Pope Leo XIV awarded Liberty Medal during ceremony in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- Pope Leo VIX was awarded the National Constitution Center's 38th Liberty Medal during a ceremony Friday in Philadelphia.

The award recognizes Pope Leo's lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of expression, ideals valued by the founding fathers in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The Chicago-born Pope, who graduated from Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, took part virtually and delivered his acceptance remarks live from the Vatican.

"The Holy Father is deeply grateful to the National Constitution Centre for this prestigious award, in such a meaningful anniversary for the American People, as they are called to reflect on the 250 years of their history holding the Constitution of the United States and Liberty as hallmarks of their heritage for future generations," the Director of the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

Friday's ceremony was originally planned to be held outdoors on Independence Mall, but was moved inside the National Constitution Center due to the extreme heat.

The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.

Past recipients include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Bono, President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Stephen Spielberg, and the Dalai Lama.

For more information, visit ConstitutionCenter.org.