With the Motu Proprio «Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus», which entered into force on 8th december 2015, the Holy Father Francis introduced important innovations in canonical matrimonial procedural law, in order to facilitate a rapid definition of the marital status of the faithful. The reform abolished the obligation of a double conforming sentence (always without prejudice to the right of appeal of the party burdened by the first instance sentence) and introduced a shorter rite for all those cases (cf. can. 1683) in which:

1° the request is proposed by both spouses or by one of them, with the consent of the other;

2° there are circumstances of facts and people, supported by witnesses or documents, which do not require an investigation or a more accurate instruction and make the nullity manifest.

In the Procedural Rules annexed to the Motu Proprio (cf. art. 14 § 1) some circumstances are listed which allow the treatment of the case with the brief process.

Among them, according to the cited provision, are included, by way of example:

– that lack of faith that can generate the simulation of consent or the error that determines the will;

– the brevity of conjugal coexistence;

– procured abortion to prevent procreation;

– the stubborn permanence in an extramarital relationship at the time of the wedding or immediately after;

– the willful concealment of sterility, of a serious contagious disease, of children born from a previous relationship or of imprisonment;

– the cause of the marriage completely extraneous to married life or consisting in the woman's unforeseen pregnancy;

– physical violence inflicted to extract consent to marriage;

– the lack of use of reason proven by medical documentation.

If these circumstances exist, after the presentation of the act of introduction of the case (the libellus), the single session for the collection of evidence is fixed, no later than thirty days, at the end of which fifteen days are granted for the observations in favor of the bond and the defenses of the parties. Once the documents have been received, the Bishop, after consultation with the instructor (the Judge in charge of gathering the evidence) and the assessor (an expert), having evaluated the documents and the defenses, if he reaches moral certainty on the nullity of the marriage, pronounces the sentence. Otherwise he remits the case to ordinary judgment. In this case too, an appeal is possible.

The whole process should be completed within a few months.