In the weeks following the murder of Minneapolis resident George Floyd while in police custody on May 25, thousands of Americans have taken to the streets in major cities to protest police brutality. On June 3, Pope Francis addressed the ongoing situation to a general audience in the Library of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
“Dear brothers and sister in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd,” Pope Francis said. “My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”
The pontiff also condemned the behavior of people attempting to hijack the protests through violence and looting.
“At the same time, we have to recognize that the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” Pope Francis said. “Let us implore the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn.”
Los Angeles Archbishop and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), José H. Gomez, issued a statement on George Floyd and the protests on May 31.
“The killing of George Floyd was senseless and brutal, a sin that cries out to heaven for justice. How is it possible that in America, a black man’s life can be taken from him while calls for help are not answered, and his killing is recorded as it happens?” Archbishop Gomez stated. “We should not let it be said that George Floyd died for no reason. We should honor the sacrifice of his life by removing racism and hate from our hearts and renewing our commitment to fulfill our nation’s sacred promise—to be a beloved community of life, liberty, and equality for all.”
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization with about 1.9 million members worldwide, started a novena, or nine days of prayer, for the end of racism and national unity on June 7, which purposefully fell on Trinity Sunday due to the unifying nature of the Trinity: One God in Three Persons.
“We ask all people to come together in solidarity to forge a path forward — free of discrimination and hate — for our nation,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “We must show love for one another, praying that all people come to understand that injustice to any black person is injustice to all persons and that all of us, regardless of our differences, are children of God made in his image and likeness.”
Since its founding by the Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus have been “open to all races and nationalities”, were the only organization to maintain racially integrated facilities during World War I, and “openly [opposed] the racial and religious intolerance of the Ku Klux Klan”.
“May we pray for the strength to learn from the courageous example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and from the leadership of our Holy Father, and to continue to work to build a society that recognizes the dignity and brotherhood of all,” Anderson said.
Featured image courtesy of Fibonacci Blue via Flickr.
Max Montana is a senior studying philosophy and theology. When not writing for The Torch, he enjoys reading more about the Catholic faith and philosophy, serving the unborn and mothers in need, and hanging out with friends. Max is honored to hail from the state with many gators and the bishop of the moon: Florida.
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