The papacy of Francis has introduced important consideration to the Catholic Church’s strategy to marriage, annulment, and the state of affairs of divorced and remarried Catholics. A key factor of his preach entails a pastoral emphasis on mercy and inclusion, notably for individuals who have skilled marital breakdown. His pronouncements and the synods on the household have sparked widespread dialogue relating to potential modifications in follow and doctrine.
Traditionally, the Catholic Church has held marriage to be indissoluble. Nonetheless, annulments, declarations {that a} legitimate marriage by no means existed because of sure impediments or flaws in consent, have at all times been attainable. Beneath Francis, there was a push to streamline the annulment course of, making it extra accessible and fewer burdensome for people looking for to have their marital standing clarified inside the Church. This concentrate on accessibility displays a broader need to accompany people in tough circumstances and to supply them religious help.