To the Judges of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (3 March 1983)

On Thursday, 3 March 1983, the Holy Father addressed the Judges of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights at the Apostolic Nunciature of Costa Rica. While its true, as the Pope said, that respect for human  rights should belong to each state's legal system, there is ”also the need for the protection and control exercised by a State to be complemented and reinforced through a supranational and autonomous legal institution."

Distinguished Gentlemen

As part of my visit to the Central American Countries, I gladly accepted this meeting with you who, due to the high role you play, were called to carry out an important task of protecting human rights in this beloved and tormented continent. I therefore greet you with deep esteem.

The creation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, whose purpose is to apply and interpret the American Convention on Human Rights that came into force in 1978, marked a particularly important stage in the process of ethical maturation and legal development of the protection of human dignity. In effect, this Institution, which not without reason chose the city of São José da Costa Rica as its headquarters, manifests a keen awareness on the part of the American Peoples and rulers that the promotion and defense of human rights is not a mere ideal , however noble and elevated one may want, however, in practice, abstract and without effective control bodies; but it must have effective verification instruments and, if necessary, timely sanctions.

It is true that the control of respect for human rights corresponds above all to each state legal system. However, a greater sensitivity and a marked concern for the recognition or violation of human dignity and freedom, made it clear not only the convenience, but also the need for the protection and control exercised by a State to be complemented and reinforced through a supranational and autonomous legal institution.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, of which you are a part, was established precisely to perform this specific legal function, both contentious and consultative. In view of this noble mission, I wish to express to you, Gentlemen, my support and encouragement, while I invite interested bodies to boldly appeal to this Court to entrust it with cases within its competence, thus giving concrete proof of recognizing the value reflected in its statutes. This will be the path towards a better application of the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which I referred at great length during my visit to the headquarters of the United Nations (2 October 1979, nn. 9, 13-20).

To you, illustrious Judges, I wish to express the fervent hope that, with the performance of your duties, exercised with a profound ethical sense and impartiality, you will increase respect for human dignity and rights; this man whom you, educated in a Christian tradition, recognize as the image of God and redeemed by Christ, and, therefore, the most valuable being in creation.

I ask God to bless and enlighten you in the faithful fulfillment of this vast task, so necessary and important at the current moment in human history.

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