"Marriage in the Church. The new judicial action" is the central topic of the XII Symposium Martín de Azpilcuetawhich brought together experts in the field of Canon Law from different countries from November 9 to 11 at the University of Navarra.

Over the course of three days, conference dealt with current aspects of Marriage Law and Canonical Procedure. Especially, those that are being affected by the new Motu proprio Mitis Iudex, C by Pope Francis by which the processes for the declaration of marriage nullity have been changed.

"The new marriage annulment processes bring together two fundamental ideas: on the one hand, the celerity and speed with which the sentence can be reached; and, on the other hand, the proximity between the ecclesiastical judge and the spouses who request the declaration of annulment of their marriage," says the president of the Symposium, José Antonio Fuentes.

One of the first questions that arise when talking about the nullity process is the cost of the same. José Antonio Fuentes points out that in Spain "the cost of marriage annulment proceedings has never been higher than that of a 65-inch television set" unless, instead of going to the list of lawyers offered by the curias, one prefers to go to private law firms.

In this sense, he explains that for many years now, a great part of the processes have not cost anything for taking advantage of the benefit of poverty: "After the impulse given by the Pope, there are dioceses that develop the process at no cost, and in the places where it implies a cost, the free processes have increased. In fact, it is enough to request it at the Tribunal for everything to be processed without the least economic difficulty for the faithful". 

The Bishop of San Sebastián, Mons. José Munilla, will close the Symposium.

The first session of the symposium was entitled"Marriage and Family" at degree scroll and included presentations by three professors: Bishop Carlos José Errázuriz, professor at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (Rome); Augusto Sarmiento, professor at School of Theology at the University of Navarra; and Montserrat Gas i Aixendri, from the International University of Catalonia (UIC).

The following sessions focused on "The process of nullity of marriage according to the Motu Proprio Mitis Iudex". Jorge Horta, Dean at the Pontificia Università Antonianum in Rome; Msgr. Paolo Bianchi, Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Milan; Mª José Roca, from the Complutense University of Madrid; Msgr. Carlos Morán, Dean of the Tribunal of the Rota of the Nunciature of Madrid; Gerardo Núñez, of the University of Navarra; Mons. José Tomás Martín de Agar, of the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (Rome); Juan Ignacio Bañares, of the University of Navarra; and Mons. Felipe Heredia, a priest from La Rioja who is an auditor of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.

The fifth session dealt with "The pastoral service to couples with difficulties", at position by Professor Jorge Pla, psychiatrist of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and president of the Basque-Navarre Society of Psychiatry; and Professor Javier Otaduy, of the University of Navarra.

In addition, the Bishop of San Sebastian, Msgr. José Ignacio Munilla closed the Symposium on Friday at 12:30 p.m. with a session focused on "Marriage and Family. The Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitita of Pope Francis".