Apostolic letter, „motu proprio”, of Pope Francis „Vos estis lux mundi”, by amendment of canon criminal law and effective protection of minors

Abstract

The letter of Pope Francis is a very important document amending the system of canonical criminal law. The mentioned document introduces some new products. The legislator does not change the structure and nature of the preliminary investigation. He points to other areas that he wants to cover with specific legal provisions. The first change in this respect is the granting of rights and duties to the metropolitan. The second change is the appointment of experts so that they can support the work of the metropolitan. The third change consists in introducing legal definitions of a minor, child pornography and a helpless person to legal trading. The fourth change is related to terms generally accepted in law. A certain novelty is the extension of the competence of some of the dicasteries of the Holy See. Another new regulation is the introduction of reports submitted by the metropolitan during the preliminary investigation. Mens legislatoris assumes the most serious change. The Copernican revolution is linked to the punishment of church superiors who not only committed acts against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, but concealed and concealed the fact that such crimes were.