Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, will formally accept the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on the eve of America’s 250th birthday. The Liberty Medal honors individuals who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.

Pope Leo’s Commitment to Freedom

The pope was chosen for his lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world. Reverend Paul Galetto, leader of St. Paul Parish in South Philly, praised the pope’s commitment to freedom, saying, “I’m glad that the committee had the courage to select Pope Leo for the award, because if there’s anybody that wants to speak about freedom, it is he.”

The ceremony will be multi-faith, with clergy from across Philadelphia, and the pope’s remarks will be livestreamed. The National Constitution Center is dedicated to educating the public about the US Constitution and has been a frequent host of civic-minded events, including presidential debates.

A Philadelphia Connection

Pope Leo has a connection to Philadelphia, having attended Villanova University as an undergraduate. Vince Stango, interim president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, said, “It made sense to connect a Philadelphia story, an American story, and a global story. And who better to embody those connections than the first US-born pope?”

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.