Europe

The Vatican Just Said Something About Mary That No One Expected

Michael Ringer

05 Nov 2025 — 5 min read

The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a major doctrinal document on November 4, 2025, clarifying which titles for the Virgin Mary are theologically appropriate and which are not.

The document, titled "Mater Populi Fidelis" ("The Mother of the Faithful People of God"), was approved by Pope Leo XIV on October 7, 2025, and discourages referring to the Virgin Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" or "Mediatrix of All Graces," explaining that these titles can convey an inaccurate understanding of Mary's role in salvation.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed the doctrinal note, which responds to "numerous requests and proposals that have reached the Holy See in recent decades" regarding proper titles for the Virgin Mary. He emphasized that the document's intent is not to discourage Marian devotion but to ensure it is expressed in accurate theological terms.

"In this case, the expression 'Co-Redemptrix' does not help extol Mary as the first and foremost collaborator in the work of redemption and grace, for it carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ," the document states. The Vatican stressed that Jesus alone provides the means to redemption, and Mary herself must be recognized as His disciple.

The document explains that when an expression requires frequent explanation to maintain correct meaning, it becomes unhelpful. "Given the necessity of explaining Mary's subordinate role to Christ in the work of Redemption, it would not be appropriate to use the title 'Co-Redemptrix' to define Mary's cooperation. This title risks obscuring Christ's unique salvific mediation and can therefore create confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of the truths of the Christian faith," it states.

Regarding "Mediatrix," the document notes that while some popes have used these titles without elaborating much on their meaning, the Second Vatican Council refrained from using the title for dogmatic, pastoral, and ecumenical reasons. St. John Paul II referred to Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" on at least seven occasions, but after consultation with the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and its prefect, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in 1996, he did not issue a dogmatic declaration and stopped using the title.

In 2002, the future Pope Benedict XVI stated publicly: "The formula 'Co-Redemptrix' departs to too great an extent from the language of Scripture and of the Fathers and therefore gives rise to misunderstandings. Everything comes from Him [Christ], as the Letter to the Ephesians and the Letter to the Colossians, in particular, tell us; Mary, too, is everything that she is through Him. The word 'Co-Redemptrix' would obscure this origin."

Pope Francis also expressed clear opposition to the use of the title "Co-Redemptrix" on at least three occasions during his pontificate.

The dicastery encourages the use of other expressions for Mary, specifically titles referring to her motherhood, including "Mother of God" (Theotokos) and "Mother of the Faithful People of God." "She is the mother who gave the world the author of redemption and of grace, who stood firm at the foot of the cross, suffering alongside her son and offering the pain of her maternal heart pierced by the sword," the document said.

During the presentation of the document at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome, a man who claimed to be part of a Marian study group of about 30 people objected, shouting that the document "does not please God" and the title of Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" is "God's eternal truth which the Church has approved for centuries." Cardinal Fernández responded, "You are not the people. If you want to write, write to the dicastery."

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

The Vatican just issued a necessary correction. And from an Orthodox Christian perspective, it's about time.

Rome has allowed Marian theology to drift dangerously close to idolatry for centuries. Calling Mary "Co-Redemptrix" doesn't honor her. It obscures Christ. And anything that obscures Christ is heresy, no matter how pious it sounds.

The Orthodox Church has always maintained proper veneration of the Theotokos, the God-bearer. We honor Mary as the most blessed among women. We celebrate her obedience, her faith, and her unique role as the Mother of God. But we never, ever place her on the same level as Christ in the work of redemption.

That's the line Rome crossed. And this document finally pulls them back from the edge.

Christ is the sole Mediator between God and man. Scripture is crystal clear on this. 1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." Not Christ and Mary. Just Christ.

When you call Mary "Co-Redemptrix," you're saying she shares in the work of redemption. That's not veneration. That's theological confusion that leads to practical idolatry.

The document states that Mary's greatness "lies in what she has received and in her trusting readiness to allow herself to be overtaken by the Holy Spirit." Exactly right. Mary's glory is in her submission to God, not in being elevated to divine status.

This is where Rome has historically gone wrong. They've taken legitimate honor for the Theotokos and inflated it beyond what Scripture and the early Church Fathers taught. The Orthodox Church preserved the ancient faith. Rome innovated. And innovation in doctrine is always dangerous.

The fact that this document was even necessary shows how far Marian devotion in the West has strayed. St. John Paul II used "Co-Redemptrix" seven times. Cardinals and bishops have been petitioning for it to become dogma. Social media groups have been spreading theological confusion.

And now the Vatican says: Stop. This isn't helpful. This obscures Christ.

That's the right call. But it raises the question: why did it take this long?

The Orthodox Church has been saying this for a millennium. We split with Rome in 1054 partly because of theological innovations like this. Rome kept adding to the faith. We kept the faith once delivered to the saints.

This document is Rome admitting, in essence, that the Orthodox were right. Mary is Theotokos. Mary is Ever-Virgin. Mary is the Mother of all believers. But Mary is not Co-Redemptrix. She's not a mediator of all graces. She's the first and greatest disciple of Jesus Christ.

Honor her accordingly.

Venerate her properly.

But keep Christ at the center.

Because the moment you don't, you've lost the Gospel.