Pope Leo XIII bestows the title of Doctor of the Church on John Henry Newman

• Pope Leo XIII has conferred the title of "Doctor" on Saint John Henry Newman.
• Newman has become a significant figure for the Anglican and Catholic churches.
• The title of "Doctor of the Church" has been awarded to only thirty-six individuals throughout the entire history of the Church.

VATICAN (AP) — Pope Leo XIII has declared that Saint John Henry Newman receives the title of "Doctor of the Church," which is one of the highest honors of the Catholic Church. This decision confirms the belief of the Holy Office, which is engaged in canonization, during the audience with Prefect, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro.

This honor is one of the most notable in the young papacy of Leo and has particular significance, as Newman was deeply influenced by the saint Augustine, who is the foundational figure of the Augustinian order of the Papacy.

The title of "Doctor of the Church" is bestowed upon individuals whose work has significantly served the universal Church. In the 2000-year history of the Church, only thirty-six individuals have received this title, among whom are saints Augustine, Francis de Sales, and Teresa of Avila.

The path for Newman to receive the title of "Doctor" was extraordinarily swift: Pope Benedict XVI beatified him during his visit to Britain in 2010, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2019 in the presence of then-Prince Charles.

Newman, a theologian and poet, invoked admiration both among Catholics and Anglicans, yet he remained true to his faith, regardless of the significant figures he might lose. When transitioning from the Anglican Church to the Catholic Church in 1845, he lost friends, work, and even familial connections, believing that truth could only be found in the Catholic faith.

Newman was one of the founders of the Oxford Movement in the 1830s, which aimed to revive certain Roman Catholic doctrines in the Anglican Church, returning to the tradition of early Christianity. However, he later pursued a brilliant academic career at Oxford University and a chair in the university's church, to embrace Catholicism. As a Catholic, he became one of the most prominent theologians of his time, combining elements of the Anglican Church with his new faith. Newman died in Britain in 1890.