Pope Leo Calls for Justice Rooted in Dignity, Forgiveness, and the Common Good

Pope Leo XIV has urged those who serve in the field of justice to go beyond the application of laws and to embrace a vision of justice that safeguards human dignity, fosters reconciliation, and builds the common good.

Speaking to judges, authorities, and thousands of pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Justice on September 20, the Pope said justice is not merely a legal function but a cardinal virtue that shapes conscience and society.

“Justice is called to play a higher role in human coexistence, one that cannot be reduced to the mere application of the law,” he said. “It encompasses the dignity of the individual, his or her relationships with others, and the communal dimension of coexistence.”

Drawing on Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that justice is “the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor.” For believers, he added, this virtue is inseparable from protecting the weak and the oppressed.

Citing Gospel examples, the widow who insists on justice before a judge, the equal pay given to late and early workers, the father who welcomes back his prodigal son, the Pope emphasized that Christian justice integrates mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

“Evangelical justice does not take away from human justice, but challenges and refines it,” Pope Leo said. “It impels us toward reconciliation, where evil is not only punished but also repaired.”

The pontiff stressed that formal equality before the law is not enough. True justice, he said, requires real equality in dignity and opportunity, ensuring that no one is excluded from access to justice.

He warned against growing discrimination and systems that deny basic rights, fail to respect human life from its beginning, or disregard conscience and freedoms. 

“Justice assumes its central role in human coexistence when it safeguards the values that underpin social life,” he added.

Turning to the international context, Pope Leo noted that many nations and peoples “hunger and thirst for justice” amid inhuman living conditions and inequitable systems. He quoted St. Augustine, who wrote: “A state without justice is not a state.”

“Justice, law, and the dignity of every person must go hand in hand,” the Pope affirmed, urging all who serve in the judicial field to see their work as a service to humanity and to God.

Concluding his address, the Pope encouraged participants in the Jubilee to see justice not as an abstract concept but as a lived commitment to truth, mercy, and respect for every person.

“With this hope,” he said, “I thank and bless each of you, your families, and your work.”