Vatican to weigh in on Mary\u2019s role in salvation with doctrine document on Nov. 4 The Vatican\u2019s doctrine office announced Thursday it will release a document on Nov. 4 about titles of Mary that refer to her \u201ccooperation in the work of salvation.\u201d Mary\u2019s contribution to human salvation, specifically the title of \u201cCo-Redemptrix\u201d (\u201cCo-Redeemer\u201d) has been a point of theological debate for decades \u2014 with proponents calling for Mary\u2019s 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. Cardinal V\u00edctor Manuel Fern\u00e1ndez, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will present the doctrinal note on the topic, titled \u201cMater Populi Fidelis\u201d (\u201cFaithful Mother of the People\u201d), at the Jesuit Curia in Rome. Fern\u00e1ndez told journalists in July the dicastery was working on a text on \u201cvarious Marian themes\u201d but did not reveal more about its content. Theologian Father Matteo Armando, secretary of the dicastery\u2019s doctrine department, will also speak at the presentation Nov. 4, along with an expert consulter of the dicastery, Father Maurizio Gronchi, who teaches Christology \u2014 the Church\u2019s teaching on the person, nature, and role of Christ \u2014 at Rome\u2019s Pontifical Urban University. Recent popes have held varying positions on the use of the title \u201cCo-Redemptrix\u201d for Mary. In 2017, the International Marian Association submitted a request to Pope Francis for public recognition of the title of Mary as \u201cCo-Redemptrix with Jesus the Redeemer,\u201d one of multiple petitions sent to the Vatican in the last century. But the pope expressed his reservations about the title on more than one occasion during his pontificate. In his general audience address on March 24, 2021, Francis said that while Christians had always given Mary beautiful titles, it was important to remember that Christ is the only redeemer, and that Mary was entrusted to us \u201cas a mother, not as a goddess, not as co-redeemer.\u201d As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2000, Pope Benedict XVI said he thought the title \u201cCo-Redemptrix\u201d was too far from Scripture and could cause misunderstandings about Christ\u2019s status as redeemer \u2014 though supporters of the Marian formula felt he showed more openness to the devotion in his pontificate, despite never explicitly using the term. St. John Paul II, instead, publicly used the word \u201cCo-Redemptrix\u201d at least six times during his pontificate, renewing hopes in an imminent declaration of the dogma in the 1990s. The title can be traced back to the 10th century, when some Marian litanies included the title of Mary as Redemptrix, along with her son. The prefix of \u201cco-\u201d was added by the 15th century, to clarify that Mary was not the Redeemer but rather someone who uniquely cooperated in the work of redemption. \u201cCo-Redemptrix\u201d received magisterial recognition only centuries later, in 1908, when the Sacred Congregation for Rites used it in a decree elevating the rank of the feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Since then, it has been referenced multiple times in Church teaching, including during the Second Vatican Council, which ultimately decided against any formal recognition of the title in the document Lumen Gentium. This article was originally published by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Hannah Brockhaus Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article Pope Francis\u2019 Christmas Mass: Jesus was born to save the world Attack During Mass in the Philippines Leaves 4 Dead: Pope Francis Prays for the Victims Your Ultimate Guide on How to See Pope Francis at the Vatican Pope Francis in his own words: 12 key quotes that defined his 12-year pontificate Vatican News: Pope Francis\u2019 Cuts Free & Discounted Rent for Cardinals & Hungary trip Pope Calls Potential U.S. Deportation Plans \u2018A Disgrace\u2019<\/p>\n