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Illustration: “Sermon on the Mount” (De Bergrede) by Carl Joseph Begas, circa 1820, England.
Pope Francis’ Cycle of Catechesis. Vices and Virtues. 13. Justice
Saint Peter’s Square – Wednesday, 3rd April 2024
A reading from the Book of Proverbs (21:3, 7, 21)
To do righteousness and Justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they have refused to do what is just.
He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Now we come to the second of the cardinal virtues: Justice.
It is the quintessential social virtue.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines it as “the moral virtue which consists in the constant and firm will to give what is due to God and to one’s neighbor” (no. 1807). This is justice.
Often, when justice is mentioned, the motto that represents it is also quoted: “unicuique suum” – that is, “to each his own”.
It is the virtue of law which seeks to regulate the relations between people in a just manner.
It is represented allegorically by the scales (of justice), because it aims to “balance the scales” between people, especially when they are in danger of being distorted by some imbalance.
Its purpose is to ensure that everyone in society is treated according to his or her dignity.
But the ancient masters already taught that for this this requires other virtues, such as benevolence, respect, gratitude, kindness, and honesty: virtues that contribute to good coexistence between people. Justice is a virtue for good coexistence.
We all understand how justice is fundamental for peaceful coexistence in society: a world without laws that respects rights would be a world in which it would be impossible to live; it would resemble a jungle. Without justice, there is no peace. Without justice, there can be no peace. Indeed, if justice is not respected, conflicts arise. Without justice, the law of the superiority of the strong over the weak is established, and this is not just.
Justsice, however, is a virtue that works on both a large and small scale: it concerns not only the courtroom, but also the ethics that characterize our daily lives. It establishes sincere relationships with others: it puts into practice the Gospel precept according to which Christian speech is “simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’; anything more is of evil” (Mt 5:37 – Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.).
Half-truths, double-talk designed to deceive one’s neighbor, reticence that conceals one’s true intentions, are not attitudes consistent with justice. The just person is upright, simple and straightforward; he does not wear masks, he presents himself for what he is, he speaks the truth.
The words “thank you” are often found on his lips: he knows that no matter how generous we try to be, we always remain indebted to our neighbor.
If we love, it is also because we have been loved first.
In tradition we can find countless descriptions of the righteous person. Let us look at some of them.
The just person reveres and respects laws, knowing that they are a barrier that protects the defenceless from the tyranny of the powerful. The righteous person does not think only of his own individual good, but desires the good of society as a whole.
Therefore, he does not give in to the temptation to think only of himself and to attend to his own affairs, however legitimate, as if they were the only thing that exists in the world.
The virtue of justice makes it clear – and places this need in the heart – that there can be no real good for oneself if there is there is no real good for all.
Therefore, the righteous person watches his own behavior, so that he does not harm others: if he makes a mistake, he apologizes. In some situations, he goes so far as to sacrifice a personal good in order to make it available to the community. He desires an orderly society, in which people give glory to the office they hold, not the office that gives glory to people. He abhors patronage and does not trade favors. He loves responsibility and is exemplary in promoting legality.
Furthermore, the just person avoids harmful behavior such as slander, perjury, fraud, usury, mockery, and dishonesty. The just person keeps his word, returns what he has borrowed, pays fair wages to all workers: a man who does not pay fare wages to workers not just, he is unjust.
None of us knows whether there are many just people in our world, or whether they are as rare as pearls. But there are people who bring grace and blessing both to themselves and to the world in which they live. The just are not moralists who wear the robe of the censor, but upright people who “hunger and thirst for justice” (Mt 5:6), dreamers who yearn in their hearts for universal brotherhood.
And, especially today, we all have a great need of this dream. We need righteous men and women, and this will make us happy.
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Summary of the Holy Father’s words
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the virtues, we now turn to justice, which the Catechism describes as “the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” (No. 1807). Justice is not only a virtue to be practiced by individuals; it is above all a social virtue, for it is directed to the creation of communities in which each person is treated in accordance with his or her innate dignity. Justice is thus the foundation of peace. The practice of justice demands the practice of other virtues, such as honesty, integrity, respect for law and commitment to the common good. Jesus calls blessed those who hunger and thirst for justice (cf. Mt 5:6). How much our world, torn by war and manifest inequality, needs men and women firmly committed to the pursuit of justice, so that the human family may live and flourish in unity, solidarity and peace. Those who pursue justice and goodness will find life and honor.
