Pope Leo XIV has announced that St. John Henry Newman will be formally declared a Doctor of the Church, recognizing the profound impact of his theological writings and spiritual legacy. The declaration will take place later this year in Rome, marking a historic moment for the Church and for English-speaking Catholics.

Born in 1801, Newman was a leading figure in the Oxford Movement before converting from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1845. His conversion was deeply influenced by Blessed Dominic Barberi, the Italian Passionist missionary who received Newman into the Catholic Church at Littlemore. Barberi’s quiet sanctity and courage made a lasting impression on Newman, who would go on to become one of the Church’s most celebrated modern thinkers.

Newman’s works—The Idea of a University, Grammar of Assent, and countless sermons—continue to shape Catholic theology, especially in the areas of conscience, doctrine, and education. Beatified by Benedict XVI in 2010 and canonized by Francis in 2019, Newman’s elevation to Doctor of the Church places him among the greatest minds and saints in Catholic history.

This recognition affirms his prophetic witness to truth and the enduring relevance of his intellectual and spiritual journey.

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