Mariology of The Popes - Papal Influences On Mariology

Papal Influences On Mariology

Popes were highly important for the development of doctrine and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin. They made decisions not only in the area of Marian beliefs (Mariology) but also Marian practices and devotions. Before the twentieth century, Popes promulgated Marian veneration and beliefs by authorizing:

• new Marian feast days,
• Marian prayers and initiatives,
• acceptance and support of Marian congregations,
• indulgences and special privileges
• support for Marian devotions.

An example is the actions of Pope Pius V regarding the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and his request to masses of Europeans to pray the rosary, followed by his declaration of a feast that became the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, followed by the papal bull Consueverunt Romani Pontifices which established the devotion to the rosary.

The formal recognition of Marian apparitions (such as more recently in Lourdes and Fatima) have also been influential. Since Pope Leo XIII, Popes promulgated Mariology also with encyclicals, Apostolic Letters and with two dogmas (Immaculate Conception and Assumption) the promulgation of Marian years (Pius XII, John Paul II), the visit to Marian shrines (Benedict XVI in 2007) and by actively supporting the fathers of Vatican II as they highlighted the importance of Marian veneration (Pope John XXIII and Paul VI) in Lumen Gentium.

Popes also limited and restricted outgrowth of Marian venerations and teaching. Popular views like the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception developed into Papal teaching over time. In 1674 Pope Clement X (1670–1676) indexed books on Marian piety. After the Council of Trent, Marian fraternities were founded, fostering Marian piety, some of which were outlawed by Popes. Not all Popes viewed Marian belief identically. Louis de Montfort was condemned in a Papal bull by Pope Clement X only to be praised by Pope Clement XI, canonized by Pope Pius XII and adored by Pope John Paul II.