Editor's Note: This article was originally published by National Catholic Welfare Conference News Service on Sept. 19, 1964.

VATICAN CITY (NC) — “I am a friend of the Negro people,” Pope Paul VI declared at a private audience granted to U.S. Negro leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The civil rights leader and the Pope met for 12 minutes (Sept. 18). During the audience at the Vatican, the Pope stressed the need to avoid violence and a revolutionary spirit in seeking to achieve full civil rights.

The pontiff cited his admiration of Mahatma Gandhi and his campaign of nonviolence that led to Indian independence in 1947.

Pope Paul presented Dr. King with a silver commemorative medal of the ecumenical congress.

Dr. King said in a interview following the audience: “I can assure you of this: There are new days ahead when the Pope meets with a fellow with the name of Martin Luther.”

https://thecatholicnewsarchive.org/?a=d&d=cns19640919-01.1.23&e=-------en-20--1-byDA.rev-txt-txIN-Newsfront-------