Pope Leo has directed Catholics to stop referring to the Virgin Mary as a co-redeemer alongside Jesus Christ.
A new decree issued by the Vatican’s doctrinal office and approved by the Pope clarifies that Jesus Christ alone redeemed humanity through His sacrifice on the cross. The document states that while Mary played a vital role by giving birth to Jesus, she should not be described as a co-redeemer or co-redemptrix, officially closing a long-standing theological debate that has divided scholars and even past popes.
The decree warns that the title “creates confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of Christian truths” and risks overshadowing the unique role of Jesus in salvation.
Previous popes, including Francis and Benedict XVI, also rejected the title. Pope Francis had called it “foolishness” in 2019, saying Mary “never wanted to take anything for herself from her son.” Pope John Paul II, who once supported the idea, eventually stopped using the title publicly in the 1990s as opposition grew.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, said the decree responds to rising questions and online trends surrounding Marian devotion. He noted that some modern practices and social media-driven movements risk spreading “confusion among Catholics.”
According to Vatican journalist Iacopo Scaramuzzi, the decision aims to curb the growing “cult of the Madonna,” which has gained traction among conservative Catholic groups online.
The move follows last year’s tightening of Vatican rules on supernatural claims such as Marian apparitions, amid concerns about hoaxes spreading through social media. Pope Francis also warned in 2023 that not all reported visions of Mary are genuine, cautioning that “when Marian devotion becomes too self-centred, it’s not good.”
Vatican analyst Robert Mickens said the decision will be welcomed by progressive Catholics, adding that while Mary holds the highest place among humans, “she’s not semi-divine.”
