The Holy Father Francis, in the Audience granted to His Excellency Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, on March 17, 2020, in order to counter the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19 and contain the negative effects on the performance of judicial activity, decided to issue the extraordinary and urgent measures indicated in the annex to this rescript.

The Holy Father has decreed that this should have firm and stable effect, despite anything to the contrary even if worthy of special mention, and is to be promulgated by publication in L’Osservatore Romano, entering into force immediately, and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

From the Vatican, 18 March 2020

Pietro Cardinal Parolin

Secretary of State