Pope Francis yesterday announced a loosening of the rules surrounding the annulment of marriages. 

The Vatican said his plans will make the process faster and cheaper for married people to access.

The Pope said he was making the changes for 'the salvation of souls'.

But what is the archaic process of annulment, and who are some of the people who have benefited from it?

Never happened

If a spouse is granted an annulment it means their marriage is declared null and void, meaning it never happened.

Annulments are granted by churches, and occasionally by courts that have historically been influenced by church doctrine.

Importantly, if the Roman Catholic church grants an annulment the man or woman involved is free to marry again in a church.

Reasons for annulments are covered by a finding that a fundamental flaw has made a marriage invalid,

Grounds for annulment include if one of the parties was not free to marry, if the marriage was not entered into willingly, or if it was never consummated.

Sometimes the Pope can grant a special dispensation that overrides church rules governing annulment.

If there are children born during the marriage, and it is subsequently annulled by the church they are still considered legitimate.

By the way, Citizen's Information says: "a church annulment does not have any legal effect. It does not mean that you may legally remarry - although it may mean that you can remarry in the eyes of the church."

That means a person has to seek an annulment under the law, as well as from the church, if they are to remarry legally.

Famous annulments

Perhaps most famously of all, Henry VIII of England unsuccessfully petitioned Pope Clement VII for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

He sought the decree because as a member of the British monarchy, he was not allowed to divorce.

Kennedy family member Joseph P. Kennedy II and his wife Sheila went down a complex legal path when they had their marriage annuled.

The Vatican granted the annulment, only to reverse that decision 10 years later after Sheila Rauch wrote Shattered Faith, a book that described her experiences and criticised the Roman Catholic Church.

The couple were granted a civil divorce in 1991.  

In 2007 Rauch confirmed reports that her appeal to Rome had been successful and the annulment had been cancelled.

Joseph P. Kennedy II and his then wife, Sheila in 1985. Photo: Elise Amendola / AP/Press Association Images

Rossellini with his three children by Ingrid Bergman in 1960. Photo: AP Photo/Porry Pastorel

Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini had their marriage annuled though they had three children - one of whom, Isabella Rossellini, grew up to become a well known model and actress.

 

Bergman was given custody of the children and her marriage to Rossellini was annulled.

Annulments by court

Some annulments are granted by the courts.

Pop star Britney Spears got her marriage to childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander annulled by a court in Las Vegas in 2004.

Spears claimed she did not fully understand what she was doing when she wed Alexander in Las Vegas.

A judge duly dissolved the union.

The marriage lasted just two days.

A copy of the legal documents Britney Spears filed at Las Vegas family court. Photo: Joe Cavaretta / AP/Press Association Images

Reality star Kim Kardashian engaged in a long and protracted legal battle with her ex-husband Kris Humphries.

Humphries and Kardashian were only married for six weeks when she called time on the union.

He claimed it had all been an elaborate stunt for her family's TV show and wanted the union to be annulled on the ground of fraud.

Humphries agreed to a divorce just before the case reached court.

Hollywood actresses Renee Zellweger, Pamela Anderson and Lana Turner all also had their marriages annulled on the basis of 'fraud'. 

Actress Lana Turner and her husband Pvt. Stephen Crane in 1943. Photo: AP Photo

Annulments are rarer now than ever, since Ireland adopted divorce in the 1990s but it still applies to a minority of people who might wish to remarry in a church, and in the eyes of God - as they see it.

For them, this week's developments in the Vatican will be greeted with joy.