Pope Leo Visits US Ambassador on Fourth of July and Trump Celebrates America 250 - 7/6/26

Pope Leo visits U.S. Ambassador on the 4th of July. I'm Josh Mercer with your Morning LOOPcast. Pope Leo XIV made an unprecedented visit to the residence of U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Birch, on July 4, becoming the first known pope to visit the home of a foreign ambassador accredited to the Holy See. The first American pope joined Birch and his family for an Independence Day dinner where they discussed religious freedom, human life, artificial intelligence, and peace before ending the evening singing God Bless America together.

Speaking on the National Mall during the Salute to America 250 celebration, President Trump called the United States the crowning achievement of human history as the nation marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He honored veterans, celebrated America's founding principles, praised the Constitution and religious freedom, and declared the best is yet to come for the country. The saint of the day today is St. Maria Goretti, martyred at just 11 years old. After forgiving the man who attacked her, she is remembered as a powerful witness to purity, mercy, and Christian forgiveness.

Go to zeal.co for the rest of today's loop, and while you're at it, subscribe to get the loop in your inbox every morning. Again, that's zeal.co.