Vatican City.- Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, celebrated the United States’ national holiday this Saturday at the residence of the ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the North American country’s Declaration of Independence.
“Accepting the invitation of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, the Holy Father went to his residence on the evening of Saturday, July 4, on the occasion of the national holiday,” the Vatican press office reported.
For its part, the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See shared on its X account that the pontiff celebrated the anniversary together with Ambassador Burch and his family.
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During the meeting, he was presented with a United States national soccer team jersey for the World Cup, a commemorative “Freedom 250” baseball, and a homemade apple pie.
“Pope Leo confirmed that he will support the country where he was born during the World Cup,” the diplomatic mission detailed on the social network.
The pontiff, whose secular name is Robert Francis Prevost and who is originally from Chicago, moved to the ambassador’s official residence after an intense day marked by his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a symbol of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.
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Although the Pope declined the official invitation that the American Vice President, JD Vance, personally extended to him last February to attend the central events of the 250th anniversary in his native country, Leo XIII wanted to join the commemoration with a message addressed to his compatriots.
In an official letter of congratulations “to all Americans,” the Bishop of Rome stated that this anniversary invites reflection on collective responsibility and underscored that “defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices, and contributions have been part of this country’s history from its very beginning.”
Likewise, he participated via a video message in the 38th Liberty Medal award ceremony, held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The pontiff had previously received the award for his contribution to freedom from a U.S. delegation that traveled to Rome.
The commemoration coincides with a moment of evident tensions between the Vatican and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Last April, Leo XIV described Trump’s threat to “obliterate an entire civilization” during the crisis with Iran as “unacceptable.” The U.S. president then responded by accusing the pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible at foreign policy.”
