PHILADELPHIA — Pope Leo US During her celebrations of her 250th birthday this year.
Leo, the first American pope, is scheduled to spend the Fourth of July on the island of Sicily LampedusaIt is the arrival point for many desperate migrants trying to reach Europe from Africa.
He will be honored at Independence Mall on July 3 “for his ongoing work to advance religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression throughout the world — ideals that America’s founders enshrined in the First Amendment,” the National Constitution Center said in a news release Monday.
The Center awards the Medal of Freedom each year to a person of “courage and conviction” who works to advance freedom around the world. Previous winners include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and US Representative John Lewis, the late civil rights leader.
Leo, born Robert F. Prevost grew up in Chicago and attended Villanova University near Philadelphia, graduating in 1977.
He has planned a busy year of travel, including a big tour of Italy and trips to four African countries. The Vatican has confirmed that it will not travel to the United States this year, despite an invitation from President Donald Trump.
Liu has followed in his predecessor’s footsteps in highlighting the plight of migrants around the world.
Pope Francis did Lampedusa, his first voyage Outside Rome after his election in 2013, when he celebrated Mass there on an altar made from sunken migrant boats and denounced the “globalization of indifference” — a slogan that heightened tensions with the first Trump administration.
Francis Visited Philadelphia During a six-day trip across the United States in 2015.