Pope Leo XIV used America’s 250th anniversary celebrations to urge the United States to remember its immigrant history, putting a Vatican voice into one of the country’s most contested political debates.
The first American pope delivered a virtual address to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as he accepted the 2026 Liberty Medal, awarded in recognition of his commitment to religious freedom.
Leo linked the US founding story to immigration, saying America became “a byword for freedom” as it opened its doors to successive waves of newcomers who helped shape the country’s future.
He also cited the Declaration of Independence and said that, “as a son of this great country,” he was asking for blessings on America’s future so its founding ideals could guide the nation “in unity, justice and peace.”
The remarks landed during an anniversary weekend already filled with competing claims over national identity, borders and the meaning of the American founding. President Donald Trump has made tighter immigration enforcement central to his second-term agenda, while critics argue that some policies risk weakening protections for migrants and asylum seekers.
Leo has rejected the idea that the Catholic Church supports open borders, saying countries have a right to decide “who and how and when people enter.” But he has also argued that migrants must be treated humanely.
After the Philadelphia address, Leo traveled to Lampedusa, the Italian island that has become a symbol of migration across the Mediterranean. There, he called for policies that combine immediate relief with longer-term support for migrants and developing countries.
“Have the courage to think differently,” he said.
