Jubilee of Justice

 It is interesting to see that those invited to take part in the event of the  Jubilee of Justice in St Peter's Square on 20th September 2025 are those persons who are involved in the world of law. This suggests that the protagonists of justice are primarily lawyers, judges and other legal practitioners. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (n.1807), however, identifies justice as a moral virtue, and so indicates that we are all called to the practice of justice:

 Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the "virtue of religion." Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. The just man, often mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor. "You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor." (Lev. 19:15) "Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." (Col. 4:1)

The definition of law that St Thomas Aquinas offers (S. Th. I-II Q. 90 a. 4) allows us to make a connection, by way of their common orientation towards the common good, between justice seen as a virtue and justice as a practice of law (my italics added). Justice in the latter sense is at the service of justice in the former sense.

As stated above (Article 1), a law is imposed on others by way of a rule and measure. ... Thus from the four preceding articles, the definition of law may be gathered; and it is nothing else than an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community, and promulgated.

Each October, at the beginning of the new legal year in England, a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit is celebrated in Westminster Cathedral with the participation of members of the legal profession. A service in Westminster Abbey follows. Bishop James Curry, auxiliary of the diocese of Westminster, celebrated the votive Mass in October 2024:

Every person lives and dies with a certain sense of an insatiable hunger for justice. This hunger reflects a deeper yearning for divine justice, which ultimately finds fulfilment in God. The legal community is called to be a mirror of justice, reflecting God's own justice in their dealings and decisions. 

The beginning of the legal year, marked by this Red Mass, and the service in the Abbey with their invitation to prayer and plea for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, serves as a profound moment for reflection on the interplay of law, justice, and faith. This occasion invites you here present to renew your commitment to the principles of truth and justice, which are foundational to your vocation. ...

Justice is not merely a human convention but is innately connected to the dignity and rights of each person, which are inherent and God-given.

Justice is a multifaceted virtue that governs interpersonal relations, ensuring that individuals receive what is rightfully theirs while promoting the common good and the dignity of all persons. 

You, as advocates and judges, give a voice to those who seek justice, truth and right. Sometimes you are the only voice a person has.  

In the Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee (n.16), Pope Francis draws attention to a particular cause of injustice:

Another heartfelt appeal that I would make in light of the coming Jubilee is directed to the more affluent nations. I ask that they acknowledge the gravity of so many of their past decisions and determine to forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to repay them. More than a question of generosity, this is a matter of justice. It is made all the more serious today by a new form of injustice which we increasingly recognize, namely, that “a true ‘ecological debt’ exists, particularly between the global North and South, connected to commercial imbalances with effects on the environment and the disproportionate use of natural resources by certain countries over long periods of time”.  As sacred Scripture teaches, the earth is the Lord’s and all of us dwell in it as “aliens and tenants” ( Lev 25:23). If we really wish to prepare a path to peace in our world, let us commit ourselves to remedying the remote causes of injustice, settling unjust and unpayable debts, and feeding the hungry.