Understanding of Mary and her role in the Church continued to change and develop throughout the twentieth century. Pope Pius XII, who led the Church from 1939 to 1958, was a devotee of Our Lady of Fatima; he consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and defined the doctrine of the Assumption — that Mary, like her son, was assumed to Heaven, body and soul. Pius XII also proclaimed 1954 a Marian year, dedicated to celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Decisions Made at Vatican II

Just twelve years after the dogma of Assumption had been passed, the Second Vatican Council convened in Rome to discuss matters of Catholic doctrines and faith. In particular, some discussions examined Marian devotion.

The conclusion of the council regarding Mary was to view her as a fellow member of the Church, not as a semidivine being, and to go back to the Scriptures to understand Mary and her role in the Church. The Church fathers warned Catholics not to place belief in Mary's power of intercession over their belief in Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and humans. All of Mary's ability to mediate rests on the power of Christ, and veneration of Mary must foster our relationship with Jesus. Christ is the one who gave himself for our redemption. Mary, giving herself to God's will throughout her life, is the model of a Christian, but she does not have any special powers. It is unwise for the clergy to exaggerate Mary's role and for the faithful to practice “credulity.”

However, Vatican II adhered to the most benign interpretations of Mary's role in Christ's ministry. In addition to being the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer, Mary also “belongs to the offspring of Adam and is one with all human beings in their need for salvation”; this is a position that relies most on the Gospels and the early teachings of the Church.

Furthermore, at the closing of the third session of Vatican II (of the four sessions held in total), Pope Paul VI declared Mary the Mother of the Church, the Church's model in faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ. The Church, like a mother, brings forth her children for Baptism. While Mary has reached perfection, Catholics should see the Church as working toward the example that Mary sets.

Marian Devotions in Light of Feminism

While the Church reassessed Mary's position in its teachings, feminist theologians redefined their understanding of women's roles in the Church in light of Mary's example. They argued that if Mary is mother and minister to the apostles, a larger role in the ministry of the Church must belong to women. Many feminists rejected the view of Mary as submissive to God's will and argued that her love forms a cornerstone of the Church.

Striving for Unity

When Pope John Paul II made advances toward rebuilding the schism between Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Church, he emphasized the beliefs the two Churches share in regard to Mary — in particular, Mary's title as Mother of God and “knowledge that the mystery of Christ leads us to bless his mother.” John Paul also mentioned the common history the Catholics and the Eastern Church have in venerating images of the Virgin.