Fr. Pachomius was a monk of Benedictine monastery of Erlach in Niederwaldkirchen, Austria.
Fr. Gustave Pairoux writes from the Desclee Company publishers to ask if Merton would write a preface to Fr. William Johnston's «The Mysticism of the Cloud of Unknowing». He writes from Rome, Italy.
John Palcewski was Editor of «Don Quixote». He wanted his friend Allen Schaaf to interview Merton for his magazine.
Marco Pallis was a mountain climber, scholar on Tibetan Buddhism, and author of books about his travels, Eastern religions, and the Buddhist-Christian dialogue. He is most known for his book, «Peaks and Llamas». Pallis was born of parents of Greek origin, but was born in England. George Zournas, a friend of Pallis, put him in touch with Merton. Pallis helped Merton prepare for his journey to the Asia and provided contacts and suggestions. (Source: «The Hidden Ground of Love», pp. 463-464.)
Fr. Palumbo writes from Caserta, Italy.
George A. Panichas was an associate professor in the English Department of the University of Maryland in College Park at the time of writing to Merton. In addition, he was the an essayist, biographer and author of a number of books on politics, history and religion.
A Cypriot by birth, Costas Papademas first writes after meeting Merton at Gethsemani, In 1963, while he was a professor in the Journalism Department of Indiana University in Bloomington. He came with a delegation of journalist from around the world (see a letter to Merton from October, 21, 1963 signed by all the foreign journalists). When unrest broke out in Cyprus in 1964, he returned to his native country. Later, he served as Cyprian ambassador in London and in Washington, D.C.
Jan Papanek was Chairman of the International League for the Rights of Man and writes to ask Merton's signature on a statement condemning human rights violations in the Vietnam War. Merton notes that he will sign the statement.
Fr. Etienne Pâris was a Trappist monk from the abbey of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont at Mont-des-Cats in France.
Nicanor Parra distinguished himself as the most prominent Chilean poet, or antipoet, of the Generation of 1938. In 1935, he and friends started «Revista Nueva». The surrealism of Pablo Neruda and the writing of Garcia Lorca among others influenced his first book of poetry, published in 1937. Parra became a professor of mathematics and theoretical physics Universidad de Chile in Santiago from 1951-1991 after his graduate studies at Brown University in Rhode Island and Oxford in England. The direction of his poetry changed in the 1960's, inventing a new poetic form called antipoetry. He published a number of volumes of poetry and influenced many other poets, including Merton, who translated a number of his poems. Parra along with James Laughlin visited Merton at Gethsemani Abbey in May of 1966. (Source: "Parra, Nicanor." Spanish American Authors. 1992. Wilson Biographies Plus. Online. H.W. Wilson. Bellarmine University Library, Louisville, KY. 26 Jan. 2006. ‹http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com›.)
Linda Parsons, born Miroslav Prozak (also spelled Miroslava Projak), was a Catholic convert in her thirties who underwent powerful ecstasies of religious experience. Parsons and Martha Crampton of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, organized the R. M. Bucke Memorial Society for the study of religious experience. She began a correspondence with Merton, and, after his death, founded a Thomas Merton Retreat Center at Lake Magog, near the Benedictine monastery of St. Benoît du Lac. Later, she married Peter Sabbath who became the retreat center's director, which later moved to Montreal. (Source: «The Hidden Ground of Love», p. 516.)
Marie-Antoinette Pasco writes from Perpignan, France.
Boris Pasternak was the Russian novelist and poet best known for «Dr. Zhivago». This novel earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature, but, after the nomination, he was forced to leave the Soviet Writers' Union.
Sr. Patricia of Jesus writes from a Carmelite monastery in New York.
Mother M. Patricia was superior of the Monastery of the Poor Clares (Mosteiro das Pobres Clarrisas) in Paraiba, Brazil.
Prior Bernardin Patterson was a Benedictine monk of St. Maur's Priory in South Union, Kentucky. The monastery was unique in the United States as having been established as a racially integrated community when it was founded in 1947 on the grounds of a Shaker village. At the time of writing, he was working on a book entitled, «Religion on Trial».
Nancy-Lou Patterson was Director of Art at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, at the time of writing to Merton, where she was founder of the Department of Fine Art. Her poetry appeared in «America», «The Prairie Schooner», and other notable publications. Merton chose her poetry for volume three of «Monks Pond». She later published art criticism, including books about the relationship of art and literature. In addition, she published three novels and was commissioned for liturgical artwork, including murals and stained glass, for churches.
John Pauker was a poet, playwright, editor, and translator. He and his wife, Shoo-Shoo, ran an art gallery called the Fun House in Washington, D.C., where he displayed some of Merton's art in 1967. Pauker edited the quarterly «Furioso» from 1947-1953. He was later the American editor of «The Lugano Review». He published books of poetry, a Broadway play called "Moonbirds", and translated the Hungarian novel by Lajos Zilahy, «The Dukays», which was a nationwide bestseller.
Merton first wrote Giovanni B. Montini in 1949 while serving as Secretary of State for the Vatican under Pope Pius XII. Montini became Archbishop of Milan in 1955, was elevated to cardinal in 1958, and was elected Pope Paul VI in 1963. Paul VI read and appreciated Merton's writings. He had an active role in the Second Vatican Council before and after becoming pope. Merton was lending support to the Second Vatican Council's statement on interfaith dialog, which became «Nostra Aetate», the "Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions," which was proclaimed under Pope Paul VI. Merton was also pleased with Paul VI for his statement for peace before the United Nations in 1965. Merton wrote to delegates at Vatican II supporting Schema 13's provisions against modern war, later a part of «Gaudium et Spes», the "Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World".
C. G. Paulding was managing editor of «Commonweal» at the time Merton sumitted his essay to the publication.
Dom Humphrey Pawsey was a Carthusian monk from St. Hugh's Charterhouse in England. In the 1950's, he became superior of their American foundation at Sky Farm in Vermont.
Paul Peachey is a Mennonite scholar and Executive Secretary of the Church Peace Mission. He began this work shortly after the retirement of A. J. Muste and took over much of the group's coordination until it disbanded in 1967. Peachey was the author and editor of a number of books about Christianity and social justice. The Church Peace Mission was headquartered in Washington, D.C.
E. Allison Peers was professor at the Institute of Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool in England. Peers had published translations of the works of Spanish mystics including St. John of the Cross. Merton asked in a letter from July 30, 1948 about quoting from «The Ascent of Mount Carmel» and of publishing the «Dark Night» [of the Soul].
Fr. Claude J. Peifer was a Benedictine monk from St. Bede Abbey in Peru, Illinois. He later served as abbot there from 2003-2011.
C. Alexander Peloquin was a composer of liturgical music who was one of the earliest to begin to write in a style that reflected the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council. He spent many years as composer-in-residence at Boston College and directed student choral ensembles. He composed music for some of Merton's "Freedom Songs", poems inspired by Negro spirituals. The songs were originally intended to be sung by African-American baritone Robert Williams. Merton and Peloquin had trouble at a time with claims that Williams made over copyright of the songs.
Maria Antonia Penido Monteiro writes from Minas, Brazil.
Dom Basílio Penido was Abbot of the Benedictine community of São Bento de Olinda in Recife, Brazil. He wrote some prefaces for Portuguese versions of Merton's books released in Brazil.