De tregua et pace: considerazioni sulla illiceità della guerra e sulle dinamiche della pace nella canonistica classica

Abstract

The existence of the tragic reality of war, into which secular power frequently dragged the societas that had become Christian, significantly influenced the consideration of the use of force as a lesser evil and "a fatal result of the corruption of human nature". This contribution addresses the theme of the evolution of ecclesiastical doctrine on the "bellum iustum", reaching the heart of the Middle Ages and the so-called "golden age" of canon law, during which the ideal of a Christian society was outlined orderly, and in which a real body of law is developed on the legitimate use of force and on the methods of resorting to negotiation as an alternative to war to resolve conflicts, taking into account the reasons that justify it.