Did the New Pope Just Call Mary…God?

The Pope made his debut on May 8, 2024, and during his address, he spoke in Italian—a language he is fluent in—while addressing the faithful and the College of Cardinals.

However, something caught my attention during his speech.

When he mentioned Mary, he said, “Let us ask for this special grace from Mary our God.”

This phrase raised eyebrows and prompted immediate scrutiny.

I listened to the address multiple times to ensure I heard it correctly.

While the official transcript reported him saying “Mary our mother,” the translator seemingly altered his words to “Mary our God.”

This discrepancy is significant, as the terms “mother” and “God” are not interchangeable in Italian, making it unlikely this was a simple mistake.

If the Pope did indeed say “Mary our God,” that would be a troubling theological assertion.

Even if we assume he intended to say “Mary our mother,” the act of praying to Mary raises questions about worship.

Prayer is an act of worship reserved for God alone.

Therefore, if one is asking for grace from Mary, it implies a level of intercession that traditionally belongs to God.

This is where the crux of the issue lies: the Catholic Church’s practice of praying to saints, including Mary, which many Protestants view as a form of idolatry.

Historically, the Catholic Church has developed a theology that attributes divine qualities to Mary, including the belief in her Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven.

These doctrines elevate her status in a way that can lead to confusion about her role in salvation.

The Church teaches that Mary intercedes for believers, but this raises the question: can anyone but God truly grant grace or salvation?

To further illustrate this point, I want to reference a prayer from Pope Pius XII, where he addresses Mary as “the hope of sinners,” asking her to “save me,” which implies a role reserved for God.

This is echoed in various prayers and writings that attribute divine-like qualities to Mary, suggesting that she can provide comfort, protection, and even salvation, which is fundamentally problematic from a biblical perspective.

The Pope’s remarks seem to align with a growing trend within the Church to elevate Mary to a status that some argue borders on deification.

This is not merely a matter of semantics; it reflects a deeper theological issue that challenges the core tenets of Christianity, specifically the belief in Jesus Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity.

As we reflect on these developments, it’s essential to return to the gospel message.

The good news is that Jesus Christ alone saves.

He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, providing the only way to reconciliation with God.

This truth is foundational to the Christian faith and should be the focus of all worship and devotion.

In conclusion, whether the Pope intentionally referred to Mary as “God” or not, the implications of such statements highlight the need for clarity in understanding the role of Mary and the saints in relation to Jesus Christ.

The Church must strive to maintain the integrity of the gospel message, ensuring that worship is directed solely toward God through Jesus Christ.