Vatican City: Pope Francis welcomed canon lawyers attending a formation course organized by the Roman Rota, the Church’s highest appellate court, and emphasized the interconnectedness of charity, justice, and truth, especially in light of the upcoming 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

Opening his address with a quote from Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the Pope reminded participants that "love—caritas—is an extraordinary force" that compels people to act courageously and generously in the pursuit of justice and peace. This force, he explained, comes from God, the eternal source of love and truth.

The Pope described the mission of the Roman Rota and all of the Church’s tribunals as a “ministry of justice and charity in truth,” urging canon lawyers to embrace these three virtues. He stressed that they are inseparable and that the absence of one renders the others inauthentic. “Justice without charity or charity without justice is incomplete,” the Pope stated, adding that “charity without justice is not true charity.” True justice, he explained, must seek the good of the whole community and always be tempered with mercy, as "justice can only be understood in the light of love."

The Pope reminded the canon lawyers to be mindful of their pastoral role, stating that those who come seeking justice within the Church should always encounter the loving and compassionate face of the Church, "our Mother, who tenderly loves all her children."

Love, Pope Francis continued, teaches canon lawyers to develop a “legal sensitivity” that helps them recognize what constitutes a true right of the person within the Church. This sensitivity is vital for ensuring that justice is not just about applying the law but about safeguarding the dignity and well-being of individuals.

He also addressed the potential fear or misunderstanding surrounding justice, warning that seeing it merely as punitive could diminish its connection to charity. “Justice is a distinctly altruistic virtue,” he explained, "and it seeks the good of others," which naturally links it to both charity and mercy.

“Charity does not nullify justice,” the Pope said, “nor does it relativize rights. In the name of love, we cannot neglect what is a duty of justice.” He cited the current norms on matrimonial cases as an example, stressing that while mercy is essential, it should not compromise the integrity of justice. The Pope emphasized that charity and justice work together harmoniously when they are rooted in truth.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, Pope Francis urged the canon lawyers to embrace hope and make it contagious to others. "Let us allow ourselves to be drawn by hope and make it contagious for those who desire it," he said, echoing the words from the Jubilee Bull of Indiction. "May our lives proclaim: 'Hope in the Lord, be strong, let your heart take courage, and hope in the Lord.'"