This has been the constant teaching of the Church as indicated by the motto of Bl. John Paul II: "To Jesus, through Mary". St. Maximilian Kolbe believed that the most effective means of conversion is through Mary. His great hope was that the missionary, evangelization and conversion apostolate of the Catholic Church would be placed into the hands of Mary. This is exactly what Holy Father Francis has been doing. St. Maximilian stressed: "we need Mary for the conversion of sinners, for the bringing of tepid souls to sanctity, for bringing the millions of non-Christians to Christ."
He saw the means to be used for converting sinners to a life of grace as: "First, we will be as effective evangelizers as we are personally devoted to Our Lady. We must promote our missionary and conversion zeal through promoting the knowledge, love and devotion to the Mother of God. Mary will do wonders, provided we use her name and her influence to effect what is so desperately needed in the modern world."