Pope Leo XIV Defends U.S. Immigrant Legacy, Receives 38th Liberty Medal
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jul 3
Pope Leo XIV Defends U.S. Immigrant Legacy, Receives 38th Liberty Medal
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jul 3
Summary
Speaking by video from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV said successive waves of immigrants built the United States and helped make “America” a global byword for freedom ahead of the July 4 anniversary.
At the Philadelphia event, Leo urged the country to stay true to its founding ideals and said a nation’s moral greatness is measured by how it protects the vulnerable, while also reaffirming church opposition to abortion and euthanasia.
Leo’s remarks landed amid President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation push and a 75-country immigrant visa pause; Trump has called the Chicago-born pope weak on crime and rejected his criticism of war with Iran.