About Rev. Stefanus Hendrianto, S.J., Ph.D.

I am a Jesuit priest and legal scholar dedicated to exploring the intersection of constitutional law, philosophy, and theology. In recent years, I served as a lecturer at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where I contributed to the global dialogue on law and faith. My research seeks to advance theories of comparative constitutional law while grounding them in the philosophical foundations of Roman Catholic thought.

My academic training is in comparative constitutional law, and my first book, Law and Politics of the Constitutional Court, examines judicial leadership in Indonesia. My formation as a Jesuit has given me a strong foundation in philosophy and theology, particularly in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. Bringing these two traditions together, my primary focus lies in the dialogue between constitutional theory, philosophical reasoning, and theological reflection. I continue to pursue research in comparative constitutional studies, while deepening my work on the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Research

Roman Catholic Constitutional Theory

This project develops a new synthesis of Roman Catholic Constitutional Theory, emphasizing not only the institutional framework of modern constitutions but also the moral and spiritual dimensions that underlie them. At its heart, the project addresses the fallen condition of the human soul after original sin and seeks to articulate a vision of constitutional order that contributes to the healing of the human spirit. It explores how law and politics, informed by faith and reason, can cultivate virtue in both lawmakers and citizens.

Constitutional Thomism: On Ius and the Theory of Constitutional Government

This study examines St. Thomas Aquinas’s concept of ius—justice understood in relation to individual persons and the common good. Aquinas teaches that while the state plays a vital role in cultivating legal justice (iustitia legalis), the true perfection of the common good must come through the interior freedom of the soul, not coercion or external reward. Human law cannot directly reach this inner dimension, which is why divine law is essential to guide human beings toward the highest order of justice. This work argues that Aquinas’s vision provides a rich foundation for constitutional liberty, where the state both promotes justice and respects the spiritual freedom of its citizens.