In his address to the Roman Rota, Pope Francis urged judges to use prudence, justice, and charity in their rulings, highlighting that fair judgments bolster the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. He emphasized the need to simplify and make annulment processes more accessible while adhering to Church teachings. He mentioned that many faithful seek clarity regarding their personal circumstances to fully participate in sacramental life.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of two reforms through two motu proprio, ‘Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus’ and ‘Mitis et Misericors Iesus’, which allowed bishops to grant annulments without requiring approval from the Roman Rota. The Pope stressed that this decision was influenced by the 2014 Synodal Fathers, who called for more accessible procedures to better serve the faithful’s spiritual needs. A key aspect of the reform is empowering diocesan bishops to provide annulments through a shorter process in clear cases of nullity, showing the Church’s concern for saving souls.
Pope Francis noted that many people are unaware of this option and affirmed that annulment applications should be free to reflect Christ’s love. He also highlighted the importance of well-trained diocesan tribunals to ensure justice and diligence in examining cases. He reiterated that the reforms aim to prevent prolonged uncertainty for the faithful, rather than increasing annulments, acknowledging the previous rules that burdened the process.
He urged judges to remember their pastoral role, ensuring their decisions support the faithful’s understanding of their situations. He concluded by encouraging the Roman Rota officials, reminding them their work is rooted in hope and the restoration of relationships.