VATICAN CITY — In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis said the process of engagement is essential for any couple on their way to marriage, since it not only allows love to mature, but helps future spouses deepen their knowledge of one another.

“Marriage, as a vocation from God, is not just a relationship based on attraction and feelings, of a moment, of something short. It requires a journey,” the Pope told pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square for his May 27 general audience. The journey of marriage “establishes a very strong and lasting partnership, which makes two lives one, a true miracle of human freedom and the grace of God,” he said, adding that such a partnership “is not improvised overnight.

Why does the Catholic Church require an intended spouse, who is divorced but not Catholic, to obtain an annulment before marrying in the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church respects marriage between one man and one woman and presumes that they are valid even if the marriage was performed at a Las Vegas drive-through chapel. Thus, for example, it considers the marriages of two Protestant, Jewish, or even nonbelieving persons to be binding for life. The Church requires a declaration of nullity to establish that an essential element was missing in that previous union preventing it from being a valid marriage.

This is often a difficult and emotional issue. If the intended spouse comes from a faith tradition that accepts divorce and remarriage, it may be hard for them to understand why they must go through the Catholic tribunal process. Couples in this situation may find it helpful to talk with a priest or deacon. To go through the process can be a sign of great love of the non-Catholic for their intended spouse.

How long does the process take for a formal case?
It can vary from diocese to diocese, however here in Phoenix it often takes 24 months or longer for formal cases where witness testimony is required. No respondent can prevent the annulment process from going forward even if they object to the process.

How can a couple married for many years present a case?
The tribunal process examines the events leading up to, and at the time of the wedding ceremony, in an effort to determine whether what was required for a valid marriage was ever brought about. The length of common life is not proof of validity but a long marriage does provide evidence that a couple had some capacity for a life-long commitment. It does not prove or disprove the existence of a valid marriage bond.

Why does the Church require a divorced Catholic to obtain a declaration of nullity before re-marrying in the Church?
The Church presumes that marriages are valid and lifelong; therefore, unless the ex-spouse has died, Church law requires the divorced Catholic to obtain a declaration of nullity before re-marrying. The tribunal process seeks to determine if something essential was missing from the couple’s relationship from the moment of consent, that is, the time of the wedding. If so, then the Church can declare that a valid marriage was never actually brought about on the wedding day.

What does the tribunal process involve?
There are many types of cases that may be presented to the tribunal, each reflecting different circumstances of the marriage. Depending on the type of case, the length of time for the tribunal to arrive at a decision varies from as little as two months to as much as 3 years. The information in the next paragraph reflects what is known as a formal case.

Since early September, there has been much discussion among Catholics regarding the Holy Father’s announcement that significant changes were being made to Canon Law regarding how and why the annulment process is managed. In the two documents whose titles in English are “The Lord Jesus, Clement Judge” and “Clement and merciful Jesus”, Pope Francis wrote this:

 “It is therefore the concern for the salvation of souls that, today as yesterday, remains the supreme objective of the institutions and laws, and drives the Bishop of Rome to offer to the Bishops this reform document, insofar as they share with him the task of the Church to protect unity in faith and in discipline regarding marriage, the cornerstone and origin of the Christian family.