Pope Leo Marks 250th Birthday Of US With Call For Unity And Peace

ROME, July 4 (NNN-dpa) -- Pope Leo XIV marked the United States' (US) 250th anniversary with a message urging its citizens to remain guided by the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, calling for unity, justice and peace, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

As a "son of this great country," he prayed “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,” the US-born pontiff said in a video message on Friday.

The message was played during a ceremony in Philadelphia, where he was awarded the National Constitution Centre's Liberty Medal.

Leo, who has previously clashed with US President Donald Trump, stressed the importance of national unity.

“Unity lent strength to that dream, giving rise, under God, to the United States of America,” he said.

The pope said he hoped the anniversary would encourage US citizens to renew their commitment to the ideals that had made the country one that values peace and prosperity and is marked by “generosity and nobility of heart.”

Leo also said the US had become a symbol of freedom by repeatedly giving immigrants and their children the opportunity to help shape the country's future.

The pope was due to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday to draw attention to the plight of migrants making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing in often unseaworthy boats.

--NNN-dpa