Vatican City, Sep 15, 2016 / 16:35 pm
Pope Francis has issued new changes to canon law that modify Latin Church code with an eye towards clarifying ministry to Eastern Catholics.
The Pope cited concern for harmony between the different codes. The name of the Pope's apostolic letter, "De Concordia inter Codices," in fact means "Concerning harmony between laws." It is dated May 31 and was released Sept. 15.
The changes concern topics like baptism, marriage, and change of ecclesiastical rite.
The Pope said the changes were motivated by the presence of many Eastern Catholics in predominantly Latin Catholic regions. This creates many pastoral and juridical questions, he said, according to Vatican News.