Vatican nixes use of ‘Co-Redemptrix,’ ‘Mediatrix’ as titles for Mary

Michie · Tuesday at 7:45 AM

The Vatican’s doctrinal office said Tuesday the titles of “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix” are not appropriate ways to describe Mary’s participation in salvation.

In Mater Populi Fidelis (“The Mother of the Faithful People of God”), the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) said when an expression requires frequent explanation to maintain the correct meaning, it becomes unhelpful.

“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,” according to the doctrinal note, released Nov. 4.

Pope Leo XIV approved the document, signed by DDF prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, on Oct. 7.

Mary’s contribution to human salvation, specifically the title of “Co-Redemptrix” (“Co-Redeemer”) has been a point of theological debate for decades, with proponents calling for Mary’s role in redemption to be declared a dogma but critics saying it exaggerates her importance and could damage efforts for unity with other Christian denominations.

Continued below.

Vatican nixes use of ‘Co-Redemptrix,’ ‘Mediatrix’ as titles for Mary

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) released “Mater Populi Fidelis” (“The Mother of the Faithful People of God”) on Nov. 4.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

tampasteve · Tuesday at 8:10 AM

This is good, IMO. It will certainly be one less thing to debate with Protestants about. While the underlying theology was sound, the effort to debate and explain it caused major issues.

Michie · Tuesday at 8:14 AM

tampasteve said:
This is good, IMO. It will certainly be one less thing to debate with Protestants about. While the underlying theology was sound, the effort to debate and explain it caused major issues.

I agree. I never felt comfortable using the term due to those misunderstandings.

chevyontheriver · Tuesday at 8:43 AM

Michie said:
I agree. I never felt comfortable using the term due to those misunderstandings.

I can see how both terms can be valid, each with excessively long provisos and limitations. That said, they will never be understood by most folks with all the necessary limitations and clarifications. So I guess what the DDF says in this instance is good.

johnnypapa · Tuesday at 11:50 AM

tampasteve said:
This is good, IMO. It will certainly be one less thing to debate with Protestants about. While the underlying theology was sound, the effort to debate and explain it caused major issues.

Yeah might be wrong but a quick read it seems that the Vatican does not object to the theology, just the public title. It does seem strange, the reason though. For centuries we have had to explain all doctrines of Mary to theologically confused non Catholic's lol.

zippy2006 · Tuesday at 11:55 AM

I think Fernandez' reasoning is sound in this case.

Vatican formally rejects use of title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ in new Marian document

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new note, Mater Populi Fidelis, reaffirms Mary’s unique but subordinate role in salvation, confirming earlier reports circulated through Italian Catholic media.

thecatholicherald.com

tampasteve · Tuesday at 12:00 PM

johnnypapa said:
Yeah might be wrong but a quick read it seems that the Vatican does not object to the theology, just the public title. It does seem strange, the reason though. For centuries we have had to explain all doctrines of Mary to theologically confused non Catholic's lol.

I didn't mean to imply that the theology was rejected, I meant that it is and was sound theology.

johnnypapa · Tuesday at 12:05 PM

tampasteve said:
I didn't mean to imply that the theology was rejected, I meant that it is and was sound theology.

I understand, my comment was not a correction to you. Just a observation.

concretecamper · Tuesday at 8:35 PM

johnnypapa said:
the Vatican does not object to the theology, just the public title

Exactly!

Reminds me of

Like 22:56 Whom when a certain servant maid had seen sitting at the light and had earnestly beheld him, she said: This man also was with him. 22:57 But he denied him, saying: Woman, I know him not

Michie · 2025-11-05T07:57:23-0600

What ‘Co-Redemptrix’ Actually Means

concretecamper · 2025-11-05T09:53:54-0600

Given especially the past 5 years, I am befuddled how anyone can still think that succumbing to the radical progressives will result in any benefit.

So instead of challenging the lost souls of protestantism, The Church takes a step back and leaves them in their error.

RileyG · 2025-11-05T13:02:58-0600

tampasteve said:
This is good, IMO. It will certainly be one less thing to debate with Protestants about. While the underlying theology was sound, the effort to debate and explain it caused major issues.

Agreed.

JSRG · 2025-11-05T19:57:08-0600

Cardinal Ratzinger (a few years before he became Pope Benedict XVI) had this to say on the subject of "Co-redemptrix" on page 306 of "God and the World":

The response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is, broadly, that what is signified by this is already better expressed in other titles of Mary, while 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.

What is true here? Well, it is true that Christ does not remain outside us or to one side of us, but builds a profound and new community with us. Everything that is his becomes ours, and everything that is ours he has taken upon himself, so that it became his: this great exchange is the actual content of redemption, the removal of limitations from our self and its extension into community with God. Because Mary is the prototype of the Church as such and is, so to say, the Church in person, this being "with" is realized in her in exemplary fashion. But this "with" must not lead us to forget the "first" of Christ: Everything comes from him, 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. A correct intention is being expressed in the wrong way. For matters of faith, continuity of terminology with the language of Scripture and that of the Fathers is itself an essential element; it is improper simply to manipulate language.

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.

concretecamper · 2025-11-05T20:31:38-0600

JSRG said:
Because Mary is the prototype of the Church as such and is, so to say, the Church in person, this being "with" is realized in her in exemplary fashion. But this "with" must not lead us to forget the "first" of Christ: Everything comes from him, 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.

So insightful.

As an example, at Ephasus I, Mary's title of "Mother of God" was made dogma because of her Son.

Vatican nixes use of ‘Co-Redemptrix,’ ‘Mediatrix’ as titles for Mary

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