Home Pope Francis Pope at Audience: Meekness unites us, anger drives us apart

Pope at Audience: Meekness unites us, anger drives us apart

by Vatican News

At the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on Jesus’ invitation to meekness in the third Beatitude, and urges Christians to be people of mercy and hope.

Turning his attention to the third Beatitude of Matthew’s Gospel – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” – Pope Francis said a meek person is kind and shuns violence, refusing to grow angry when passions run high.

“Anyone can seem meek when all is calm,” he told pilgrims at the General Audience in the Paul VI Hall, “but how do we react when ‘under pressure’ or are attacked, offended, or assaulted?”

Jesus, said the Pope, is a model of meekness especially in how He suffered the Passion.

From the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father’s General Audience.

Landed gentry

Pope Francis added that the Scriptures use the term “meek” for the poor and those without land.

So Jesus’ statement that the meek will inherit the earth would seem contradictory. But he promises it all the same, said the Pope. “It is the Promised Land.”

“That land is a promise and a gift for the people of God, and becomes a sign of something much greater than a piece of ground.”

He said the third Beatitude ultimately points us to our heavenly homeland.

I Bambini sono speranza” (“Children are hope”) is the title of a just published children’s book composed of brief and simple texts by Pope Francis that encourage sharing, acceptance and love.
The texts have been selected by Father Antonio Spadaro SJ, director of “La Civiltà Cattolica” magazine, and the book has been illustrated by Sheree Boyd who illustrated the Pope’s “Dear Pope Francis” book for children published in English in 2016.

Meekness vs. anger

The Pope went on to describe the traits of a meek disciple of Christ.

“He or she has learned to defend their peace, their relationship with God, and the gifts of God: mercy, fraternity, trust, and hope.”

Anger, said Pope Francis, is the opposite of meekness, and destroys many important things when left uncontrolled.

“Anger has caused many brothers to cease speaking to one another,” he said. “Meekness unites; anger divides.”

A person who is meek, concluded the Pope, is able to “win over hearts and save friendships, because people get angry but then they calm down.”

“This is how we can rebuild relationships with meekness.”

Pope Francis’ General Audience: English summary

Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the Beatitudes, we now consider the third Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5).  Scripture uses the term “meek” for the poor and the dispossessed of the land.  Jesus’ statement that the meek will inherit the earth can thus seems contradictory.  Yet the Lord tells us that the meek will inherit the earth.


The Beatitude ultimately points us to the heavenly homeland promised to the children of God.  For Jesus, the meek are those who have learned to guard the territory of their relationship with God and preserve his gifts of peace, mercy and fraternity.  Sin can destroy this inheritance, for the hatred and division that flow from sin are destructive.  Meekness, on the other hand, preserves this inheritance, enables it to grow and wins the hearts of others by love, kindness and friendship.  By imitating the meekness of Christ, may we help to extend his kingdom and come to receive the inheritance promised to us by the Beatitude.  

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