Matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis

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The matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis are the reforms of the Canon law of the Catholic Church governing such trials, made public on 8 September 2015. The reforms were effected by two separate apostolic letters^[1] from Pope Francis: the motu proprio Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus amending the 1983 Code of Canon Law, and the motu proprio Mitis et misericors Iesus amending the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.^[2] This was in response to the bishops who, during the 2014 Synod on the Family, called for the simplification of the procedure whereby a canonically invalid marriage is declared null.^[3]

At the press conference announcing the reforms, Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, emphasized that the church does not decree the "annulment" of a legally valid marriage, but rather declares the "nullity" of a legally invalid marriage.^[4]

^ Ohlheiser, Abby; Boorstein, Michelle; Pulliam Bailey, Sarah (8 September 2015). "Pope Francis announces biggest changes to annulment process in centuries". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
^ "Pope Francis reforms Church law in marital nullity trials". Vatican Radio. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
^ "Articles from Catholic University of America Workshop, March 2016". Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
^ "Press conference details marriage law reforms". Vatican Radio. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.