Martin Luther King Jr. left a mark, not only on the United States, but on the globe, inspiring people around the world to fight for justice in a non-violent manner.
His fearless courage in the face of opposition inspired St. John Paul II too. The Polish Pope commented on his life and example during his 1987 visit to the United States.
Providential role
John Paul II spoke to to the Black community of New Orleans and noted the divine intervention that was present during a difficult time in the history of the United States:
In the most difficult hours of your struggle for civil rights amidst discrimination and oppression, God himself guided your steps along the way of peace. Before the witness of history the response of non-violence stands, in the memory of this nation, as a monument of honor to the black community of the United States.
He then said how he believed Martin Luther King Jr.'s role in the civil rights movement was "providential:"
Today as we recall those who with Christian vision opted for non-violence as the only truly effective approach for ensuring and safeguarding human dignity, we cannot but think of the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., and of the providential role he played in contributing to the rightful human betterment of black Americans and therefore to the improvement of American society itself.
St. John Paul II also expressed his desire that the Church would join the efforts of others, like Martin Luther King Jr, in the fight for justice:
"The Church must continue to join her efforts with the efforts of others who are working to correct all imbalances and disorders of a social nature. Indeed, the Church can never remain silent in the face of injustice, wherever it is clearly present."
It should be noted that one of the most important parts of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy was his Christian beliefs that fueled his activism. He saw all people as children of God and firmly believed that they all should be given the same respect and God-given dignity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Christian faith can inspire us and give us an example of how to put our faith into action.
12 Pearls of Wisdom from Martin Luther King, Jr.
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