From the Website of Vatican
Pope opens Vatican judicial year: Doing justice requires the virtue of courage
Addressing officials of the Tribunal of Vatican City State at the inauguration of its 95th judicial year, Pope Francis reminds them that the administration of justice requires the virtue of courage and humility in pursuing the truth and even in facing criticism.
By Lisa Zengarini
In his address delivered on Saturday to mark the inauguration of the 95th Judicial Year in the Vatican City State, the Pope focused on the virtue of courage needed to administer justice.
A “healthy audacity” that does not aim at self-promotion
He started by recalling that for Christians this virtue is not only a particular quality of heroic individuals but rather, “a trait that is given and enhanced in encountering Christ, as a fruit of the action of the Holy Spirit that anyone can receive if invoked.” It is expressed particularly in “the ability to act with patience and perseverance, rejecting internal and external pressures that hinder the accomplishment of good.”
Without this “healthy audacity”, that “does not aim at self-promotion, but at solidarity” with the weaker in society, the Pope noted, there is a risk of “neglecting many small and large injustices.”
Justice is always an act of charity
As we admire the courage of all the men and women suffering war or human rights violations, including many persecuted Christians in the world, the Pope reminded the Vatican Magistrates that we are all called “to face the difficulties of everyday life, in the family and society, to commit ourselves to the future of our children, to safeguard the common home, to take on our professional responsibilities.” This is particularly true for the administration of justice: “In fact, along with the prudence, charity, temperance, “the task of judging requires the virtues of fortitude and courage, without which wisdom risks remaining sterile.”
Addressing officials of the Tribunal of Vatican City State at the inauguration of its 95th judicial year, Pope Francis reminds them that the administration of justice requires the virtue of courage and humility in pursuing the truth and even in facing criticism.
By Lisa Zengarini
In his address delivered on Saturday to mark the inauguration of the 95th Judicial Year in the Vatican City State, the Pope focused on the virtue of courage needed to administer justice.
A “healthy audacity” that does not aim at self-promotion
He started by recalling that for Christians this virtue is not only a particular quality of heroic individuals but rather, “a trait that is given and enhanced in encountering Christ, as a fruit of the action of the Holy Spirit that anyone can receive if invoked.” It is expressed particularly in “the ability to act with patience and perseverance, rejecting internal and external pressures that hinder the accomplishment of good.”
Without this “healthy audacity”, that “does not aim at self-promotion, but at solidarity” with the weaker in society, the Pope noted, there is a risk of “neglecting many small and large injustices.”
Justice is always an act of charity
As we admire the courage of all the men and women suffering war or human rights violations, including many persecuted Christians in the world, the Pope reminded the Vatican Magistrates that we are all called “to face the difficulties of everyday life, in the family and society, to commit ourselves to the future of our children, to safeguard the common home, to take on our professional responsibilities.” This is particularly true for the administration of justice: “In fact, along with the prudence, charity, temperance, “the task of judging requires the virtues of fortitude and courage, without which wisdom risks remaining sterile.”
Courage in pursuing the truth
Pope Francis recalled that in the jurisdictional function, courage is needed in the first place to thoroughly ascertain the truth, “remembering that doing justice is always an act of charity, an opportunity for fraternal correction aimed at helping the other recognize his mistake.” This – he stressed - is all the more true when particularly serious and scandalous behaviours emerge and must be sanctioned, “especially when they occur within the Christian community.”
Courage to ensure due process
The same courage, the Pope went on to note, is needed “while striving to ensure the proper conduct of proceedings and facing criticism.” The best response to criticism, he told the Vatican magistrates, “is diligent silence and the seriousness of commitment to work, which allow our Tribunals to administer justice with authority and impartiality, ensuring due process, respecting the peculiarities of the Vatican legal system.”
“The strength of institutions and firmness in the administration of justice are demonstrated by the serenity of judgment, the independence, and impartiality of those called upon, at various stages of the process, to judge.”
The courage of prayer for discernment
Finally, Pope Francis recalled the courage of prayer to implore that the “light of the Holy Spirit always illuminates the discernment necessary to reach a just verdict.” Prayer, he said, should never be considered “a waste of time” for their work
“Discernment is done "on one's knees," imploring the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that decisions can be made that are in the direction of the good of individuals and the entire ecclesial community. And for this too, courage and strength of spirit are needed.”
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