Pope Leo XIV visited U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch at his residence in Rome on Saturday evening, joining in commemorations of the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.The visit came after the Pope spent the first half of Saturday on a pastoral trip to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, where he met with migrants.
The Holy See Press Office told journalists that the Pope was “welcoming the invitation of the United States Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch,” for the national holiday.Earlier in the day, the Vatican published Pope Leo’s letter to the American people, assuring them of his prayers on the special occasion. The visit followed another U.S.-related event on Friday evening, Rome time, when Pope Leo accepted the Liberty Medal from the U.S. National Constitution Center. The award recognized his lifelong commitment to promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world.
The Chicago-born Pope addressed those gathered in Philadelphia by video message from the Vatican.He prayed that the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States would be an occasion for a renewed commitment to the fundamental ideals on which the nation was founded, especially life and freedom. He concluded his remarks with, “May God bless America.”“As a son of this great country, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of liberty and of a better life for themselves and for their children,” Pope Leo said, “I join you in asking God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice and peace.”