The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has officially released its long-anticipated doctrinal note, Mater Populi Fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People”), confirming the accuracy of much of the material that circulated earlier this morning through Italian Catholic media.
The full document, signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery, provides the definitive Vatican teaching on certain Marian titles, particularly addressing the term “Co-Redemptrix.”
The document discusses several Marian titles attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but its central focus is the title “Co-Redemptrix,” which it firmly rejects. Section 22 states in full: “Given the need to explain Mary’s subordinate role to Christ in the work of Redemption, it is always inappropriate to use the title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ to describe Mary’s role. This title risks obscuring the unique salvific mediation of Christ and can therefore generate confusion and imbalance in the harmony of the truths of the Christian faith. … When an expression requires numerous and continuous explanations to prevent it from straying from its correct meaning, it does not serve the faith of the People of God and becomes inappropriate.”
