Vatican City:  Pope Leo XIV has called for a renewed commitment to truth, justice and mercy in the Churchs work on marriage nullity cases, as he marked ten years since the major reform introduced by Pope Francis.  Pope was speaking to participants of a juridical pastoral training course organized by the Roman Rota, the Churchs highest tribunal for marriage matters.

In his address, Pope Leo said that the reform of the matrimonial process should always be understood through three connected dimensions: ecclesiological, juridical and pastoral. He warned that these areas are often treated as separate, which can lead to misunderstandings about the purpose of the nullity process.

Pope said that theology, canon law and pastoral care are not competing fields but parts of the same mission of the Church. He noted that some people still see the juridical work of the tribunals as only technical or as a simple way to obtain personal freedom. According to him, this view ignores the deeper spiritual meaning of marriage and its place in the life of the Church.

Pope Leo explained that the ecclesiological foundations of the process include the sacred authority exercised by the Church as it seeks the truth about each marriage. He said that the judicial ministry is a service rooted in the diakonia of truth, which helps individuals and families understand their real place within the Church. For this reason, he reminded the participants that judgments should never be shaped by false mercy or by actions that go against the search for the truth.

He added that mercy must always be present but should be expressed within proper judicial authority. The accessibility and speed introduced by the reform, he said, must always protect the truth of the marital bond. He called this balance a sign of both justice and mercy.

Pope Leo also underlined that marriage itself is a theological foundation for the nullity process. Tribunal officials, he said, have the responsibility to discern whether the one flesh union was truly present from the beginning. This remains important even when the relationship later breaks down.

Quoting Pope Francis reform, he said the Church must handle these cases in a judicial setting to safeguard the truth of the sacred bond. He encouraged the use of mediation and reconciliation whenever possible, but said the judicial route is necessary when the facts require it.

Pope stressed that when the ecclesiological and juridical dimensions are respected, the pastoral dimension becomes clear. He reminded tribunals that their work is part of the wider mission of supporting families, especially those facing difficulties.

Pope Leo concluded by saying that the ultimate goal of every marriage nullity process is the salvation of souls. He said this aim must guide all decisions and ensure that justice, truth and mercy work together in service of the faithful.