American Pope Leo XIV to Accept Liberty Medal via Rome Broadcast July 3, Will Skip 2026 U.S. Visit
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American Pope Leo XIV, born Robert F. Prevost and raised in Chicago, will accept the Liberty Medal via a remote broadcast from Rome on July 3 — an honor presented on Independence Mall for his lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression. The Vatican says he will not travel to the United States in 2026 despite an invitation from President Donald Trump, instead spending July 4 on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa and pursuing a busy travel year that includes a grand tour of Italy and visits to four African nations.
Pope Leo XIV
U.S. 250th Anniversary Events
Religious Liberty and Migration