VATICAN CITY. “The rights of workers, migrants, the sick, unborn children, dying people and the poorest are increasingly neglected or denied – the Pope said -. Those who do not have the ability to spend and consume seem to be worth nothing. But denying fundamental rights, denying the right to a dignified life, to physical, psychological and spiritual care, to a just salary means denying human dignity. We are seeing it: how many laborers are – excuse the word – “used” for the harvest of fruits or vegetables … And then, paid miserably and chased away, without any social protection ».
“Recognizing in principle and concretely guaranteeing rights, protecting the weakest, is what makes us human. Otherwise we allow ourselves to be dominated by the law of the strongest and we give free rein to oppression “, warned Francesco, receiving the members of the Italian Catholic Jurists Union in an audience this morning on the occasion of the 70 / o National Study Congress organized by the Ugci on the subject”The last. The legal protection of weak subjects “, which takes place in Rome, at the Istituto Patristico Augustinianum and the Lumsa University from 9 to 11 December.
“A theme that is very close to my heart”, the Pontiff defined it. «I still have in my eyes and in my heart the experiences I lived during the recent apostolic journey to Cyprus and Greece – he recalled -. On Sunday, while visiting the refugees in the Mytilene camp, on the island of Lesbos, I recalled among other things that respect for people and human rights, especially in the continent that does not fail to promote them in the world, always safeguarded, and the dignity of each should be placed before everything “.
“And yet, how distant we are from this respect!” Bergoglio exclaimed. «Abuses, violence, negligence, omissions do nothing but increase the throwaway culture. And whoever has no protection will always be marginalized ». «You as Catholic jurists – he stressed – have been asked to contribute to” reversing the course “, favoring, according to your skills, awareness and a sense of responsibility. Because even the least, the defenseless, the weak have rights that must be respected and not trampled on. And this is an intrinsic call to our faith “.
“Never as in these times – said the Father again -, Catholic jurists are called to affirm and protect the rights of the weakest, within an economic and social system that pretends to include diversity but which in fact systematically exclude who has no voice ». “The recognition of the rights of the most vulnerable does not derive from a government concession. And the Catholic jurists do not recognize favors in the name of the poor, but firmly proclaim those rights that derive from the recognition of human dignity “.
«The role of the Catholic jurist, in whatever role he works, as consultant, lawyer or judge – added Francis -, is therefore to contribute to the protection of the human dignity of the weak by affirming their rights. In this way he or she contributes to the affirmation of human fraternity and not to deface the image of God imprinted in every person “.
“Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi loved to repeat that” the rights of the weak are not weak rights. “It is up to you, in a particular way, to compete to affirm them firmly and protect them wisely, cooperating to build a more humane and just society”, he concluded, wishing the Ugci that “the testimony of Blessed Rosario Livatino will inspire you”.