Pope: God's justice is not that of men
Benedict XVI visits the prisoners in a Roman prison. The dignity of the person must always be respected. The significance for the faith in Mary's virginity. Prayers for the victims of the storm that hit the Philippines.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Human and divine justice are very different": the first aims or should aim to protect society and rehabilitate the offender, the second "gives to each his own, and also comprises mercy and forgiveness ". From this truth comes the need to always respect the person, even those in jail, which was the focus of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit this morning to the Roman prison of Rebibbia (pictured).
The love of God and for God, of which the Pope spoke to the prisoners, was evoked again in reflections before the Angelus prayer, centered on motherhood and virginity of Mary, which is "unique and unrepeatable; but its spiritual significance concerns every Christian. It, in essence, is tied to faith: in fact, those who trust deeply in God, welcomes Jesus and his divine life within, through the action of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery of Christmas”. The recitation of the Marian Prayer also gave the Pope an opportunity to express his concern for "the people of the southern Philippines hit by a violent tropical storm. Pray - the Pope said - for the victims, mostly children, the homeless and the many missing”.
Earlier speaking to the prisoners, he had said: "I have simply come to tell you that God loves you with an infinite love. The very Son of God, the Lord Jesus, experienced prison, was subjected to a trial before a court and suffered the most cruel death sentence. "
Benedict XVI, who also answered some questions from the prisoners, repeated what he had said during his recent trip to Benin, that "independent judicial and prison systems need to be urgently adopted, so as to restore justice and rehabilitate offenders. Instances of errors of justice and the bad treatment of prisoners, the numerous occasions of the non-application of the law that correspond to a human rights violation and incarcerations that which sometimes to late, or never, result in a trial. The Church recognizes its prophetic mission in the face of those affected by crime and their need for reconciliation, justice and peace. The prisoners are human beings who deserve despite their crime, to be treated with respect and dignity. They need our care ".
"Justice and mercy, justice and charity, pillars of the social doctrine of the Church, are two different realities only for us men, that we distinguish carefully a just act from an act of love. Justice for us is 'what is due to another', while mercy is what is given out of goodness. And one thing seems to exclude the other. But God is not so: in Him justice and charity coincide: there is no just action that is not also an act of mercy and forgiveness and at the same time, there is no merciful action that is not perfectly just. How far is God’s logic from our! And how different his way of acting is from our own! The Lord invites us to understand and observe the true spirit of the law, to give it fulfillment in love for those in need. " Love Fulfills the Law," writes St. Paul (Romans 13:10): the more our justice is animated by love for God and neighbor, the more perfect it will".
Pope paid particular attention to the theme of respect for the person. Also responding off the cuff to prisoner’s questions, the Pope said that "it is important to promote the development of a prison system which, while respecting justice, is increasingly tailored to the needs of the human person, even with recourse to non-custodial detention or different custodial modes. " On a personal note he also spoke of how some members of “my pontifical family" have friendships with inmates and pray for them, with the Pope.
Benedict XVI also spoke of dignity and freedom before the Angelus, about the encounter of Mary with the angel, stressing the importance of "that one question that Mary, 'very upset', addresses the Angel ' How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? '(Lk 1.34). In her simplicity, Mary is wise: She does not doubt the power of God, but wants to better understand his will, to fully comply with this will. Mary is infinitely surpassed by the mystery, yet perfectly occupies the place that, at the very heart of it, she was assigned. Her heart and mind are fully humble, and, because of her singular humility, God expects the "yes" of this young girl to achieve His purpose. He respects her dignity and freedom. Mary's "yes" means both motherhood and virginity, and her wish that her everything be for the glory of God and that the Son who will be born to Her may be a gift of grace for all".
The love of God and for God, of which the Pope spoke to the prisoners, was evoked again in reflections before the Angelus prayer, centered on motherhood and virginity of Mary, which is "unique and unrepeatable; but its spiritual significance concerns every Christian. It, in essence, is tied to faith: in fact, those who trust deeply in God, welcomes Jesus and his divine life within, through the action of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery of Christmas”. The recitation of the Marian Prayer also gave the Pope an opportunity to express his concern for "the people of the southern Philippines hit by a violent tropical storm. Pray - the Pope said - for the victims, mostly children, the homeless and the many missing”.
Earlier speaking to the prisoners, he had said: "I have simply come to tell you that God loves you with an infinite love. The very Son of God, the Lord Jesus, experienced prison, was subjected to a trial before a court and suffered the most cruel death sentence. "
Benedict XVI, who also answered some questions from the prisoners, repeated what he had said during his recent trip to Benin, that "independent judicial and prison systems need to be urgently adopted, so as to restore justice and rehabilitate offenders. Instances of errors of justice and the bad treatment of prisoners, the numerous occasions of the non-application of the law that correspond to a human rights violation and incarcerations that which sometimes to late, or never, result in a trial. The Church recognizes its prophetic mission in the face of those affected by crime and their need for reconciliation, justice and peace. The prisoners are human beings who deserve despite their crime, to be treated with respect and dignity. They need our care ".
"Justice and mercy, justice and charity, pillars of the social doctrine of the Church, are two different realities only for us men, that we distinguish carefully a just act from an act of love. Justice for us is 'what is due to another', while mercy is what is given out of goodness. And one thing seems to exclude the other. But God is not so: in Him justice and charity coincide: there is no just action that is not also an act of mercy and forgiveness and at the same time, there is no merciful action that is not perfectly just. How far is God’s logic from our! And how different his way of acting is from our own! The Lord invites us to understand and observe the true spirit of the law, to give it fulfillment in love for those in need. " Love Fulfills the Law," writes St. Paul (Romans 13:10): the more our justice is animated by love for God and neighbor, the more perfect it will".
Pope paid particular attention to the theme of respect for the person. Also responding off the cuff to prisoner’s questions, the Pope said that "it is important to promote the development of a prison system which, while respecting justice, is increasingly tailored to the needs of the human person, even with recourse to non-custodial detention or different custodial modes. " On a personal note he also spoke of how some members of “my pontifical family" have friendships with inmates and pray for them, with the Pope.
Benedict XVI also spoke of dignity and freedom before the Angelus, about the encounter of Mary with the angel, stressing the importance of "that one question that Mary, 'very upset', addresses the Angel ' How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? '(Lk 1.34). In her simplicity, Mary is wise: She does not doubt the power of God, but wants to better understand his will, to fully comply with this will. Mary is infinitely surpassed by the mystery, yet perfectly occupies the place that, at the very heart of it, she was assigned. Her heart and mind are fully humble, and, because of her singular humility, God expects the "yes" of this young girl to achieve His purpose. He respects her dignity and freedom. Mary's "yes" means both motherhood and virginity, and her wish that her everything be for the glory of God and that the Son who will be born to Her may be a gift of grace for all".
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