Art. 1. In June of 1946, Friar Carlo Balic, O.F.M., a professor at the Pontifical Atheneum Antonianum, founded two institutes for scientific mariological study:
a) the "Franciscan Marian Commission", for the progress of the Marian studies and of Marian piety in the Order of Friars Minor;
b) the "International Marian Academy", for the promotion of worldwide Marian studies.
On December 8, 1959, the Supreme Pontiff, John XXIII, with the "Motu proprio" "Maiora in dies", solemnly recognized the Academy, and promoted it and honored it with the title of "Pontifical", with the goal of promoting and favoring, first of all, scientific studies on the Blessed Virgin Mary, be they speculative or historical-critical.

Art. 2. It is in the wishes of the same Pontiff that the aforementioned Academy, as it has to date, and will continue to do so, regulate in a friendly manner its work with other Marian Academies and Societies, around the world, so as to unite forces and projects of research and study on the Mother of God and in rendering veneration to her.

Art. 3. In order to meet this goal the Academy:
a) edits the following series:
Bibliotheca Mariana Medii Aevi; Bibliotheca Mariana Moderni Aevi; Bibliotheca Assumptionis B. V. Mariae; Bibliotheca Immaculatae Conceptionis . B. V. Mariae; Bibliotheca Mediationis B. V. Mariae; Bibliotheca Mariana Biblico-Patristica; Bibliotheca Mariana Franciscana; Studia Mariana; Acta Congressuum Marioiogico-Marianorumm Internationalium;
b) with its Counsel the Academy prepares and directs, in the established times, the International Mariological-Marian Congresses;
c) seeks to favor initiatives that promote the knowledge of veneration for the Blessed Virgin.

Art. 4. The Academy venerates as its special patroness the Blessed Virgin Mary who has been assumed into Heaven.

Art. 5. From its very beginning the Academy has been tied to the Congregation per the Doctrine of the Faith.

Art. 6. The Academy is composed of members - male and female - ordinary, correspondents, honorary and benefactors (cfr. art. 18-19). It cannot have more than 80 ordinary members, 10 of which have a seat in Rome or in Lazio.  The number of other members is not closed.  Learned men and women of other Christian denominations can be members of the Academy, so as to promote ecumenical dialogue.

Art. 7. The "Pontifical Council of Culture" coordinates the activities of the Academy with the other Pontifical Academies.  Also, the Academy should participate in all common plenary reunions of the Pontifical Academies, called by the "Pontifical Counsel of Culture". In reality the President of the Academy is a member of the "Coordination Counsel for the Pontifical Academies", recently instituted as such by the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II within the very same "Pontifical Counsel of Culture".

Art. 8. Following a special convocation by the parties the Academy has been added to the Pontifical Atheneum Antonianum in Rome on May 18, 1972.

Art. 9. The Academy is directed by its Counsel, which resides in Rome and is composed of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and at least six other members.

Art. 10. The President and the Secretary of the Academy are proposed by the Most Reverend Minister General O.F.M. from amongst the most noted and learned men of his Order, they are then designated, having heard the Counsel of the Academy, the Academic Senate of the Pontifical Atheneum Antonianum in Rome, and are appointed by the Supreme Pontiff  for a  five year period, which upon completion can be renewed several times.

Art. 11. The members which constitute the Counsel of the Academy are elected by all the ordinary members from among the ordinary members residing in Rome or in Lazio.  They remain in office for a five year period, which can be renewed several times, upon completion.

Art. 12. The minor officials of the Academy (Treasurer, secretarial aide, etc.), which are three or more in number, according to need, are proposed by the President, and appointed by the Most Reverend Minister General O.F.M. for a five year period, which can be renewed several times, upon completion.

Art. 13. The duties of the President:
a) enable the Academy to grow and progress in time;
b) execute all that has been entrusted to the Academy in the "Motu proprio" of John XXIII Maiora in dies, regarding the Mariological-Marian Congresses amongst the people and to the advantage of the sciences and of Marian piety in general;
c> operate and promote the study of  Mariology;
d) edit the publications of the Academy;
e) direct the ordinary Marian acts or unedited o scientific works of the Academy;
f) nominate editors which will place under critical examination all the works edited by the Academy;
g) preside over the administration of goods of the Academy;
h) examine the books of the Treasurer.

Art. 14. Duties of the Secretary:
a) be of help to the President;
b) edit publications together with  President and others added to the Secretarial pool;
c) take care of writing letters and correspondence;
d) direct the minutes of the meetings
e) keep the archives, in which are conserved letters and  documents of both the Academy and the counsel.

Art. 15. Duties of the Treasurer:
a) administrate the goods of the Academy under the direction of the President;
b) take care of the ledger of income and expenditures;
c) place the economic ledger of the Academy for approval and revision by those designated by the Most reverend Friar Minister General O.F.M.;
d) care for the sales of the volumes edited by the Academy.

Art. 16. The Counsel of the Academy is convened by the President at least once a year or when it is asked for by three members of the Counsel.

Art. 17. The counsel elects, at the President's suggestion, as  Ordinary members of the Academy learned men or women, who are known to have enriched the Marian science with works, studies or other activities of Marian character.  These become Honorary members when they reach 75 years of age.

Art. 18. Ordinary members are required to help research, deepen and evolve Marian theology and piety; to participate in the Congresses and other acts promoted by the Academy and to unite forces in order to publish the various  Collections of the Academy (art. 3).

Art. 19. Having heard the Counsel, the President and all those who in some way, help to reach the goals of the Academy can come from its Members.
These members are:
a) members commonly known as correspondents who are chosen from amongst the cultivators of Marian science and piety;
b) honorary, chosen above all from people constituted in either ecclesial or civil dignity; equally from amongst the learned people of the various Societies and Academies;
c) benefactors, those who contribute monetarily so as to help pay the debts of the Academy.

Art. 20. The Academy gives news of its activities by means of its own news letter.

Art. 21. The Academy, which juridically has its chair in the Vatican City State, has its offices at the International College International of Sant'Antonio in Rome, via Merulana 124b.

Art. 22. For the carrying out of its activities the Academy is required to direct the peculiar Statutes approved by the Counsel of said Academy.

Statutes approved by the Holy Father on January , 1997