Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born and raised in the United States, sent a letter to mark the 250th Anniversary of the United States’ founding.
In it, he noted that the birth of the United States “gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.” He proposed that, rather than simply celebrating two-and-a-half centuries of freedom, the occasion should encourage us to explore our responsibilities to preserve our democratic principles for one another and for those who will come after us and who will “inherit the nation that is being shaped today.”
Of these principles, Pope Leo highlighted religious freedom and the dignity of human life. The first, he said has allowed Americans from various cultural and religious backgrounds to live together peacefully. In fact, he noted that it was because America values the freedom of religion that the Catholic Church was able to thrive and contribute to the United States in many ways. Pope Leo also noted that religious freedom does not lessen the responsibility of Catholics to be good citizens. Instead, he suggests that good citizenship flows out from the Christian “pursuit of justice, peace and the common good.”
His comments on the dignity of human life – which is inherent to all people as creations in God’s image – encompassed life from conception until natural death and included the importance of “building a society in which the vulnerable, the suffering and the forgotten are always met with compassion, solidarity and love. Pope Leo went on to say that “Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants,” before noting the contribution that immigrants have played in United States history.
Pope Leo then encouraged United States citizens to “work together in unity,” recommit themselves to the ideals of the founding fathers, and honor their ancestors by “strengthening their communities, respecting their differences and working together toward a more perfect union.”
The Holy Father concluded with assurances of his prayers for the nation and by entrusting the United States to the intercession of the Immaculate Conception.
Image: “Alcatraz Cruise” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christopher Neugebauer
Ariane Sroubek is a writer, school psychologist and mother to two children here on earth. Prior to converting to Catholicism, she completed undergraduate studies in Bible and Theology at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. She then went on to obtain her doctorate in School and Child Clinical Psychology. Ariane’s writing is inspired by her faith, daily life experiences and education. She is currently writing a women's fiction novel and a middle-grade mystery series. Her non-fiction book, Raising Sunshine: A Guide to Parenting Through the Aftermath of Infant Death is available on Amazon. More of her work can be found at https://mysustaininggrace.com.
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