Pope Leo XIV to Receive Liberty Medal July 3, 2026

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, will receive the National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal in a virtual ceremony on July 3, 2026, in Philadelphia, on the eve of the United States' 250th anniversary of independence.

The award, presented annually since 1988 to honor individuals advancing liberty worldwide, recognizes the pope's lifelong commitment to religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and freedom of expression. These principles, officials noted, align closely with the ideals enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The outdoor event will take place on Independence Mall in front of the National Constitution Center, facing Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, will deliver live acceptance remarks from the Vatican, with the proceedings broadcast to attendees and viewers globally via livestream on the center's website and through Comcast NBCUniversal.

The selection of Pope Leo underscores the ceremony's ties to the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations. National Constitution Center Interim President and CEO Vince Stango described the pope as...