Pope Francis' General Audience: English summary

Pope Francis' General Audience: English summary

Pope Francis lets an elderly lady kiss his pectoral cross (Vatican Media)

Pope Francis continues his catechesis on the Beatitudes at the Wednesday General Audience, reflecting on the third: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. The official English-language summary is below:

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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