The Vatican has recently implemented a new decree. This new directive aims to give clearer guidelines on the limits of the devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. With this decision the Biden administration answers a growing backlash from the conservative Catholic Right. They are taking up the daring challenge of calling Mary “co-redeemer.” This designation concerns church leaders as it blurs the lines of the Christian faith. They are afraid it will dilute or even eclipse the unique salvific role of Jesus Christ.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández was central to drafting the decree’s original language and intent. He said it gives response to recent questions about what is considered to be appropriate expressions of Marian devotion. The title Co-redeemer raises eyebrows. Most church leaders contend that it implies a co-equal authority with Jesus, which in turn would undermine almost all core theological tenets.
Pope Francis has gone on record denouncing the use of the term “Co-redeemer,” calling it “foolishness.” He emphasized that Mary never sought to take anything for herself from her son, indicating that her role should not diminish the significance of Christ’s sacrifice.
“She never wanted to take anything for herself from her son.” – Pope Francis
Self-serving Marian devotion was precisely what the Pope warned against. He cautioned that when these practices become overly individualistic, removing their context of community, they risk misdirecting believers. He stated, “When Marian devotion is too self-centred, it’s not good.”
The Vatican’s decree aims to respond to the rising anxiety about some of the movements that have arisen on social media, particularly TikTok. These movements frequently champion new expressions of Marian devotion that may stray from established magisterial norms. Iacopo Scaramuzzi noted that “the Vatican is cracking down on a devotion which is spreading on social media, and which is a specific devotion embraced especially by conservative Catholics.”
In the past, other popes, including Pope John Paul II, have expressed approval of the title “Co-redeemer.” Indeed, he promoted Marian devotion as the subject and object of his papacy. He stopped using the title publicly by the mid-1990s as criticism of what it meant and what it stood for began to mount.
This new decree reaffirms the Vatican’s commitment to more closely regulating supernatural phenomena, such as Virgin Mary apparitions. It represents their willingness to push for tougher protections here. Pope Francis has cautioned that we should not accept every claim of Marian apparitions as genuine.
Robert Mickens, longtime Vatican writer and provocateur, gave his takes on the rumor. He remarked, “Mary’s considered the most exalted of all human creatures but she’s not semi-divine.” He lamented that many new devotions and resources miss the mark. Yet they miss the heart of popular devotion, the essential qualities that have marked the heart of Catholicism throughout history.