Pope Francis recently lamented the fact that a declaration of matrimonial nullity “is thought of as a cold act, a mere ‘legal decision’.”

In an annual address to the Roman Rota -- the Vatican court that mostly handles appeals of diocesan marriage tribunals from across the world -- he said the Church-appointed judges that hear marriage nullity cases “cannot disregard the memories, made up of light and shadows, that have marked the life, not only of the two spouses but also of the children.”

It was a strange complaint to bring to this tribunal, since the Rota deals in nothing but cold, legal decisions.