Pope Leo receives Liberty Medal from National Constitution Center, speaks on freedom and the right to life

On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the Philadelphia-based National Constitution Center honored Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, with its 2026 Liberty Medal, recognizing his efforts to defend religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression. 

The Holy Father gave his acceptance speech of the award in a live video address to attendees of the July 3 award ceremony in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The address, in which he could be seen wearing the medal, came several months after a delegation from the center had traveled to the Vatican in April and presented the Holy Father with the medal in person. 

In accepting the medal at the Vatican, Pope Leo recalled the words of the Declaration of Independence, "'we hold these truths to be self evident: that all men have received fundamental rights from our Creator, and they include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' May those values continue inspire all of us in the United States and throughout the world, and together, hopefully we can all work that those freedoms will indeed be a part of the lives of all people everywhere."

Pope Leo said in his July 3 acceptance speech that he is honored to accept the award as the nation prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial anniversary. 

“As a son of this great country,” Pope Leo said, “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, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.”

He reflected that many people have long admired the declaration’s assertion that all men and women are created equal and have certain God-given inalienable rights — such as the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

“While couched in the language of the Enlightenment, that claim is ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image,” Pope Leo said. “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.”

In the past 250 years, for many people around the world, “it was the firm resolve to achieve the noble vision of the nation’s founders that made America a byword for freedom,” the Pope continued, “as the country opened its doors to successive waves of immigrants, enabling them and their children to play their part in shaping the future of the nation.”

He also recalled the U.S.’ role in World War II, saying that the country’s love of freedom also inspired the U.S. in that dark hour “to look beyond itself and, at great sacrifice, to champion the cause of freedom beyond its own borders.” 

The Pontiff then acknowledged that building a society that fully embodies the “ideals of liberty and justice for all was not always easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress” and that each generation must continue striving to build this. 

The semiquincentennial anniversary brings the opportunity to think on the founding principles of the U.S, Pope Leo said, “in the hope that America will remain ever true to the dream that has earned it the title of land of the free and home of the brave.”

The Holy Father then reflected on the right to life, calling on the U.S. to protect life from conception until natural death. 

“A country’s vitality is deeply tied to the value it affords to human life in every form and condition, acknowledging the dignity endowed upon every human person by virtue of their very existence,” he said. “The inherent worth of every human life has led the noble hearts of generations to praise the marvelous works of the Creator and stand in reverence before so precious a gift.”

“Indeed, it is precisely this reverence that we must continue to cultivate — one that sways the hearts of individuals and inspires laws that recognize and safeguard the gift from the moment of conception to natural death,” he added. 

Cultivating reverence for life will help deepen the understanding of responsibility each has to those around them, Pope Leo continued: “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.”

The Pontiff then reflected on the principle of liberty, explaining that authentic freedom is not merely “the ability to act as one would like.” 

Authentic freedom, he explained, “is founded upon the human person’s capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country.”

He reflected that it is fitting for people to continue striving to find the answers regarding fundamental questions about truth, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. 

“These answers inevitably determine the direction which we seek to give to our lives,” he said, “and America has long championed the religious freedom necessary to follow responsibly the dictates of conscience in this regard, free from fear and coercion, as enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

According to the Pontiff, freedom of conscience also ensures freedom of religion — another right protected by the First Amendment. 

“In fact, religious freedom gave rise to the American tradition of allowing for interfaith dialogue and interreligious cooperation in promoting the public good and enriching the debates on the great moral and ethical issues that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history,” Pope Leo added. “It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.”

Though the U.S. founders had diverse backgrounds and religions, the principles they shared regarding the human person united them “in a single cause, a common dream,” Pope Leo said.

“Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America. E pluribus unum — out of many, one,” he continued. “In order for a nation to flourish, it must be truly united; united not by goals bound to momentary endeavors, but by ideals that do not fade with the passing of time.” 

Concluding, he expressed hope that the nation’s founding principals will continue to be a source of unity and guidance into the future. 

“In accepting this award, I therefore pray that this, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great nation, may be the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart,” Pope Leo said. “I commend all of you, as well as the future of the Nation, to the One who is himself the source of true freedom and lasting peace, the One whose very name is Peace. May God bless America! Thank you!”