Pope Leo XIV has officially declared St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church, honoring the English cardinal for his profound theological insight, holiness, and influence on Catholic education.
The declaration took place during the Mass for All Saints’ Day on Nov 1st 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica, part of the Jubilee of Education celebration. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro presented Newman’s biography and petitioned the pope for the proclamation, which was then solemnly read by Pope Leo in Latin.
Pope Leo also named Newman co-patron of Catholic education alongside St. Thomas Aquinas, praising him as “an inspiration to new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite.”
In his homily, the pope urged educators and students to “shine like stars in the world” through a sincere pursuit of truth and service. Citing Newman’s hymn Lead, Kindly Light, he said education must guide people out of the shadows of fear and despair into hope and faith.
Pope Leo emphasized that true greatness “does not come from power or wealth but from realizing we are called by God and created for a mission greater than ourselves.”
Born in London in 1801, Newman converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1845 and was ordained a Catholic priest two years later. His works on faith, conscience, and education have shaped Catholic thought for generations.
He was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2019. His motto, Cor ad cor loquitur (“Heart speaks to heart”), remains a hallmark of his spiritual legacy.
Newman is now the 38th Doctor of the Church, joining a revered list that includes St. Augustine, St. Teresa of Ávila, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
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