Pope Leo XIV Approves New Statute for the Pontifical International Marian Academy

Pope Leo XIV approves revised statute of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, renewing its mission for global Marian studies and research.

Newsroom (09/02/2026 Gaudium Press )  In a significant institutional update for the Catholic Church’s theological and academic framework, Pope Leo XIV has approved a new statute for the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI). The decision, formalized in a rescript and announced by the Holy See Press Office, recognizes the need to update the Academy’s guidelines to align with its evolving mission and the current structure of the Vatican’s curial institutions.

The new statute was approved during an audience granted by Pope Leo XIV to Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. This revision reflects the ongoing renewal of Vatican institutions, ensuring that PAMI continues to serve as a global center for research, education, and dialogue on Marian studies.

A Legacy Rooted in Mariology and Unity

Founded in 1946 by the Order of Friars Minor and the Commissio Mariana Franciscana, the Pontifical International Marian Academy was created to promote and coordinate the study of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its founding was deeply influenced by Fr. Carlo Balić, then the rector of the Pontifical Antonianum University and head of the Chair of Mariology. Under his leadership, the Academy became a focal point for Marian theology and devotion within the Franciscan tradition.

Pope Francis, in his 2019 message to the Pontifical Academies, praised PAMI’s historical mission, noting that it “has accompanied the Universal Magisterium of the Church with research and coordination of Marian studies,” adding that its work “provides a clear testament to the fact that Mariology is a necessary presence for dialogue among cultures and is capable of nourishing fraternity and peace.”

From “Maiora in Dies” to “Pontifical” Recognition

Since 1950, the Holy See has entrusted the Academy with organizing the International Mariological-Marian Congresses, which bring together scholars from across the world to advance theological reflection and pastoral devotion centered on Mary.
In 1959, Pope Saint John XXIII, through the motu proprio Maiora in dies, acknowledged the Academy’s contribution to Marian doctrine by granting it the title of “Pontifical.” This recognition reinforced the Academy’s dual mission: to uphold scholarly excellence in Mariology and to foster authentic Marian devotion across cultures.

Integration and Institutional Continuity

Initially placed under the authority of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office—now the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith—the Academy’s coordination later fell under the Pontifical Council for Culture, following its 1997 statutes. With the promulgation of the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, responsibility for the Academy’s oversight transitioned to the Dicastery for Culture and Education, which now supervises its mission in line with Vatican reforms.

The Pontifical International Marian Academy’s institutional journey also includes its formal integration into the Pontifical Antonianum on May 18, 1972, positioning it as a specialized academic body in the study of Mariology. Its expansion continued in 2012, when it incorporated the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate, further consolidating Marian research and outreach efforts under one framework.

A Renewed Vision for Marian Studies

The revision of PAMI’s statutes under Pope Leo XIV reaffirms the importance of Marian scholarship in the Church’s academic network. More than seventy years after its founding, the Academy remains a space for dialogue, uniting theologians, educators, and faithful across continents through the study of Mary’s role in salvation history.

By modernizing its institutional framework, the Holy See ensures that the Academy’s mission—rooted in theological depth and the Franciscan spirit of service—continues to guide the global community of Marian scholars toward a renewed understanding of faith, culture, and peace.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News

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