At 9:00am this morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father received in audience, those participating in a formation course promoted by the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, focusing on the new matrimonial process and on the super rato procedure. The course is taking place in Rome, at the Palazzo della Cancelleria from March 7 to 12, 2016).
During the audience, following greetings offered by the Dean of the Rota, His Excellency, Pio Vito Pinto, Pope Francis shared the following speech:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
I greet all of you who have participated in the formation course, offered by the Roman Rota, concerning the new matrimonial process and the super rato procedure. I am grateful to His Excellency, Pio Vito Pinto for his commitment to these courses of formation and I thank him for his words.
During the recent synodal process on the family, some strong expectations emerged, a desire to create more agile and effective procedures for the declaration of matrimonial nullity. In fact, many of the faithful are suffering because their marriages have ended and they are at times oppressed by doubt as to whether their marriages were valid or not. They wonder whether there was something in their intentions or in the facts that prevented the effective realization of the sacrament. But in many cases, these faithful have difficulty accessing the juridical structures within the Church and feel the need for the procedures to be simplified.
In addition to reflection on the experience, charity and mercy have motivated the Church to draw even closer to these children, responding to their legitimate desire for justice. On August 15 of this past year, the documents Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus and Mitis et Misericors Iesus were promulgated, containing the fruits of the work accomplished by the special commission which had been established on August 27, 2014: almost an entire year of work. These provisions have a eminently pastoral objective: to demonstrate the solicitude of the Church for the faithful who are hoping for a quick verification of their matrimonial situation. In particular, the practice of double conforming decisions has been abolished and has given rise to a so-called shortened process focused around the figure and the role of the Diocesan Bishop or the Eparch in the case of the Oriental (Eastern) Churches, as judge of causes. This has further enhanced the role of the Bishop or the Eparch in matrimonial matters; in fact, other than in cases requiring administrative determination - ratum et non consumatum - he is now entrusted with the responsibility for judiciary processes in order to ascertain the validity of the bond.
It is important that the new norms be implemented and deepened in substance and spirit, especially by those entrusted with responsibility for the ecclesiastical tribunals, in order to provide a service of justice and charity to all families. For many people, who have experienced unhappiness in their marriages, the verification of the validity of marriage, or lack thereof, represents an important possibility; and these persons should be helped so that they can walk this path in the smoothest possible way. Thus the added value of the course you have just completed. I encourage you to build on that which you have learned during these days and to work while keeping your eyes firmly fixed on salus animarum (the salvation of souls), which is the supreme law of the Church.
The Church is a mother and she wants to show all people the face of God who is faithful to his love, merciful and always willing to restore our strength and hope. In addition, we have at heart, a special place for those who have been separated and who are living in new unions, desiring that they too be able to participate in the ecclesiastical community. But, while we care for the wounds of those who require the establishment of the truth regarding their failed marriages, we look with admiration to those who, even in difficult conditions, remain faithful to the sacramental bond. These witnesses of marital fidelity should be encouraged and held up as examples worthy of imitation. Many women and men bear heavy burdens, in order not to destroy their families, and to remain faithful in sickness and in health, in difficult and in tranquil situations: this is true faithfulness, and these people are courageous!
I thank you for your commitment in favour of justice and I urge you to portray it not as a trade or worse as a source of power, but rather as a service for souls, especially those which have been most seriously wounded. May the Lord bless you and may Our Lady protect you. Please, remember to pray for me.
During the audience, following greetings offered by the Dean of the Rota, His Excellency, Pio Vito Pinto, Pope Francis shared the following speech:
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to students in the course offered by the
Tribunal of the Roman Rota
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
I greet all of you who have participated in the formation course, offered by the Roman Rota, concerning the new matrimonial process and the super rato procedure. I am grateful to His Excellency, Pio Vito Pinto for his commitment to these courses of formation and I thank him for his words.
During the recent synodal process on the family, some strong expectations emerged, a desire to create more agile and effective procedures for the declaration of matrimonial nullity. In fact, many of the faithful are suffering because their marriages have ended and they are at times oppressed by doubt as to whether their marriages were valid or not. They wonder whether there was something in their intentions or in the facts that prevented the effective realization of the sacrament. But in many cases, these faithful have difficulty accessing the juridical structures within the Church and feel the need for the procedures to be simplified.
In addition to reflection on the experience, charity and mercy have motivated the Church to draw even closer to these children, responding to their legitimate desire for justice. On August 15 of this past year, the documents Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus and Mitis et Misericors Iesus were promulgated, containing the fruits of the work accomplished by the special commission which had been established on August 27, 2014: almost an entire year of work. These provisions have a eminently pastoral objective: to demonstrate the solicitude of the Church for the faithful who are hoping for a quick verification of their matrimonial situation. In particular, the practice of double conforming decisions has been abolished and has given rise to a so-called shortened process focused around the figure and the role of the Diocesan Bishop or the Eparch in the case of the Oriental (Eastern) Churches, as judge of causes. This has further enhanced the role of the Bishop or the Eparch in matrimonial matters; in fact, other than in cases requiring administrative determination - ratum et non consumatum - he is now entrusted with the responsibility for judiciary processes in order to ascertain the validity of the bond.
It is important that the new norms be implemented and deepened in substance and spirit, especially by those entrusted with responsibility for the ecclesiastical tribunals, in order to provide a service of justice and charity to all families. For many people, who have experienced unhappiness in their marriages, the verification of the validity of marriage, or lack thereof, represents an important possibility; and these persons should be helped so that they can walk this path in the smoothest possible way. Thus the added value of the course you have just completed. I encourage you to build on that which you have learned during these days and to work while keeping your eyes firmly fixed on salus animarum (the salvation of souls), which is the supreme law of the Church.
The Church is a mother and she wants to show all people the face of God who is faithful to his love, merciful and always willing to restore our strength and hope. In addition, we have at heart, a special place for those who have been separated and who are living in new unions, desiring that they too be able to participate in the ecclesiastical community. But, while we care for the wounds of those who require the establishment of the truth regarding their failed marriages, we look with admiration to those who, even in difficult conditions, remain faithful to the sacramental bond. These witnesses of marital fidelity should be encouraged and held up as examples worthy of imitation. Many women and men bear heavy burdens, in order not to destroy their families, and to remain faithful in sickness and in health, in difficult and in tranquil situations: this is true faithfulness, and these people are courageous!
I thank you for your commitment in favour of justice and I urge you to portray it not as a trade or worse as a source of power, but rather as a service for souls, especially those which have been most seriously wounded. May the Lord bless you and may Our Lady protect you. Please, remember to pray for me.
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