Pope Leo has directed Catholics worldwide to discontinue the use of the title “co-redeemer” or “co-redemptrix” for the Virgin Mary, affirming that Jesus Christ alone accomplished humanity’s redemption.
A newly issued decree from the Vatican’s doctrinal office—formally approved by the Pope—states that salvation was achieved solely through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. While Mary played a vital role by giving birth to Jesus, the document clarifies that she cannot be considered a “co-redeemer.”
The question of whether Mary shares in the work of redemption has been debated for decades and has even divided popes. Pope Francis, before his passing, strongly rejected the title, calling it “foolishness” in 2019 and emphasizing that Mary “never sought to take anything away from her son.” His predecessor, Benedict XVI, also opposed the term. John Paul II showed some early support for it but stopped using it publicly in the 1990s as criticism increased.
According to the decree, calling Mary a co-redeemer “creates confusion and disrupts the balance of Christian teaching,” adding that it risks overshadowing the unique and exclusive saving role of Jesus Christ.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, head of the doctrinal office, explained in a preface that the decree responds to rising questions about Marian devotion, particularly as new movements, publications, and social media–driven practices emerge. He warned that some newly popular expressions of Marian devotion lack the grounding and clarity of traditional Catholic teaching and may mislead the faithful.
Iacopo Scaramuzzi, Vatican correspondent for La Repubblica, said the document effectively slows down what he described as an expanding “cult of the Madonna,” especially prominent among conservative Catholics.
The Vatican has been increasingly vigilant about Marian-related phenomena. Last year it tightened regulations on alleged supernatural events—such as reported apparitions—to curb scams and hoaxes amplified by social media. In 2023, Pope Francis cautioned that Marian apparitions “are not always real,” a remark believed to reference a woman who attracted thousands of pilgrims to a town near Rome by claiming a statue of Mary had bled.
As Vatican analyst Robert Mickens noted, the decree will likely satisfy more progressive Catholics: “Mary is regarded as the highest of all human beings, but she is not semi-divine,” he said.
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