The Concept of Relics and Canonical Recognition, Transfer and Preservation of the Mortal Remains of Servants of God According to the Instruction of the Congregation for the causes of Saints of 8 December 2017

For the first time since the reform of canon law in 1983, the terminology regarding relics was included in an official document of the Holy See. The Instruction distinguishes between significant and non-significant relics. Referring to the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, it shows the reasons why this particular division was rightly introduced. The bishop of the diocese or eparchy where the mortal remains are preserved is competent to perform all the possible procedures on them, provided he has previously obtained the consent of the heirs and the consent of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (different variants are possible). Apart from a tribunal, the bishop nominates expert pathologists to perform technical procedures and two witnesses. The article discusses the procedures of canonical recognition of the remains, extraction of fragments in case of the imminent beatification, and some final operations.