Procedures
Canon law first, received Italian procedure as the residual base
Canon law is the first source of Vatican law, and Italian law applies only subsidiarily and by express reception under the 2008 sources statute. Civil proceedings run before the Vatican Tribunal using the received procedural code as adapted.
Key rules
- Canon law and the principles of divine law are the first source of the legal order.
- Italian norms apply only where received, and only if compatible with canon law.
- Ecclesiastical matters follow canonical process before Rota and Signatura, not the Vatican Tribunal.
Governing law
- Law No. LXXI on sources of law (2008)
- Code of Canon Law, Book VII on processes (1983)
In practice
The 2008 statute ended automatic reception of new Italian legislation, so any Italian rule must now be adopted case by case rather than assumed to apply.