St John Henry Newman

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham is celebrating the news that St John Henry Newman is to be declared a ‘Doctor of the Church.’

Pope Leo XIV made the announcement of the Conferral of the Title of Doctor of the Church on Thursday 31 July during an audience with His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints (Webpage HERE). The title Doctor of the Church is given to Saints who have made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their research, study or writing.

The process for St John Henry Newman to be made a Doctor of the Church has taken several years. September 2025 will mark the 15th anniversary of his Beatification in Cofton Park, Birmingham, in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. October 2025 will be the sixth anniversary of Newman’s Canonisation in Rome by Pope Francis.

St John Henry Newman has significant links to the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Maryvale was Newman’s first home as a Catholic. He was confirmed in the Chapel at St Mary’s College, Oscott, and preached his famous Second Spring sermon there. Newman was the founder of the Birmingham and Oxford Oratories. When he died at the age of 89, more than 15,000 people lined the streets of Birmingham for his funeral.

John Henry Newman Catholic College, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, and Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Coventry, are named after him; along with The Newman Catholic Collegiate (made up of nine schools in Stoke-on-Trent). The Archdiocese has a Parish of St John Henry Newman, made up of four churches; St Joseph, Darlaston; St Joseph, Wolverhampton; Holy Trinity, Bilston; St Mary, Willenhall. The Parish of Maryvale in Birmingham is also part of the Newman Cluster of Churches. Birmingham Newman University has St John Henry Newman as its patron saint and Birmingham University Catholic Chaplaincy also has Newman as its patron.

Archbishop Bernard Longley said, ‘Together with the Fathers of the Birmingham and Oxford Oratories, I am immensely grateful to Pope Leo for declaring St John Henry Newman as a Doctor of the Church. Cardinal Newman is only the second Englishman to be afforded this title, after St Bede the Venerable, for the historic and abiding impact of his teaching on the universal Church.  It is also remarkable that his writings, first as an Anglican and then as a Roman Catholic, but considered as one entire corpus of written work, have led to him being declared a Doctor of the Church.  His motto Cor ad cor loquitur (Heart speaks to heart) is a key to understanding the influence of St John Henry’s teaching, communicated to us at the deepest level of our being.  I pray that this day will hasten the canonisation of Blessed Dominic Barberi, who must be rejoicing that he was chosen to play his part in bringing Cardinal Newman into full communion with the Catholic Church.’

More details can be found HERE.