What does it mean to be a Church doctor?

The Vatican announced Thursday that San John Henry Newman will be declared a doctor of the Church. The 19th century English – a former Anglican priest who became Catholicism – will join 37 other saints who have received the same honor.

Born in London and baptized in the Church of England in 1801, Newman was an Anglican priest, popular theologian and writer and respected among his colleagues before his conversion to Catholicism in 1845. He was ordered Catholic priest in 1847 and was later created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII, in 1879.

As Catholic, Newman deepened and contributed to the teaching of the Church, thanks to his extensive knowledge of theology and his acute perception of modern times, based on the Gospel. His work includes 40 books and more than 20,000 cards.

He died in Edgbaston (England) in 1890. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on September 19, 2010 and canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019.

What is a “Church Doctor”?

The title of “Doctor of the Church” recognizes those canonized men and women who possessed deep knowledge, were excellent teachers and contributed significantly to the theology of the Church.

Traditionally, the title has been granted based on three requirements: the manifest holiness of the candidate, affirmed by his canonization as saint; The eminence in doctrine, demonstrated by having left a body of teachings that made significant and lasting contributions to the life of the Church; and a formal statement by the Church, usually by a Pope.

Although their teachings are not considered infallible, being declared “doctor” means that they contributed to the formulation of Christian teaching in at least one significant area and that this teaching has impacted subsequent generations.

The number of venerated saints as doctors in the Catholic Church who are also honored in the Orthodox Church, since they lived before the Great Schism in 1054.

The most recent church doctor to be appointed was Saint Irenae of Lyon, with the title of “Doctor unit“(” Doctor of the Unit “), in 2022. Pope Francis had previously declared in 2015 as a doctor of the Church to San Gregorio de Narek, a priest, monk, mystical and poet of the 10th century very dear among the Armenian Christians.

Other notable saints who are doctors of the Church include Santa Teresa de Ávila, San Agustín, San Ambrosio, Santa Catalina de Siena, Santo Tomás de Aquino, Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús, San Antonio de Padua and San Francisco de Sales, among others.

The Vatican has not yet confirmed the date of Newman’s formal proclamation as a doctor of the Church.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.