August 2, 2020 - "Pope Francis's Talk to Congress With Regard to Racism"

I have been recounting the historic address of Pope Francis to Congress on September 24, 2015.  Last week I mentioned the words Pope Francis spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King on that momentous day.  Yesterday we had a talk by Fr. Robert Boxie that will hopefully be an opening to an important conversation for all in the parish.  It might be good today to recall reflections by three of the predecessors of Pope Francis on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
 
Pope St. Paul VI received Dr. King at the Vatican on September 18, 1964—several months before the first March in Selma, Alabama.  On the occasion of Dr. King’s visit to the Vatican, St. Paul VI encouraged him to continue his peaceful commitment against racial discrimination.  On Palm Sunday, 1968. Pope St. Paul VI recalled the figure of Dr. King after his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.  He prayed that the crime might “take on the value of a sacrifice.  Not hatred, not vengeance.  A new gulf between citizens of the same great and noble land should not be deepened.  Rather, a new common purpose of forgiveness, peace, reconciliation, in the equality of free and just rights, should replace the current unjust discrimination and struggles.  Our pain becomes greater and more fearful because of the violent and disorderly reactions that his sad death has provoked.  But our hope also grows as we see that in responsible corners and from healthy hearts grows the desire and the commitment to draw from the iniquitous killing of Martin Luther King an effective overcoming of racial struggles, in hopes of establishing laws and methods of coexistence more in conformity with modern civilization and Christian brotherhood.”
 
Pope St. John Paul II recalled the dream of Dr. King when the Holy Father was in New Orleans meeting with the black Catholic community of that great city.  Pope John Paul recalled the difficult journey of the African-American community to overcome injustice and free itself from the weight of oppression.
 
He continued with these words:  “In the most difficult hours of your struggle for civil rights amidst discrimination and oppression, God himself guided you along the way of peace.  Before the witness of history, the response of non-violence stands, in the memory of this nation, as a moment of honor to the black community of the United States.”  St. John Paul II also spoke of the “providential role” played by Dr. Martin Luther King “in contributing to the rightful human betterment of black Americans and therefore to the improvement of American society itself.”  John Paul II (like Paul VI) also found an affinity with the Christian vision of human brotherhood embodied by Dr. King who believed in the liberating action of faith in Christ Jesus.

Pope Benedict XVI also made reference to this vision when he was welcomed to Washington on April 16, 2008.  On that occasion Pope Benedict emphasized that faith in God has been “a constant inspiration and driving force” in the struggle led by Martin Luther King, Jr. “against slavery and in the civil rights movement.”  Pope Benedict confirmed those words two days later when he met with Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice Albertine, on the margins of an ecumenical celebration in New York.
 
Pope Francis, like his predecessor, also met Bernice Albertine, who is herself a civil rights activist, at the Vatican on March 12, 2018.  The meeting was private but it was very significant in that it occurred three weeks before the fiftieth anniversary of the killing of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Pope Francis wrote in his Message for World Peace Day 2017 that Dr. King achieved successes against racial discrimination which “will never be forgotten.” The way this success has been achieved matter just as much as the results themselves. “The decisive and consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive results.”  Much of the information in this posting is based on a column by Alessandro Gisotti that can be found on the Vatican website.
 
We’ll resume looking at Pope Francis’ address to Congress in 2015 next week.
 
Until then,
Fr. John