Pope Leo’s address to the Roman Rota
on the occasion of the Inauguration of the Judicial Year
Clementine Hall – Monday, 26 January 2026
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ”
(Ephesians 4:15)
Pope Leo’s Address:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Dear Prelate Auditors of the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota,
At this, our first meeting, I would like to express my appreciation for your work, which is a valuable service for the universal judiciary function that lies with the Pope, and in which the Lord has called you to participate. “Veritatem facientes in caritate”
(Ephesians 4:15 – We are called to grow in every way into Christ, the head, speaking the truth in love).
This expression can be applied to your daily mission of administering justice.
I thank the Dean for his words, which express your union with the Successor of Peter.
My grateful thoughts also extend to all the Church tribunals present around the world.
Having served as a judge enables me to better understand your experience and appreciate the ecclesial significance of your task.
Today I would like to revisit a fundamental theme that has dominated the speeches delivered to the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, from the time of Pius XII up to Pope Francis.
The relationship of your activity with the truth inherent in justice is the theme I wish to discuss today.
This time, I would like to share some thoughts with you on the close connection between the truth of justice and the virtue of charity.
These are not opposing principles of values to be balanced according to pragmatic criteria.
Rather they are two united dimensions that find their deepest harmony in the mystery of God, who is love and truth.
This correlation requires constant and careful critical exegesis, since a dialectical tension often arises between the demands of objective truth and the concerns of charity in the exercise of judicial activity. There is sometimes a risk of excessive identification with the often-troubled vicissitudes of the faithful can lead to a dangerous relativization of truth.
Misunderstanding compassion, even if motivated by pastoral zeal, can obscure the necessary dimension of ascertaining the truth proper to the judicial office.
This can occur not only in cases of matrimonial nullity, where it could result in pastoral decisions lacking a solid, objective basis, but also in any type of proceeding, thereby undermining its rigor and fairness.
On the other hand, there can sometimes be a cold and detached affirmation of the truth that does not consider all that love for people requires.
This affirmation omits concerns dictated by respect and mercy, which must be present at every stage of a proceeding.
In considering the relationship between truth and charity, a clear orientation is given by the teaching of the apostle Paul, who exhorts us: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph 4:15).
Veritatem facientes in caritate
It is not about a question of settling for a speculative truth.
It is about “rendering the truth,” a truth that must enlighten every action.
This must be done “in charity”, which is the great driving force that leads to true justice.
In another biblical phrase, this time from St. John, you are called to be “fellow workers in the truth”
(3 Jn 8 – we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth).
Benedict XVI, who chose these words as his episcopal motto, emphasized in his Encyclical ‘Caritas in veritate’, the need to link charity with truth not only in the sequence, pointed out by Saint Paul, of ‘veritas in caritate’ (Eph 4:15), but also in the inverse and complementary sequence of ‘caritas in veritate’.
Truth must be sought. found and expressed within the ‘economy’ of charity.
In turn, charity must to be understood, confirmed and practiced in the light of truth” (no. 2).
Therefore, may your work always be motivated by true love of your neighbor, which seeks his eternal salvation in Christ and in the Church above all else.
This entails adherence to the truth of the Gospel.
This is the perspective in which all ecclesial juridical activity must be placed: the salvation of souls’
(salus animarum) as the supreme law in the Church.
In this way, your service to the truth of justice is a loving contribution to the salvation of souls.
All aspects of canonical proceedings can be understood within the context of truth in charity.
Firs, the actions of those involved in the process must be marked by a genuine desire to contribute to the just sentence to be reached, with rigorous intellectual honesty, technical competence and an upright conscience.
This constant pursuit of truth by all involved is what gives the overall activity of the tribunals its deep harmony, in line with the institutional conception of the process masterfully described by Venerable Pius XII in his 1944 Address to the Rota.
The aim that unites all those involved in trials is the search for truth.
Each person acts in fidelity to one’s own role.
This search for truth is not reduced to professional fulfillment, but is understood as a direct expression of moral responsibility.
This search for truth is motivated primarily by charity and goes beyond the demands of justice alone. It serves the integral good of persons as much as possible without distorting one’s function, but rather exercising it with a full sense of ecclesiality.
The ecclesial tribunals must serve the truth in charity in all their work.
The entire ecclesial community, especially those involved, must appreciate this.
This includes those seeking a judgment on their marriage, those accused of committing a canonical crime, those who consider themselves victims of grave injustice, and those who claim a right.
Canonical processes must inspire trust through professional seriousness, thoughtful and thorough work, and dedication to a true professional vocation.
The faithful and the entire ecclesial community have a right to the proper and timely exercise of procedural functions because these processes affect consciences and lives.
In this light, the truth, as well as the goodness and beauty, of all offices and services related to trials must be emphasized. Veritatem facientes in caritate.
All justice professionals must act according to a code of ethics, which must be studied and practiced carefully in the canonical sphere to ensure it truly becomes exemplary.
Similarly, lawyers must be inspired by professional ethics when assisting the faithful in defending their rights and protecting the interests of the parties, always acting in accordance with what is considered right and lawful.
Promoters of justice and defenders of the bond are cornerstones in the administration of justice, called by their mission to protect the public good. A purely bureaucratic approach in such an important role would clearly prejudice the search for truth.
Judge sare entrusted with the grave responsibility of determining what is right and true,
They must never forget that justice and peace go hand in hand and are permanently and actively linked. Justice and peace promote the well-being of all, and for this reason, they require order and truth. When one is threatened, both falter; when justice is offended, peace is also placed in jeopardy.” Viewed from this perspective, the judge becomes a peacemaker who contributes to the unity of the Church in Christ.
The proceeding is not, as is sometimes misunderstood, a tension between competing interests, but rather an indispensable tool for discerning truth and justice in a case.
Therefore, the adversarial process in a trial is a dialogical method for ascertaining the truth.
The nature of each case requires that the facts be ascertained and that the reasons and evidence in favor of the various positions be compared on the presumption of the validity of the marriage and the innocence of the defendant until proven otherwise.
Legal experience demonstrates the essential role of adversarial proceedings and the decisive importance of the preliminary investigation phase.
The judge must settle the dispute based on the elements and arguments that emerge during the trial while maintaining independence and impartiality.
Failing to observe these basic principles of justice and favoring disparate treatment of similar situations is a significant violation of the legal profile of ecclesial communion.
These considerations could be applied to every phase of the proceedings and to every type of legal case. For instance, in the shorter marriage annulment process before the diocesan bishop, the prima facie nature of the grounds for annulment must be carefully judged.
It is important to remember that the process itself must confirm the annulment or determine the need for the ordinary process.
Therefore, it is essential to continue studying and applying canon law on marriage with scientific rigor and fidelity to the Magisterium.
This science is indispensable for resolving cases according to the established legal and Roman Rota jurisprudential criteria, which, in most cases, merely declare the requirements of natural law.
Dear friends,
Your mission is lofty and demanding.
You are called to guard the truth with rigor but without rigidity and to practice charity without omission.
In striking this balance, which is actually a deep unity, you must demonstrate true Christian juridical wisdom.
I would like to conclude these reflections by entrusting your work to the intercession of Our Lady, Speculum Iustitiae—the perfect model of truth in charity.
Thank you!Let us pray together: Pater Noster…
Blessing
Many good wishes, and all the best in your work!
