CNN International
The 2026 Liberty Medal
The National Constitution Center will honor His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and reflect on how America’s founding ideals of freedom of religion, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression continue to resonate globally.
"For the first time in history, a majority of the world’s citizens live in nations that are electoral democracies. In order to thrive and expand, liberty and democracy need accurate and fair sources of knowledge and information. CNN International, the first global 24-hour news network, is such a source and helps foster informed leaders and electorates. The network and its founder, Ted Turner, have set standards which amplify democratic liberties."
Liberty Medal International Selection Commission
"My idea was, we’re just going to give people the facts…We didn’t have to show liberty and democracy as good, and show socialism or totalitarianism as bad. If we just showed them both the way they were…clearly everybody’s going to choose liberty and democracy."
CNN International
Liberty Medal acceptance speech by Ted Turner, July 4, 1997
