Pope Leo XIV by Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com
During his Sept. 28 Angelus address in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV announced he will confer the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint John Henry Newman on Nov. 1 and prayed for victims of a powerful typhoon that recently struck Asia.
The announcement came during a Jubilee celebration dedicated to catechists, where the Pope greeted pilgrims and thanked those serving in the ministry.
“Together with you, I extend my good wishes for a fruitful service to all catechists in the Church throughout the world!” the Pope said. “Thank you for your service to the Church. Let us pray for them, especially for those who work in difficult conditions. God bless you all!”
He also spoke about the devastation from the typhoon that struck the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Vietnam. He urged the faithful to “trust in God and to show solidarity with others” and prayed for strength and courage for those facing loss.
“I assure the affected populations, especially the poorest, of my closeness and of my prayers for the victims, the missing, the many displaced families, the countless people who have suffered hardship, as well as the rescue workers and civil authorities,” he said.
Typhoon Ragasa forced more than two million people to evacuate in Guangdong alone and has caused at least 25 deaths in the Philippines and 14 in Taiwan, Vatican News reported.
The Holy Father then announced the decision regarding St. John Henry Newman, the English cardinal and convert canonized in 2019. Pope Leo first confirmed plans to declare him a Doctor of the Church on July 31.
“I am pleased to announce that on November 1, during the Jubilee of the World of Education, I will confer the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint John Henry Newman, who contributed decisively to the renewal of theology and to the understanding of the development of Christian doctrine,” he said.
Born in 1801, St. John Henry Newman became an Anglican priest at the age of 24 before converting to Catholicism in 1845, according to Vatican News. Two years later, he was ordained a Catholic priest and went on to become a leading figure in theology.
>> 5 great quotes from Saint John Henry Newman, whom Pope Leo will name Doctor of the Church <<
Concluding the address, Pope Leo invited the faithful to entrust themselves to the Virgin Mary.
“Let us now entrust ourselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary,” he said. “May she, who was the mother and first disciple of Jesus, sustain the Church’s commitment to proclaim the faith today.”
