Weirdness Malicidio (malicidium, in Latin) is a term introduced by Bernard of Clairvaux to indicate the murder of a non-Christian war, when there are no other means to prevent the evil he commits.
Bernardo, returning to the concept of 'just war' introduced by St. Augustine, theorizes that the killing of a criminal or a pagan hostile should not be treated as a murder (prohibited by the Fifth Commandment), but as a "malicidio" or as the eradication of evil. To eliminate the pay was to be disposed of as a bearer of absolute evil and unredeemable, but he was worthy of love for his humanity.
Killing an infidel became then, in the view of Bernard, a meritorious service rendered to the cause of God. Citing the same Bernard
"The Knight of Christ kills in full consciousness and died quiet: you save dying, killing work for Christ."
And again: "He [the soldier of Christ, ed]" it is God's instrument for the punishment of evildoers and for the defense of the righteous. Indeed, when he kills a criminal, committing a murder, but malicidio, and may be considered authorized the executioner of Christ against the evil. "
However, according to Bernard, it is not permissible to kill the evil nell'infedele (and the infidel itself) if not the first one is "killed" the evil in itself. In this way, the crusade medieval Catholic ideology becomes an ascetic and penitential time of the warrior himself. Bernard says in any case contrary to coercion to force the conversion of the infidels, and justify violence only as a last resort defense, stating that "You should not kill even the pagans where there was a different way to prevent them from oppressing the faithful '.
Religiously yours, The King
