Pope Francis’ request to canonists: Neither justice without charity, nor charity without justice

This morning, in his audience with the participants of the training course organized by the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, Pope Francis called on canonists and professionals of ecclesiastical law to unify the values ​​of justice and charity.

“The core of the message I want to leave you today is this: you are called to love justice, charity and truth, and to strive every day to implement them in your work as canonists and in all the tasks you perform in the service of the faithful,” stated the Holy Father to those present in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican.

“It’s about loving all three at the same time, because they go together—these three, right? Justice, charity and truth go together—and, if one is neglected, the others lose their authenticity. Indeed, our model is Jesus Christ, who is the Truth and is just and merciful,” he noted.

“Neither justice without charity, nor charity without justice”

Pope Francis recalled that the concepts of charity and justice are inseparable in the mission of the Church and must be lived together in pastoral and legal practice.

“Neither justice without charity, nor charity without justice. Charity without justice is not charity. Justice is a cardinal virtue of great importance, which leads to giving each person what they deserve. And this virtue must certainly also be lived within the Church: the rights of the faithful and the rights of the Church itself demand it,” he recalled.

In his speech, Francis not only highlighted the importance of justice, but also the need to live “with the zeal of charity, seeking the good of others.”

“It is necessary to live the service of love, because ‘justice is only understood in the light of love.’ Never forget that those who approach you asking you to exercise your ecclesial office must always find the face of our Mother, the holy Church, who loves all her children with tenderness,” he stated.

The Pope also warned against the danger of a cold, “merely distributive” justice that does not contemplate mercy: “A justice that does not go beyond the mere distribution of what corresponds, that does not transcend towards mercy, is a justice.” incomplete.”

Likewise, he recalled that charity, although it goes beyond justice, must never do without it. Quoting Benedict XVI in his Love in truththe Pope pointed out that “charity goes beyond justice, because to love is to give what is mine to another; but it never lacks justice, which drives us to give to others what is theirs, what belongs to them by reason of their being or their actions.”

In this sense, the Pope explained that canonists, as servants of justice in the Church, must always remember that the rights of the faithful must be recognized and respected, but that this respect must be marked by love and mercy.

In relation to the work of ecclesiastical courts, Francis emphasized that it is not only about complying with legal formalities, but also about recognizing what constitutes a true right of the person within the Church. “His infinite dignity must be respected exemplarily in intra-ecclesiastial relations,” he expressed.

In his conclusion, Pope Francis encouraged canonists to cultivate a hope-filled ecclesial service. “The Church trusts a lot in you, as practitioners of justice and charity in the truth,” he stated. Quoting Psalm 27:14, he urged everyone to live with hope in the Lord: “Wait in the Lord! Be strong, be strong and wait on the Lord!”

The Pope concluded his speech by giving his blessing and asking those present not to forget to pray for him.