«Over the last two hundred and fifty years, for many populations around the world, there has been a firm determination to realize the noble vision of the founding fathers to make America synonymous with freedom, as the country opened its doors to successive waves of immigrants, allowing them and their children to help shape the nation’s future. It was this same love of freedom that inspired the United States in the darkest hours of the last century.”
With this strong reminder of the decisive contribution of immigrants in the building of the United States, Pope Leo XIV opened his speech via video link from the Vatican to the Optional Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where he was awarded the Freedom Medal on the eve of July 4th, the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.
The Pontiff, the first Pope born in the United States, received recognition for his commitment to religious freedom and invited the country to rediscover the ideals that marked its birth, indicating in unity, in the protection of life and in the dignity of the person the foundations for facing the challenges of the present.
Addressing the participants at the ceremony, Leo XIV recalled his American roots: «As a son of this great nation, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of freedom and a better life for themselves and their children, I join you in asking God’s blessing on the future of America, that the high ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence will continue to guide the nation’s prosperity in unity, justice and peace.”
The Pope expressed the hope that the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States will become an occasion for civil and moral renewal: “By accepting this award, I therefore pray that this anniversary may be the occasion for a solemn renewal of the commitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of soul.” His final greeting was entrusted to an expression as simple as it was significant: “God bless America!”
Religious freedom as a good for the whole of society
The central theme of the recognition received from the Pontiff was that of religious freedomwhich Leo XIV defined as one of the pillars of the American tradition: «Religious freedom gave rise to the American tradition of allowing interfaith dialogue and interfaith cooperation to promote the public good and enrich debates on the great moral and ethical questions that have faced the nation and shaped the course of its history. It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the opinions of others, and an ongoing commitment to finding common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad.”
According to the Pope, the ability to build common ground represents one of the most precious teachings of the founding fathers of the United States: «Men and women of different origins, religions and languages», said the Pontiff, who «were able to find that common ground and the strength necessary to pursue a better future. The principles that inspired America’s founding fathers, rooted in the truth of the human person, united them in a single cause, a common dream. Unity gave strength to that dream, giving rise, with God’s help, to the United States of America.”
Hence the invitation to rediscover a unity based on permanent values and not on contingent interests: «For a nation to prosper, it must be truly united; united not by objectives linked to temporary undertakings, but by ideals that do not fade with the passage of time. May the principles we have reflected on today – shared human dignity, equality and the rights enshrined in the Declaration of Independence – always be a source of such unity and a guiding light for the present and for years to come.”
The defense of life, the first right
An important passage of the speech was dedicated to the protection of human life, indicated as the very foundation of freedom: «The moral greatness of a nation is manifested above all in its ability to support, protect and safeguard the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned. After the right to life, freedom has been and is pre-eminent among the principles venerated by men and women who have sought a new beginning within the borders of this nation, often equating it with a previously unimaginable hope.”
The Pontiff then recalled that building a just society requires continuous commitment on the part of each generation: «The path to building a society that embodies the high ideals of freedom and justice for all has not always been easy and, in many respects, is still a work in progress. Indeed, the effort to realize this vision is a commitment that must be renewed in every generation and in the face of ever new challenges.”
Looking to the future of the United States, Leo XIV hoped that the great anniversary of the Declaration of Independence would become an occasion for reflection on the authentic meaning of freedom: «Today, as we look to the This historic anniversary offers us the opportunity to reflect once again on the nation’s founding principles, in the hope that America will always remain faithful to the dream that earned it the title of land of the free and home of the brave.”
Finally, the Pope reiterated the indispensable value of human life, from conception to natural death, asking that it be fully recognized also in the legal system: «The first right established by the founding fathers of the nation was the right to life, since no one who is deprived of life can enjoy freedom or pursue happiness. The vitality of a country is profoundly linked to the value it attributes to human life in every form and condition, recognizing the dignity conferred on every human person by virtue of their very existence.” And he concluded with a specific hope: «May there be laws that recognize and protect this gift, life, from the moment of conception until natural death».
