Liberty Medal

On July 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to noon, the 38th annual Liberty Medal ceremony will take place outside the National Constitution Center, steps from Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the ceremony will bring together civic and faith leaders, as well as visitors from Philadelphia, across the nation, and around the world, to reflect on how the promise that individuals may worship freely, speak openly, and live according to their own convictions has strengthened civic life in the United States and inspired movements for human dignity and freedom around the globe. Pope Leo XIV intends to deliver live acceptance remarks virtually from the Vatican, which will be livestreamed to those gathered on Independence Mall and to audiences worldwide.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Ill., is the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine and the first U.S.-born pontiff. He was elected supreme pontiff on May 8, 2025, after decades of pastoral leadership, missionary work, and service in the global Catholic Church.

Prevost was raised in Chicago and studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers before attending Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1977 and also pursued studies in philosophy. That same year, he entered the Order of Saint Augustine, making his first profession in 1978 and his solemn vows in 1981. He completed theological studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, in Rome. He went on to study canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), earning a licentiate in 1984 and later completing a doctorate focused on the governance of the Augustinian order.

Much of Father Prevost’s early ministry was devoted to missionary and pastoral work in Peru, where he served for more than a decade beginning in the mid-1980s. In Trujillo, he held multiple leadership roles within the Augustinian community, taught theology and canon law at the Major Seminary of San Carlos y San Marcelo, and ministered in parishes serving working-class and marginalized communities.

In 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the Augustinian Province of Chicago. Two years later, the worldwide Augustinian order elected him prior general, its highest leadership role. He served two terms, guiding the global community of Augustinians until 2013.

Pope Francis appointed Father Prevost apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, and he was ordained a bishop later that year. In 2015, he was formally appointed bishop of Chiclayo, where he served until 2023. During this time, he also held leadership roles within the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, including service as second vice president and participation in several national commissions.

In 2023, Pope Francis called him to Rome to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, placing him at the center of the Church’s global leadership and episcopal appointments. Later that year, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals.

On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Prevost was elected pope, taking the name Leo XIV. His episcopal motto, “In Illo Uno Unum” (“In the One Christ we are one”), reflects a theme of unity drawn from the writings of Saint Augustine.

The Liberty Medal is made possible thanks to support from corporations, foundations, and individuals with proceeds going to further the work of the National Constitution Center. Ticket and sponsorship opportunities are available through June 19 for reserved seating and special receptions at the National Constitution Center. Click the link below to purchase, or contact [email protected] for more information

The 2026 Liberty Medal Ceremony is made possible by:

Thank you to our prize sponsor:

 

 

Underwriter

 

Champion

The Bezos Family

Larry and Mary Kent

Patron

Sponsor

The Galbraith Family

The Meijer Foundation

Supporter

James J. Fitzgerald IV

The Liberty Medal, established in 1988 and hosted by the National Constitution Center since 2006, recognizes and celebrates individuals of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. The Medal’s distinguished roster of recipients includes many of the men, women, and organizations that have shaped and guided the world through the past two decades. Recipients have included U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony Kennedy; world leaders Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, and Mikhail Gorbachev; U.S. congressional leaders Senator John McCain and Representative John Lewis; and U.S. cultural influencers Muhammad Ali and Ken Burns.

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, we serve as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling our congressional charter “to disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.” As the Museum of We the People, we bring the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, we convene the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, we offer the best educational programs and online resources that inspire and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

For information about sponsoring the Liberty Medal, please contact Rachel Dellon at [email protected]. For general inquiries, please contact, [email protected].