Jesus broke cultural and cultic barriers and returned dignity to those "written off" or those considered to be on the fringes of society: tax collectors, women, children, lepers, the sick, foreigners, widows. He heals, feeds, defends, liberates, saves. He identifies with his least brothers and sisters: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." In biblical language, "least" refers not only to children by age but also to defenseless people, completely insignificant individuals, the marginalized, oppressed, forsaken, poor, pushed to the edges of society, uneducated, sick, and degraded by dominant groups. The glorified Christ will judge based on love for one's neighbor, which consists of helping the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, imprisoned, with whom he identifies. For Jesus, the only criterion for judgment is the good done to every person, regardless of blood ties or religion.
(Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, declaration Dignitas infinita on human dignity, no. 12; 2024)
