Pope Leo XIV Awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia

July 03, 2026

On Friday, July 3, the National Constitution Center awarded the Liberty Medal to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in recognition of his commitment to religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

In his acceptance remarks, Pope Leo expressed gratitude for the honor and reflected on the United States as a beacon to the world because of its unique system of governance, founded on the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He emphasized that these principles must include the protection of every human life at every stage and care for the most vulnerable.

The Liberty Medal is one of the United States' most prestigious civilian honors, recognizing individuals whose leadership has advanced the ideals of freedom around the world.

This year marked the thirty-eighth presentation of the Liberty Medal. Among its previous recipients are two Presidents of Ukraine—Viktor Yushchenko and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Monsignor Peter Waslo of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia was among the invited guests at this year's Liberty Medal ceremony.

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Pope Leo XIV Awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia

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