St. Henry Newman Declared Doctor of the Church

Vatican City, November 1, 2025 – During the Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints, which also marked the culmination of the Jubilee of the World of Education, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. Emphasising Newman’s legacy, the Pope said its purpose is “to form people so that they may shine like stars in their full dignity.”

Pope Leo XIV described Saint John Henry Newman as a “master of theory and practice of education,” inviting the faithful to embrace the “Kindly Light” of faith in Providence, as expressed in Newman’s hymn Lead, Kindly Light. The Pope urged believers to “disarm false reasons for resignation and powerlessness” and to share “light and guidance” amid the injustices and uncertainties of the present time.

Addressing thousands of faithful, including students and educators gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope encouraged all to ensure that “schools, universities, and every educational context, even informal ones, remain gateways to dialogue and peace.”

In his homily, Pope Leo highlighted that “at the heart of the educational journey we find real people, not abstract individuals,” especially those marginalised by systems that “exclude or even kill them.” He called educators to form individuals so they “may shine like stars in their full dignity.”

At the beginning of the Mass, Pope Leo XIV also announced that Saint John Henry Newman has been named co-Patron of the Church’s educational mission alongside Saint Thomas Aquinas. He said Newman’s spiritual and cultural influence “will inspire new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite,” guiding them “through difficulties to the stars.”

Reflecting on Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, the Pope invited educators to “shine like stars in the world” through their “authentic commitment to truth, generosity, and integrity,” especially in their service to the poor and youth.

Pope Leo described schools and universities as “laboratories of prophecy” – places “where hope is lived, and constantly discussed and encouraged.” He urged institutions to be “places of listening to the Gospel and putting it into practice,” helping students discover meaning and purpose in Christ’s teaching.

The Holy Father warned against “the encircling gloom of nihilism,” calling it “the most dangerous malady of contemporary culture” because it seeks to “cancel hope.” Drawing from Newman’s hymn, he explained that education’s role is to offer the “Kindly Light” to those trapped in “the shadows of pessimism and fear.”

Concluding his homily, Pope Leo stressed that “from a Christian perspective, education helps everyone to become saints.” Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he reminded young people that God’s greatest desire is for them to “become holy.” He prayed that Catholic education would help each person “discover their call to holiness,” following the example of Saint Augustine and Saint John Henry Newman.

Pope Leo affirmed that education remains “an indispensable seed of hope” and a journey towards holiness — one that enables each generation to “shine like stars in their full dignity.”

St. Henry Newman Declared Doctor of the Church

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