Pope says MLK's message of non-violent protest timely now

Pope Francis is houring civil rights leer Dr. Martin Lur King Jr. on commemoration of his birthday, saying his mess of equality through peaceful means remains more timely than ever.

Francis sent a mess of prayer Monday to King's daughter, Rev. Bernice King, with whom pontiff met in 2018. He called for unity, t division, and extinguishing hatred and “t holding onto it.” “In today's world, which increasingly faces challenges of social injustice, division and conflict that hinder realization of common good, Dr. King's dream of harmony and equality for all people, attained through nviolent and peaceful means, remains ever timely,” Francis wrote.

Vatican has long spoken out about racial injustice, and popes dating to Paul VI have voiced support for King's mess of nviolent protest and civil rights movement. History's first pope from global south is different.

Francis quoted King at length during his historic speech to U.S. Congress in 2015, and spoke out last year in aftermath of protests spurred by police killing of a Black man, George Floyd.