Annulment process under scrutiny

Pope Francis has appointed a commission to study a reform of the process of marriage annulment, writes Hannah Roberts.

The 11 theologians and lawyers who make up the commission, under the chairmanship of Mgr Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota, will seek to “simplify the [annulment] procedure, making it more streamlined, while safeguarding the principle of the indissolubility of marriage”, the Vatican said.

The announcement comes amid preparations for the 5-19 October extraordinary synod of bishops on “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation”.

n Pope Francis has named five women to the prestigious International Theological Commission, bringing the number of women to seven, 16 per cent of the total membership.