The Church as Heir of Those Without Kin

“But if there is no surviving relative to inherit in the proper order the property of those mentioned above, I mean the martyrs, or confessors, or those who for some such cause have been banished from their native land, then in such cases we decree that the church nearest to the place in each case shall inherit. And surely it will be no wrong to the departed that the church for whose sake they have endured every extreme of suffering should be their heir. We think it necessary to add this as well: if any of the persons mentioned above have given away any part of their property as a free gift, those who received it shall be secured in the possession of it, as is reasonable.