Pope Leo XIV has publicly affirmed a Vatican doctrinal note that discourages the use of the Marian titles “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of All Graces,” a move that has intensified one of the most significant Marian controversies in recent decades.
According to LifeSiteNews, the Pope made his remarks on January 29 while addressing the plenary session of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), where he praised the doctrinal note Mater Populi Fidelis, issued on November 4, 2025. The document states that the title “Co-Redemptrix” is “always inappropriate” and discourages the use of “Mediatrix of All Graces,” claiming the titles may cause theological confusion and lack sufficient grounding in divine Revelation.
In his address, Pope Leo described the document as one that “encourages popular Marian devotion, deepening its biblical and theological foundations, while offering precise and important clarifications for Mariology,” according to LifeSiteNews. He further stated that the work of the dicastery, including this note and other recent documents, would be “of great benefit to the spiritual growth of the holy and faithful People of God.”
Mater Populi Fidelis was issued under the authority of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the DDF. The document argues that the title “Co-Redemptrix” risks “eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ” and “would not be a true honor to his Mother,” while also asserting that “Mediatrix of All Graces” carries “limits that do not favor a correct understanding of Mary’s unique place,” according to LifeSiteNews.
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Although some observers initially suggested the document reflected the views of Cardinal Fernández alone, Pope Leo’s public praise has confirmed his personal approval of the text. LifeSiteNews reports that the Pope had already permitted its publication and signing prior to his January remarks.
The Vatican’s position has been met with strong resistance from bishops, priests, theologians, and lay faithful worldwide. LifeSiteNews reports that critics argue the document diminishes the Blessed Virgin Mary’s traditional role in salvation history and restricts language long used by saints and popes.
The title “Co-Redemptrix,” critics emphasize, does not imply equality between Mary and Christ. Rather, it expresses Mary’s unique cooperation in Christ’s redemptive work through her fiat at the Annunciation and her suffering at the foot of the Cross. LifeSiteNews notes that Pope Pius XI explicitly taught in 1933, “The Redeemer could not but associate His Mother with His work; for this reason we invoke her under the title of Co-Redemptrix.”
Saint John Paul II also used the title on multiple occasions, according to LifeSiteNews, further underscoring its historical presence within the Church’s teaching and devotion.
The International Marian Association Theological Commission has issued a formal correction of the Vatican note, calling it an “anti-development of doctrine,” LifeSiteNews reports. The commission, which includes cardinals, bishops, and more than 40 internationally recognized theologians, argued that the Vatican document minimizes papal teaching and fails to present Mary’s redemptive cooperation “in a positive way.”
LifeSiteNews further reports that critics have challenged the claim that the Second Vatican Council refrained from teaching Mary as Co-Redemptrix. They point to Lumen Gentium, which states that Mary “associated herself with her Son’s sacrifice in her mother’s heart,” even if the specific term was not used.
Opposition has also arisen among the faithful in Chiclayo, Peru, where Pope Leo previously served as bishop. According to LifeSiteNews, more than 100 Catholics from the diocese have petitioned the Pope, expressing sorrow over what they describe as a “harmful” and “scandalous” document. They reported that on the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a parish priest felt unable to preach Mary as Mediatrix of All Graces due to the Vatican guidance.
As LifeSiteNews reports, the petitioners pleaded with the Pope, writing, “Do not make our poor Mother suffer in this way… She who suffered so greatly at the foot of the Cross to give birth to us.”
While Vatican officials maintain that Mater Populi Fidelis seeks to clarify Marian doctrine rather than diminish it, critics continue to argue that the document undermines centuries of Catholic devotion and theological reflection. The controversy highlights deep tensions within the Church over tradition, doctrinal development, and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the economy of salvation.
At a time when many Catholics express concern over confusion and division in the Church, LifeSiteNews reports that opponents of the document insist the faithful do not need a diminished understanding of Mary, but a clearer affirmation of her God-given role as Mother and intercessor for the People of God.
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