Pope Leo XIV will offer live remarks via telecast to a crowd in Philadelphia when he accepts the Liberty Medal award from the National Constitution Center (NCC) on July 3 during a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The Holy Father, a Chicago native who earned a bachelor’s degree at Villanova University in the Philadelphia suburbs, will be given the award to honor his commitment to religious freedom and freedom of conscience and expression around the world, according to a news release from the NCC.
The event will be held on Independence Mall, which is near the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. His remarks will also be livestreamed on NCC’s website.
“From its founding, America has understood liberty of conscience as essential to human freedom and self-government,” Mike George, chair of the NCC Board of Trustees, said in a statement.
“Pope Leo XIV’s moral leadership and his defense of religious freedom and free expression embodies these enduring principles,” he said. “Honoring him with the Liberty Medal affirms the universal power of these ideals and their relevance far beyond our borders.”
The NCC announced on March 16 that Leo would be the recipient, and a spokesperson for the Vatican confirmed with EWTN News that the pope would address the event live. The event is set for July 3, but the specific time has not yet been announced.
Vince Stango, NCC interim CEO and president, told EWTN News that Leo was the first choice for the award and the pontiff’s quick acceptance “made for a very efficient process.” The board of trustees “really wanted to make sure it was an especially meaningful award recipient” given that the nation is celebrating its 250th anniversary, he added.
Throughout Leo’s service as a priest, a bishop, a cardinal, and the pope, Stango said Leo has been devoted to promoting “religious liberty, human liberty, [and] freedom of consciousness” and consistently advocated for “his belief in dignity for all people, inclusion for all people, regardless of their faith.”
Stango said religious freedom is a “bedrock of the founding of this country,” which is “codified in the Constitution and in the protections of the First Amendment.” He said “the first American pope … really represents those ideals.”
“We’re honored to be hosting this event,” Stango said. “We’re honored to be giving Pope Leo this award.”
Stango said the NCC also plans to bring other faith leaders into the event to contribute to interfaith dialogue and discussions of religious liberty in the United States.
Leo’s alma mater, Villanova University, helped connect the NCC to the Vatican and eventually to Leo directly to offer him the award, according to Stango, who also attended Villanova. The NCC is partnering with the City of Philadelphia and Wawa Welcome America to put on the event.
According to the NCC, the event is part of the Independence Week celebrations in Philadelphia, which was the first capital of the United States. The city was the location of the first and the second Continental Congress and where the founders debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The Liberty Medal has been given since 1988 and hosted by the NCC since 2006. The award honors those who strive for liberty globally. Past recipients include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sen. John McCain, and documentarian Ken Burns.
The weeklong celebration will have other guests, including free concert performances by Queen Latifah, Idina Menzel, Eve, and Kirk Franklin. The events also include fireworks and a parade.
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Leo will also visit the southern Mediterranean island of Lampedusa — a major migrant landing point for people seeking to enter Europe.
