{"id":226471,"date":"2026-06-24T04:08:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T04:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/226471\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T04:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T04:08:18","slug":"archbishop-perez-among-leaders-scheduled-to-join-liberty-medal-award-ceremony-for-pope-leo-xiv-from-national-constitution-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/226471\/","title":{"rendered":"Archbishop Perez among leaders scheduled to join Liberty Medal award ceremony for Pope Leo XIV from National Constitution Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Archbishop Nelson J. P\u00e9rez of Philadelphia is pictured in a photo outside the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome July 30, 2025, while Pope Leo XIV speaks at the Parish of Sts. Anthony Abbot and Frances Cabrini during a visit to Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Mother Cabrini’s birthplace in northern Italy, June 20, 2026, in this composite photo. Archbishop P\u00e9rez will speak in person at the National Constitution Center\u2019s Liberty Medal Award ceremony held July 3 in Philadelphia, while Pope Leo will deliver live-streamed remarks as the award recipient. (OSV News photo\/Mario Tomassetti, Vatican Media)
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PHILADELPHIA \u2014 As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, a number of faith and civic leaders will be on hand as Pope Leo XIV accepts \u2014 via livestream from the Vatican \u2014 a major honor for his efforts to promote religious liberty, along with freedom of expression and conscience.<\/p>\n

The National Constitution Center<\/a> will bestow its Liberty Medal<\/a> on Pope Leo July 3 during a public ceremony outside its location at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, part of Independence National Historical Park, home to several sites of historical significance in the nation\u2019s founding.<\/p>\n

Established in 1988 to mark the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and hosted by the center since 2006, the Liberty Medal honors both individuals and organizations \u201cwho strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe,\u201d said the National Constitution Center in a June 22 media advisory listing the event\u2019s key speakers.<\/p>\n

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The center \u2014 a private nonprofit that promotes constitutional education and civic debate \u2014 had announced its decision to honor Pope Leo back on March 16, noting at the time that the ceremony will take place amid the Independence Week events set to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n

Vince Stango, the center\u2019s interim president and CEO, described Pope Leo in that March announcement as a \u201cconsistent advocate for religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and human dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pope Leo is only the second religious leader to receive the Liberty Medal, preceded by 2015 recipient the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Nelson J. P\u00e9rez<\/a> of Philadelphia \u2014 the city that was the nation\u2019s capital from 1790 until 1800 \u2014 will be among the religious leaders addressing the crowds in person at the event, which will also be livestreamed on the center\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

On June 11, the archbishop read a message from Pope Leo on religious liberty to attendees of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty\u2019s 2026 Canterbury Medal Gala, held at the National Constitution Center.<\/p>\n

In that message, dated June 4, Pope Leo described religious freedom as \u201cthe cornerstone of any just society\u201d and \u201can integral part of upholding human dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first U.S.-born pope noted that efforts to safeguard religious liberty \u201cacquire particular significance as the United States of America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, we can recognize in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence an expression of the truth regarding the human person,\u201d said Pope Leo in his Becket gala message. \u201cNamely, the innate dignity of every man and woman, created by God in his own image and likeness, and the rights that stem therefrom.\u201d<\/p>\n

In March, Archbishop P\u00e9rez had described the bestowal of the medal on Pope Leo as \u201ca fitting recognition of the Holy Father\u2019s long dedication and fidelity to advancing liberty for all people throughout the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many ways, his tireless work as a priest, bishop, cardinal, and now shepherd of the universal Church has focused on lifting up the dignity of all people and building pathways to peace,\u201d said Archbishop P\u00e9rez at the time.<\/p>\n

Also on hand with the archbishop will be Imam Quaiser D. Abdullah, director of the Philadelphia Mayor\u2019s Office of Muslim Engagement; Reverend Carolyn C. Cavaness, the first female pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church, founded in 1794; Reverend Luis A. Cort\u00e9s Jr., founder, president and CEO of the faith-based nonprofit Esperanza, which provides an array of services to Hispanic communities; and Rabbi Jill L. Maderer, senior rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

The choirs of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will also perform at the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Past recipients of the Liberty Medal include Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Senator John McCain, U.S. Representative John Lewis and human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai.<\/p>\n

The Liberty Medal is typically accompanied by a prize sponsored by philanthropists Ira Lubert and Pamela Estadt, with contributions from corporations, foundations, and individuals.<\/p>\n

In a March statement to OSV News, the center confirmed that the medal \u201ctraditionally includes a $100,000 prize,\u201d adding that \u201cthe Holy See has not yet indicated how it may be used.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny decisions regarding the prize will be made by the Vatican, and we will share additional information when it becomes available,\u201d the center told OSV News at the time.<\/p>\n

Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina. Kate Scanlon, the Washington-based national reporter for OSV News, contributed to this report. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.<\/p>\n

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