“Justice is not made in the abstract, but always considering man in his real value, as a being created in the image of God and called to realize, here on earth, that likeness.”
These are the words addressed by Pope Francis to the Italian Superior Council of the Judiciary on Saturday. The Holy Father reflected on issues in today’s world, including globalization, education and human rights.
“Globalization itself — as was opportunely recalled — also bears in itself aspects of possible confusion and disorientation, as when it becomes a vehicle to introduce uses, concessions, even norms that are foreign to a social fabric with the consequent deterioration of the cultural roots of reality that instead are respected,” the Pope said.
The Jesuit Pope called on the justices to counter the “shaking of cultural roots” through the recovery of values. He also stated that Christianity offers those fundamental values, which has at its core the love of God and neighbour.
Through those values, he continued, society can be effectively defended by the scourge of criminality and corruption.
“It is necessary to intervene not only in the repressive moment, but also in the educational, addressed particularly to the new generations, offering an anthropology — which is not relativist — and a model of life able to respond to the lofty and profound inspirations of the human spirit,” he said.
Recognition of the Dignity of Humankind
Pope Francis continued his address by highlight the importance of the judiciary’s work in defending the dignity of humankind.
“Although, as you rightly underscored, judges are called to intervene in the presence of the violation of a rule, it is also true that the reaffirmation of the rule is not only an act addressed to the individual person, but always surpasses the individual case to concern the community as a whole,” he said.
Finally, the Pope reminded the judges that “justice is not made in the abstract” and that it always considers man in his real value: “as a being created in the image of God and called to realize, here on earth, that likeness.”
Concluding his address, Pope Francis remembered those who have given their life in the defense of justice, including Vittorio Bachelet.
Bachelet, a Catholic politician in Italy who was assassinated in 1980 by the Red Brigade, a communist terrorist group.
“May his witness as a man, as a Christian and as a jurist continue to animate your commitment at the service of justice and the common good,” he said.
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On ZENIT’s website:
For the full text of the Pope’s address, go to: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-to-italian-superior-council-of-the-judiciary
