Pope Leo has approved a decree from the Vatican's doctrinal office instructing Catholics not to refer to the Virgin Mary as the 'co-redeemer' or 'co-redemptrix', ending a long-running theological debate. The decree states that Jesus Christ alone saved humanity from damnation through his sacrificial death, and that Mary's role, while essential in giving birth to him, did not make her a partner in redemption.
The ruling warns that the title 'creates confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of the truths of the Christian faith' and risks 'eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ'. It comes amid growing concerns over exaggerated devotion to the Madonna, often spread on social media, including claims of apparitions and weeping statues.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the doctrinal office, wrote in a preface that the decree responds to recent questions about Marian devotion and aims to clarify acceptable practices. He noted that some devotional practices expressed 'intensely through social media' could sow confusion among Catholics.
The late Pope Francis was vehemently opposed to the co-redeemer title, calling it 'foolishness' in 2019. His predecessor, Benedict XVI, also rejected it. However, John Paul II, who was pope from 1978 to 2005, supported the title but stopped using it publicly in the mid-1990s amid growing scepticism.
Iacopo Scaramuzzi, Vatican correspondent for La Repubblica, said the decree puts a brake on 'the cult of the Madonna' that has been spreading among conservative Catholics online. Robert Mickens, a Rome-based Vatican expert, said the move would please progressive Catholics, noting that Mary is 'the most exalted of all human creatures but she's not semi-divine'.
