PAPAL TEACHING AND CO-REDEMPTRIX TITLE

Eleven

Papal teaching and Co-Redemptrix title

Across the centuries, supreme pontiffs have given teaching through addresses, audiences, Marian doctrine, encyclicals and Marian prayers. Popes (a number of whom are saints who have been canonized in the Church) clarified Marian doctrine. These Supreme pontiffs promulgated teachings, and made usage of the title “Co-Redemptrix” or equivalent phrasing.

A number of popes promulgated Marian encyclicals. These encyclicals clarified teaching regarding Mother Mary. Mariology (the systematic study of the person of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and her place in the economy of salvation) gave rise to four main Marian doctrines.

Doctrines refer to the teachings of the Catholic Church about Mother Mary. These teachings include Marian role in salvation history, and Mary’s unique privileges, such as the Immaculate Conception and Dormition into Heaven.

In 1854, the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX, in his encyclical Ineffabilis Deus. ₁₉

In 1913, during the pontificate of Saint Pope Piux X, a decree from the Holy Office on June 26 of that year praised “the custom of adding after the Name of Jesus that of His Mother, our Co-Redemptrix, the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The same congregation granted an indulgence for the recitation of the prayer in which Mary is called “co-redemptrix of the human race” on January 22, 1914. ₂₀

In 1933, Blessed Pope Pius XI used the Marian title of Co-Redemptrix when he addressed the pilgrims of Vicenza, Italy: "By the nature of His work, the Redeemer had to associate His Mother with His work. For this reason, we invoke her under the title of Co-Redemptrix. She gave us the Saviour, accompanied Him in the work of redemption up to the cross, sharing with Him the sufferings, agony and death, with which Jesus fully fulfilled human redemption ". ₂₁

In 1935, Blessed Pope Pius XI also referred to Our Lady as Co-redemptrix, during a radio message on the occasion of the closing of the Holy Year in Lourdes: "O Mother of piety and mercy, who as Co-Redemptrix stood by your most sweet Son, suffering with Him when He consummated the redemption of the human race on the altar of the cross ... preserve in us, we beg, the precious fruits of the Redemption and of your compassion."₂₂

In 1950, the Dogma of The Assumption of Mary was solemnly defined by Venerable Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus. ₂₃

Therefore, Mother Mary is best understood not independently, but relationally: she is the Mother of God. Mary leads the faithful to her Son, Christ.

The Co-Redemptrix title has been used by philosophers, saints, spiritual writers, theologians, and papal documents in different historical contexts. The title expresses Mary's extraordinary co-operation with Christ, provided that her subordinate and dependent role is clearly maintained.

Repeated usage of the title Co-Redemptrix by supreme pontiffs in official addresses and Church documents, acknowledge Mary’s role in salvation history.

Marian title “Co-Redemptrix”

1904: In the encyclical on the Immaculate Conception, Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum, Saint Pope Pius X wrote: "It was she [Mary] who gave her own Son to redeem the human race... hence we rightly call her Co-Redemptrix of the human race." ₂₄

1933: In Explorata Res (encyclical to the bishops of Peru), Blessed Pope Pius XI described Mary as "the Co-Redemptrix who, united with her Son, redeemed the human race." (Also used in Miserentissimus Redemptor, 1928.) ₂₅

1950: In his Radio message on the Jubilee Year, Venerable Pope Pius XII called Mary "Co-Redemptrix" while proclaiming the dogma of the Assumption. (Also in Haurietis Aquas, 1956.) ₂₆

1982: In his greeting to the sick after his general audience on September 8, 1982, Saint Pope John Paul II said: "Mary, although conceived and born without spot of sin, participated in a wonderful way in the sufferings of her Divine Son, in order to be the Co-redemptrix of humanity." ₂₇

1984: On the occasion of the feast of his patron saint, Charles Borromeo, during 1984, Saint Pope John Paul II offered these thoughts in his Angelus address in Arona: "Towards our Lady, the Co-redemptrix, Saint Charles turned his gaze with singularly revealing accents. " (From the homily delivered in Milan Cathedral the Sunday after Epiphany, 1584). ₂₈

1985: On January 31, 1985, in a speech delivered at the Marian shrine in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Saint Pope John Paul II stated: "The Gospels do not tell us if the risen Christ appeared to Mary. However, since she was in a special way near the cross of her Son, she too must have had the privileged experience of his Resurrection. In fact, the role of Mary as Co-redemptrix did not end with the glorification of her Son. " ₂₉

1985: On March 31, 1985, Palm Sunday and World Youth Day, Saint Pope John Paul II spoke about Mary's immersion in the mystery of Christ's passion: "May Mary, our Protectress, the Co-redemptrix, to whom we offer our prayers with great effusion, make our wish generously correspond to the wish of the Redeemer". ₃₀

1990: On March 24, 1990, Saint Pope John Paul II addressed the volunteer participants of a pilgrimage of the Confederate Alliance for the Transport of the Sick to Lourdes (OFTAL), and the sick they treated, with these words: "May Mary Most Holy, Co-redemptrix of the human race together with her Son, always grant you strength and confidence!" ₃₁

1991: In commemoration of the sixth centenary of the canonization of Saint Bridget of Sweden, on October 6, 1991, Saint Pope John Paul II said: "Bridget looked to Mary as her model and support in all moments of her life. She spoke energetically of the Divine privilege of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. She contemplated her amazing office as Mother of the Saviour. She invoked her as the Immaculate Conception, our Lady of the Sorrows and Co-Redemptrix, exalting the unique mission of Mary in the history of salvation and the life of the Christian people ". ₃₂

1997: In his Address to the Pontifical International Marian Academy, Saint Pope John Paul II spoke of "Mary, Co-Redemptrix, who co-operates fully in the redemptive work of her Son." (Also referenced in Redemptoris Mater, 1987.) ₃₃

Romero indicated that his references regarding the pontiffs were drawn from the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official Vatican records) and papal writings, which confirmed the magisterial endorsement of the term “Co-Redemptrix” with reference to Mother Mary, without implying equality with Christ.

According to Romero, the references regarding the saints were substantiated in the saints' approved writings (such as via the Vatican's Index Sanctorum and biographies from the Roman Martyrology). ₃₄

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19. Papal Encyclicals Online. Blessed Pope Pius IX. Ineffabilis Deus. The Immaculate Conception. 1854. Accessed 18 August 2026

https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9ineff.htm

20. St. Thomas More Priory. The Blessed Virgin Mary is Co-Redemptrix. Accessed 15 August 2026. https://florida.sspx.org/en/blessed-virgin-mary-co-redemptrix-34767

21. De Jesus, Manuel. Regarding a future promulgation of the Dogma of Mary as Co-Redemptrix. 2021. Accessed 15 August 2026

https://sagradoscoracoesunidos.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Regarding-a-future-promulgation-of-the-DOGMA-of-Mary-as-CO-Redemptrix-by-Manuel-de-Jesus-03.24.21.pdf

22. Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Teaching of the Popes. Pius XI, Radio Message to Lourdes, April 28, 1935 Accessed 7 September 2026

https://marian.org/mary/teaching-of-the-popes/pius-xi .

23. Vatican.va. Venerable Pope Pius XII. Munificentissimus Deus. Defining the Dogma of the Assumption. 1950. Accessed 18 August 2026

https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html

24. Romero. Ibid

25. Romero. Ibid