Pope Leo XIV Tells U.S. to Reaffirm Founding Ideals on 250th Independence Anniversary

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first major address to the United States on Friday, speaking via video from the Vatican to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as he received the Center’s Liberty Medal.

“Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States, and Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of the country’s most populous city, have sent pro-immigrant messages to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence”

Al Jazeera

In the speech, he said that “Negli ultimi 250 anni, per tante popolazioni in tutto il mondo è stata ferma la determinazione a realizzare la nobile visione dei padri fondatori,” and framed America as a nation whose identity was shaped by opening “le porte a ondate successive di immigrati.”

Al Jazeera

He also tied the founding ideals to the protection of life, saying, “La grandezza morale di una nazione si manifesta soprattutto nella sua capacità di sostenere, proteggere e custodire la vita di tutti, specialmente dei più vulnerabili e di coloro il cui valore viene messo in discussione”.

The address was delivered in the context of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal is awarded to people “de coraje y convicción” who promote freedom worldwide.

The Reuters account of the same event said Leo hoped that ideals of “unity, justice and peace” held by the Founding Fathers would guide the U.S. as it celebrated its 250th anniversary.

In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV urged Americans to recommit to founding principles and called for “a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others and an ongoing effort to find common ground”.

The Al Jazeera report described the pope’s message as a rebuke to Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, even though it said neither Leo nor New York’s mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned Trump by name.

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Al Jazeera quoted Leo saying, “In these past 250 years, for so many peoples throughout the world, it was the firm resolve to achieve the noble vision of the nation’s founders that made America a byword for freedom,” as the country opened its doors to “successive waves of immigrants.”

France 24 similarly reported that Leo did not mention Donald Trump, but said he hoped the 250th anniversary would be a “solemn recommitment” to the Declaration of Independence ideals.

The Reuters account also said Leo did not mention Trump or any other U.S. political leader by name, while urging the U.S. to be united and to work for long-term solutions.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to travel to Lampedusa, an Italian island, on Saturday, with the Reuters account saying the trip would come a day before he was due to travel there.

“ROME — Pope Leo XIV offered a prayer last Friday, urging the United States to reaffirm its commitment to the foundational ideals of protecting life and human dignity”

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The Guardian reported that Leo will arrive in Lampedusa by helicopter early on Saturday morning and make his first stop at a cemetery with “many unmarked graves of people who died during the Mediterranean journey,” before visiting the Porta d’Europa (Gateway to Europe) migrant memorial monument.

CNN said the visit will highlight the plight of migrants and send a message to U.S. leaders on immigration, noting that Vice President JD Vance described the Vatican’s position as “troubling.”

In Lampedusa, CNN reported that Leo will lay a floral wreath on the tombs of migrants who died at sea, meet a group of migrants, and celebrate an open-air Mass.

The Guardian added that the pope’s itinerary includes blessing a plaque on a pier named after his late predecessor, Pope Francis, who visited the island in July 2013 and denounced the “globalisation of indifference”.