition of religious liberty, pointing to the protections found in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He said religious freedom allows individuals to follow their conscience without coercion while also protecting the public expression of faith and encouraging dialogue among different religious communities.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo expressed hope that America would continue fostering respectful public discourse marked by moderation, reconciliation, and a sincere search for the common good.
Reflecting on the nation’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” the Pope said lasting unity cannot be built solely upon temporary interests but must rest upon enduring truths about the human person.
He concluded by praying that the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding would become “the occasion of a solemn recommitment” to the principles of human dignity, equality, peace, and freedom that have shaped the United States since its beginning.
Ending his address with a blessing for the nation, Pope Leo entrusted America’s future to God, concluding simply, “May God bless America!”
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