--- title: Pope Francis U.S. Visit: Who Were Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton? description: The two Americans just got name-checked by the Pope canonical: https://time.com/4048023/pope-francis-us-visit-dorothy-day-thomas-merton/ author: Lily Rothman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-24T14:17:52.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:38.865Z article:section: History og:title: Why Pope Francis Cited Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton og:description: The two Americans just got name-checked by the Pope og:url: https://time.com/4048023/pope-francis-us-visit-dorothy-day-thomas-merton/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt68bb4b4bdc0fc8b6/69886533cf40a81552c3fde4/day.jpeg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Dorothy Day og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why Pope Francis Cited Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton twitter:description: The two Americans just got name-checked by the Pope twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt68bb4b4bdc0fc8b6/69886533cf40a81552c3fde4/day.jpeg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why Pope Francis Cited Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton ## Video: Pope Francis Visits America By the Numbers [Watch (HLS stream): Pope Francis Visits America By the Numbers](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/s3CtNfmC.m3u8) (0:53)  _Published 2015-09-23. Pope Fracis' Visit To America By the Numbers_  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Sep 24, 2015 2:17 PM UTC  Dorothy Day inside the Worker office at 175 Christie St. in New York City in 1965. Dorothy Day inside the Worker office at 175 Christie St. in New York City in 1965.NY Daily News / Getty Images  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Sep 24, 2015 2:17 PM UTC In speaking to Congress on Thursday, Pope Francis demonstrated that he’d brushed up on his American history in advance of his historic visit to the U.S. In mentioning a few famous Americans whose lives could serve as inspirations as the world navigates current crises, he turned to two obvious choices—Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King—and two whose names might be unfamiliar to those less versed in the history of American religion: Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. So who were they? Dorothy Day was the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, who used her faith to work for social justice. In 1940, TIME [noted](http://time.com/vault/issue/1940-02-26/page/60/) that, “Among U. S. Christians who care for the poor, none are more blessed with selfless zeal than those Roman Catholics who labor in the Catholic Worker movement.” When she died in 1980, TIME explained that her take on Catholic activism was anything but uncontroversial: --- > “” --- Though she was raised Episcopalian and became an agnostic in her youth, as she “took a Marxist lover, joined the young labor movement and wrote for far-left newspapers like the _Masses_,” a relationship and the birth of her daughter led to the church. In the 1930s, in the depths of the Depression, she launched the periodical _The_ _Catholic Worker_ and a philosophy to go along with it: pro-union, anti-poverty, pacifist, anti-government. She even went so far as to refer to it as anarchism, believing that individuals could be empowered to do good on their own. ### See Photos of Pope Francis’ Historic Visit to U.S.  Pope Francis sits on board his Rome-bound plane after his visit to the U.S. in Philadelphia, on Sept. 27, 2015. Charles Mostoller—Reuters  A man looks at a television screen showing Pope Francis as he celebrates the Festival of Families Sunday mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Carlos Barria—Reuters  A man holds a child as Pope Francis celebrates mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Matt Slocum—AP  Pope Francis conducts the final mass of his U.S. visit in Philadelphia, on Sept. 27, 2015. Mark Makela—Reuters  People without tickets watch on video screens as Pope Francis celebrates mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the pope mobile during a parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before Mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Michael Perez—AP  Crowds wait to go through security checkpoint before entering the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Papal Mass on Sept. 27, 2015, in Philadelphia. Michael Perez—AP  A family from Trenton, N.J., originally from Ecuador, walk over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge ahead of a Sunday Mass to be delivered by Pope Francis in Philadelphia, on Sept. 27, 2015. Julio Cortez—AP  Pope Francis waves to the crowd during a parade in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. Matt Rourke—AP  Pope Francis takes the stage during the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. Matt Slocum—AP  People pray and watch as Pope Francis celebrates mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. James Robinson—AP  The wind lifts Pope Francis' mantle as he delivers his speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. Tony Gentile—AP  Pope Francis is greeted by seminarians as he arrives at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, on Sept. 26, 2015, in Wynnewood, Pa. Mel Evans—AP  Nuns wait for Pope Francis' arrival at the Festival of Families rally along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. Carlos Barria—Reuters  Pope Francis kisses and blesses Michael Keating, 10, of Elverson, Pa after arriving in Philadelphia and exiting his car when he saw the boy, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, at Philadelphia International Airport. Joseph Gidjunis—World Meeting of Families/AP  Pope Francis reads his homily while celebrating high Mass at Madison Square Garden, on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. Julie Jacobson—AP  A crucifix hangs above member of the clergy who watch as Pope Francis, not shown, celebrates Mass at Madison Square Garden, on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. Michael Appleton—AP  Thousands of people watch Pope Francis ride in the popemobile through Central Park on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Pope Francis arrives in his car for a visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, on Sept. 25, 2015. Eric Thayer—AP  Security personnel watch from the back of a vehicle as Pope Francis tours Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York City, on Sept. 25, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Pope Francis and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, left, pray at the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial in downtown Manhattan, on Sept. 25, 2015. John Minchillo—AP  Pope Francis is seen on a video monitor as he signs the United Nations guest book before addressing the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters in New York City, on Sept. 25, 2015. Mary Altaffer—AP  Pope Francis makes his way down 5th Avenue in New York City to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015. Damon Winter—AFP/Getty Images  People in the crowds outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral take pictures in New York City, on Sept. 24, 2015. Damon Winter—The New York Times/Reuters  A New York City police officer searches nuns outside St. Patrick's Cathedral prior to the arrival of Pope Francis in New York, on Sept. 24, 2015. Damon Winter—AP/The New York Times  Pope Francis reaches out to 5th grader Omodele Ojo of East New York, Brooklyn as he is greeted as he arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. Craig Ruttle—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis waves to supporters as he arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, on Sept. 24, 2015. Craig Ruttle—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the Speakers Balcony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015. Doug Mills—Getty Images  Pope Francis pauses in front of a sculpture of Spanish-born Junipero Serra, the Franciscan Friar known for starting missions in California, in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015 Michael Reynolds—Getty Images  Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015. Evan Vucci—AP  Pope Francis listens to applause before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015, Alessandra Tarantino—AP  Pope Francis and Speaker of the House John Boehner speak in the US Capitol building as the Pope arrives to deliver his speech to a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015. Bill Clark—EPA  Pope Francis performs Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Vincenzo Pinto—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis greets and blesses seminarians, novices, religious guests inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Pope Francis arrives for the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Rob Carr—Getty Images  St. Mathews Cathedral is reflected in a nearby building as onlookers wait for Pope Francis to arrive for midday prayer service at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Jose Luis Magana—AP  Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile during a parade along Constitution Avenue in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Alex Brandon—AP  Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile during a parade in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Alex Brandon—AP  President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Tony Gentile—AP  President Barack Obama and Pope Francis walk down the Colonnade before meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Andrew Harnik—AP  First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, and Pope Francis wave during an arrival ceremony at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Vincenzo Pinto—AFP/Getty Images  Guests watch as President Barack Obama greets Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis speaks alongside President Barack Obama during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama welcomes Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama accompany Pope Francis to the stage during a state arrival ceremony, on Sept. 23, 2015, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. Andrew Harnik—AP  People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Vincenzo Pinto—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis takereceives a kiss, outside the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015 . Molly Riley—AFP/Getty Images  A man holds up a Papal flag as he waits for Pope Francis departure from the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2015. Cliff Owen—AP  Pope Francis waves from a Fiat 500 as his motorcade departs from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Sept. 22, 2015. Andrew Harnik—AP  A crowd of supporters cheer as they attend the arrival of Pope Francis at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, on Sept. 22, 2015. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters  Pope Francis is greeted by President Barack Obama, the First Family and children after arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Md, on Sept. 22, 2015. Michael Reynolds—EPA  President Barack Obama welcomes Pope Francis to the United States as the Pontiff greets dignitaries upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, on Sept. 22, 2015. Kevin Larmarque—Reuters  President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others, greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Sept. 22, 2015. Andrew Harnik—AP  Pope Francis steps off his plane at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., on Sept. 22, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., on Sept. 22, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  Clergy brace for the wind as they stand along the red carpet on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Sept. 22, 2015, as the plane carrying Pope Francis arrives. Andrew Harnik—AP  US Air Force honor guard unroll the red carpet before Pope Francis arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Md, on Sept. 22, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  Pope Francis arrives to the United States from Cuba at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 22, 2015. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images Merton, who came from a similarly non-Catholic background, became a Trappist monk and best-selling author who encouraged peace. As his 1968 TIME obituary made clear, his focus was parallel to Day’s—he “found in the Word a command to do”—but it was through writing that he shared his philosophy with the world: --- > “” --- When _The Seven Storey Mountain_ was first published, TIME [called](http://time.com/vault/issue/1948-10-11/page/89/) it a “perceptive, quietly stirring” reminder that “the most mystical human beings are often among the most practical as well.” While Day’s activism was very much tied to the 1930s moment in which she got her start, with its focus on workers and soup kitchens, Merton’s fit perfectly with the post-World War II world in which his autobiographical debut was published. Though Merton lived the life of a near-hermit for many years, he became fascinated by Zen Buddhism and Tibetan monastic practices right about when the Beatles did too, and he participated in protests against the Vietnam War. Though their lives took very different paths, Day’s and Merton’s callings overlapped significantly, with a concentration on anti-poverty and pro-peace activism. In light of that parallel, one they share with another famous Catholic, it’s no wonder Pope Francis would have mentioned their names—even if they’re less famous than Lincoln and King. **_Read Day’s full 1980 obituary, here in the TIME Vault:_** [Street Saint](http://time.com/vault/issue/1980-12-15/page/90/) **_Read Merton’s full 1968 obituary, here in the TIME Vault:_** [The Death of Two Extraordinary Christians](http://time.com/vault/issue/1968-12-20/page/72/) ### See Every Pope Who’s Ever Been on the Cover of TIME  Pope Pius XI on the June 16, 1924, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Pius XI on the Dec. 29, 1930, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Pius XI on the Apr. 3, 1933, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Pius XII on the Aug. 16, 1943, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ANDREI HUDIAKOFF  Pope Pius XII on the Dec. 14, 1953, cover of TIME Cover Credit: BORIS CHALIAPIN  Pope John XXIII on the Nov. 10, 1958, cover of TIME Cover Credit: BORIS CHALIAPIN  Pope John XXIII on the Oct. 5, 1962, cover of TIME Cover Credit: PIETRO ANNIGONI  Pope John XXIII, Person of the Year, on the Jan. 4, 1963, cover of TIME Cover Credit: BERNARD SAFRAN  Pope John XXIII on the June 7, 1963, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS  Pope Paul VI on the June 28, 1963, cover of TIME Cover Credit: DAVID LEES  Pope Paul VI on the Sep. 24, 1965, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Paul VI on the Nov. 22, 1968, cover of TIME Cover Credit: LOUIS GLANZMAN  Pope John Paul I on the Sep. 4, 1978, cover of TIME Cover Credit: DAVID LEES  Pope John Paul I on the Oct. 9, 1978, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ENRICO FERORELLI  Pope John Paul II on the Oct. 30, 1978, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ARTURO MARI  Pope John Paul II on the June 18, 1979, cover of TIME Cover Credit: GIANFRANCO GORGONI  Pope John Paul II on the Oct. 15, 1979, cover of TIME Cover Credit: NEIL LEIFER  Pope John Paul II on the May 25, 1981, cover of TIME Cover Credit: FOTAM  Pope John Paul II on the June 7, 1982, cover of TIME Cover Credit: MARTIN CLEAVER, FRANCOIS LOCHON-GAMMA, DAVID HUME KENNERLY  Pope John Paul II on the Mar. 14, 1983, cover of TIME Cover Credit: FRANK FOURNIER  Pope John Paul II on the June 27, 1983, cover of TIME Cover Credit: INTERPRESS/JURGENS  Pope John Paul II on the Jan. 9, 1984, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ARTURO MARI  Pope John Paul II on the Feb. 4, 1985, cover of TIME Cover Credit: MARIO DONIZETTI  Pope John Paul II on the Feb. 24, 1992, cover of TIME Cover Credit: DIRCK HALSTEAD / GIANNI GIANSANTI-SYGMA (POPE JOHN PAUL II)  Pope John Paul II, Person of the Year, on the Dec. 26, 1994, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ROBERT AMMIRATI  Pope John Paul II on the Jan. 26, 1998, cover of TIME Cover Credit: GERARD RANCINAN  Pope John Paul II on the Apr. 3, 2000, cover of TIME Cover Credit: ARTURO MARI  Pope John Paul II on the Apr. 11, 2005, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Benedict XVI on the May 2, 2005, cover of TIME TIME  Pope Benedict XVI on the Nov. 27, 2006, cover of TIME Cover Credit: PHOTOGRAPH BY MAX ROSSI/REUTERS  Pope Benedict XVI on the Apr. 14, 2008, cover of TIME Cover Credit: JOHN RITTER  Pope Benedict XVI on the Feb. 25, 2013, cover of TIME Cover Credit: EVANDRO INETTI-ZUMA PRESS  Pope Francis on the Mar. 25, 2013, cover of TIME Cover Credit: STEFANO DAL POZZOLO / CONTRASTO / REDUX  Pope Francis, Person of the Year, on the Dec. 23, 2013, cover of TIME Cover Credit: PORTRAIT BY JASON SEILER FOR TIME  The Oct. 5, 2015, cover of TIME Photograph by Mandel Ngan–AFP/Getty Images ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4048023/pope-francis-us-visit-dorothy-day-thomas-merton/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4048023/pope-francis-us-visit-dorothy-day-thomas-merton/"},"headline":"Why Pope Francis Cited Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton","datePublished":"2015-09-24T14:17:52.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:41:38.865Z","description":"The two Americans just got name-checked by the 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