The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia could not have made a better choice awarding the 2026 Liberty Medal to Pope Leo XIV. The award might even awaken the “better angels of our nature” inherent in all of us, as Abraham Lincoln explained.
Indeed, when the pope accepts the medal on July 3 at Independence Mall, his own spirituality and religious dedication, combined with his commitment to ...
In examining this piece, it is important to consider the context and motivations behind the selection of Pope Leo XIV for the Liberty Medal. The awarding of the medal serves as a symbolic recognition of the Pope's commitment to social justice, which aligns with the principles outlined in Rerum Novarum. This encyclical, issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, advocated for workers' rights and criticized both capitalism and communism-socialism.
By adopting the name Leo XIV, the pope is signaling his inte...