Welcome Prelate Auditors!
As we embark on the new Judicial Year of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, I want to take this moment to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for the invaluable work that you do. I extend a warm greeting to Monsignor Dean and all those who serve in this Tribunal.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the groundbreaking Motu Proprio documents, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus and Mitis et Misericors Iesus, which reformed the process for declaring nullity of marriage. This is a fitting occasion to reflect on the spirit of this reform and the diligent manner in which you have implemented it for the benefit of all the faithful.
The need for revising the norms governing annulment procedures was highlighted by the Synod Fathers during the extraordinary Assembly of 2014, who called for more accessible and streamlined trials (Relatio Synodi 2014, 48). This reflected the urgent need to continue the pastoral conversion of structures, as emphasized in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (no. 27).
The bishop plays a central role in this reform, being responsible for administering justice in the diocese and ensuring that tribunals operate with fairness and efficiency. The pastoral care of dioceses must include awareness of the annulment process as a remedy for those in need. It is essential that the faithful are informed about this option, which should be provided free of charge to demonstrate the Church’s love and care.
It is crucial for the bishop to establish well-trained tribunals in the diocese and oversee their work with justice and diligence. The training of tribunal personnel, both clerics, and laity, in scientific, human, and spiritual aspects is vital for the faithful to receive careful consideration of their petitions, even if the outcome is negative.
This reform is driven by the concern for the salvation of souls, addressing the pain and hope of those seeking clarity on their marital status to fully participate in sacramental life. The procedures must uphold fundamental rights, such as the right to defense and the presumption of marriage validity. The goal is not to complicate the lives of the faithful but to serve the truth with pastoral care.
The recent reform aims to expedite the process and simplify it, ensuring that the faithful are not burdened unnecessarily. The focus is on swift and just decision-making, guided by prudence, justice, and charity, for the good of the faithful and peace of their consciences.
As we navigate the complexities of matrimonial cases, let us remember that the family mirrors the divine love of the Trinity, with indissolubility being a gift from God. Let us approach each case with reverence and compassion, guided by the wisdom and responsibility entrusted to us by the Church.
Welcome to the Blog: The Service of Discernment in Marriage
When it comes to determining the validity of a marriage, it is not just a task but a service. A service that plays a crucial role in the salus animarum, the salvation of souls. By discerning the truth of a personal situation, individuals are able to understand and accept their reality. As Saint John Paul II once said, “every just judgment of the validity or nullity of marriage is a contribution to the culture of indissolubility both in the Church and in the world.”
Dear sisters and brothers, the Church has entrusted you with a great responsibility, but also a beautiful one. Your work involves purifying and restoring interpersonal relationships, especially in the current Jubilee context that fills us with hope – a hope that never disappoints.
As you embark on this journey as peregrinantes in spem, pilgrims in hope, may you be filled with the grace of joyful conversion and the light to guide the faithful towards Christ, the meek and merciful Judge. I offer my heartfelt blessings to all of you and humbly request your prayers for me. Thank you!
Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 31 January 2025
