2025

If the salvation of souls stems from divine mercy, and the Church, to whom it is entrusted the continuation of Christ’s saving work, has the salvation of souls as its primary purpose and the absolute guiding principle of its laws, it means that mercy is an intrinsic part of canon law.

The immediate purpose of canon law as a legal system and science is to compose its norms and institutions in such a way that they are directed to the supreme pastoral purpose of salus animarum,

The numerous exceptions granted in relaxing ecclesiastical discipline and remission of ecclesiastical penalties, especially in the danger of death, show the salvation of souls as the supreme law of the Church.