Recognition from Pope Francis
During his address to the U.S. Congress on September 24, 2015, Pope Francis recognized Merton, along with Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Dorothy Day, as one of four great Americans. Francis’ words went straight to the heart of Merton’s continuing, indeed increasing, importance:
“Merton was above all a man of prayer, a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the Church. He was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions.”
