We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
Pope Francis: The meek are not pushovers
FREE Catholic Classes
Pope Francis said Wednesday that a meek Christian is not weak, but defends his faith and controls his temper.

Highlights
2/19/2020 (5 years ago)
Published in U.S.
Keywords: POPE FRANCIS - GENERAL AUDIENCE, VATICAN CITY, VATICAN
Vatican City, (CNA) - Pope Francis said Wednesday that a meek Christian is not weak, but defends his faith and controls his temper.
"The meek person is not accommodating, but is a disciple of Christ who has learned to defend another land well. He defends his peace, defends his relationship with God, and defends his gifts, preserving mercy, fraternity, trust, and hope," Pope Francis said Feb. 19 in Paul VI Hall.
The pope reflected on the third beatitude from Christ's Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
"Meekness manifests itself in moments of conflict, you can see how you react to a hostile situation. Anyone might seem meek when everything is calm, but how does he react 'under pressure' if he is attacked, offended, assaulted?" Pope Francis asked.
"A moment of anger can destroy many things; you lose control and do not evaluate what is really important, and you can ruin the relationship with a brother," he said. "On the other hand, meekness conquers many things. Meekness is capable of winning the heart, saving friendships and much more, because people get angry, but then calm down, rethink and retrace their steps, and you can rebuild."
Pope Francis quoted St. Paul's description of "the sweetness and meekness of Christ," and said that St. Peter also called attention to this quality of Jesus at his passion in 1 Peter 2:23 when Christ "did not respond and did not threaten because 'he entrusted himself to the one who judges with justice.'"
The pope also pointed to examples from the Old Testament, quoting Psalm 37, which similarly links "meekness" with the possession of land.
"In Scripture the word 'meek' also indicates one who has no landed property; and therefore we are struck by the fact that the third beatitude says precisely that the meek 'will inherit the earth,'" he said.
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

What Really Happens to the Brain During Pregnancy? A Catholic Look at One Groundbreaking Study

Pope Leo XIV to Religious Sisters: Let God Be Your Everything

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
St. Junipero Serra: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Prayer of the Chalice: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Daily Readings for Monday, June 30, 2025
First Martyrs of the See of Rome: Saint of the Day for Monday, June 30, 2025
- Good Night My Guardian Angel: Prayer of the Day for Monday, June 30, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.