Vatican City: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has released a new document, Mater populi fidelis (“The Mother of the Faithful People”), approved by Pope Leo XIV, which provides clarification on several titles attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The document, signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery, and Monsignor Armando Matteo, Secretary of its Doctrinal Section, was officially approved by the Pope on 7 October and published on 4 November 2025.
The note, the result of extensive theological reflection and collegial discussion, focuses on the role of Mary in the mystery of salvation and her cooperation in the redemptive work of Christ. It draws on Scripture, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the Eastern Christian tradition, and the teachings of recent Popes to offer guidance on how Marian devotion can remain faithful to the central truth that Christ alone is Redeemer and Mediator.
Within this theological framework, the document evaluates several Marian titles. Expressions such as Mother of Believers, Spiritual Mother, and Mother of the Faithful are affirmed as theologically sound and consistent with Catholic tradition. The title Co-redemptrix, however, is described as inappropriate because it risks obscuring the unique and universal role of Christ in redemption. The term Mediatrix is regarded as acceptable only when it clearly conveys that Mary’s mediation is subordinate and participatory, never equal or independent of Christ’s. Titles like Mother of Grace and Mediatrix of All Graces are permitted when used with careful theological precision, but the note cautions against interpretations that extend their meaning too broadly.
The document reaffirms that all Marian devotion must point toward Christ and that every grace Mary receives and every role she plays derives from Him. It states that even titles that may be understood in an orthodox sense can become misleading if they require excessive explanation or if they detract from the primacy of Jesus.
In his introduction to the note, Cardinal Fernández acknowledges the importance of popular Marian devotion but warns against movements and publications, including those on social media, that promote new dogmatic claims without theological maturity. He explains that misunderstandings often arise from attempts to interpret Mary’s cooperation in salvation in a way that places her on an almost equal level with Christ.
The document reviews the history of the title Co-redemptrix, recalling that while some Popes used the term without detailed explanation, the Second Vatican Council deliberately avoided it for pastoral and ecumenical reasons. Saint John Paul II occasionally used the expression, linking it to the shared suffering of believers united with Christ. However, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, opposed declaring the title dogmatic, arguing that its theological meaning was unclear and not well supported by Scripture or the early Church. He maintained that the term risked suggesting an equality between Christ and Mary, which would contradict the centrality of Christ’s saving work. Pope Francis likewise rejected the use of Co-redemptrix on several occasions, emphasizing that Mary’s greatness lies in her discipleship, not in her equality with her Son.
The new Doctrinal Note concludes that using the term Co-redemptrix to describe Mary’s role is theologically and pastorally unhelpful because it can obscure the unique mediation of Christ. When an expression requires repeated clarification to avoid misunderstanding, it does not serve the faith of the people.
Regarding the title Mediatrix, the note reaffirms the biblical teaching that Christ is the only Mediator between God and humanity. Nonetheless, it recognizes that in ordinary speech, “mediation” often refers to intercession or cooperation, and in this sense, Mary’s maternal intercession can rightly be described as mediatory. She played a real role in the mystery of the Incarnation and continues to assist the faithful through her prayers, always under Christ and in total dependence on His saving power.
The document stresses that Mary’s maternal role does not diminish the unique mediation of Christ but reveals its beauty and power. Her intercession never substitutes divine mercy but invites believers to trust more deeply in it. The title Mother of Believers thus expresses Mary’s relationship with the faithful, who are nourished by the life of grace.
The note urges caution in the use of certain expressions that may suggest an exaggerated understanding of Mary’s role. It cites Cardinal Ratzinger’s earlier observation that the title Mediatrix of All Graces lacks a clear foundation in Revelation and can lead to theological confusion. No human being, not even the Blessed Virgin, can be a universal dispenser of grace, since only God grants grace through the humanity of Christ.
While acknowledging that Mary cannot be the source of the graces she herself received, the note allows for a devotional understanding of the plural term “graces” when it refers to her maternal assistance in various moments of believers’ lives. In this sense, it can be said that she intercedes for all the gifts that God, in His providence, chooses to bestow upon His children.
Through Mater populi fidelis, the Holy See reaffirms a balanced and Christ-centered understanding of Marian devotion. Mary is venerated as the Mother of the Faithful and as a model of faith and obedience, whose every action leads believers closer to her Son, the one and only Redeemer of the world.