杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

鈥淧eace without justice is not true peace, it has no solid foundations or possibilities for a future.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed this point as he addressed on Saturday judges and magistrates for the opening of  the 94th Judicial Year of the Tribunal of the Vatican City State.

Attending the inauguration were also Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio and the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister Alfredo Mantovano, along with  several representatives of the highest judicial bodies of the Italian state.

In the first part of his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the close link between justice and peace.

He referred specifically to the 鈥渢ragic evolution鈥� of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine which, he noted, after the pandemic, has 鈥減lunged the whole world back into a deep crisis, aggravated by the multiple outbreaks of war that continue to flare up in other nations鈥�, exposing humanity to the risk of self-destruction.

Every commitment to peace requires a commitment to justice

In the face of this dramatic scenario and "in a world discouraged by violence and war鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled that Christians are called to heed Jesus鈥� prophetic announcement of the Good News by bearing witness to help build peace and justice.

Indeed,  鈥渆very commitment to peace implies and requires a commitment to justice鈥� which, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s not an abstraction or a utopia鈥� and 鈥渋s not only the result of a set of rules to be applied with technical expertise鈥�. It is, rather,  鈥渢he virtue by which we give everyone what they are entitled to鈥�, which is 鈥渋ndispensable for the correct functioning of every area of common life and for everyone to lead a peaceful life鈥�

Vatican trials a painful necessity

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to highlight that the Tribunals of the Vatican City State operate in this perspective, 鈥減laying a precious role to the benefit of the Holy See鈥� in settling civil and criminal cases. 

He referred in particular to the financial criminal trials conducted in recent years against Vatican officials. In this regard the 杏MAP导航 remarked that what should be of concern are not so much the trials per se, but the investigated facts and criminal misconduct by members of the Church, which, he said, "have seriously harmed  its effectiveness in reflecting the light of God.鈥�  

Justice and mercy

Bringing his remarks to a close, 杏MAP导航 Francis dwelled on the importance for Vatican Justice "to find a balance between justice and mercy鈥� when ascertaining cases of misconduct 鈥渢hat obscure the face of the Church" and cause scandal . 

The 杏MAP导航 suggested that 鈥渢he exercise of rigorous discernment鈥�, as well as the 鈥減rudent recourse to the canon of equity鈥�, can help reach this balance.  

Indeed, he said,  鈥淢ercy and justice are not alternative,  but walk together towards the same goal, because mercy is not the suspension of justice, but its fulfillment鈥�. 

Concluding 杏MAP导航 Francis, therefore, invited the Vatican magistrates to keep this in mind in their work to seek truth and justice.