“An inspiration to new generations” - Pope declares St John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church and co-patron of Catholic education
Posted 3 November, 2025
St John Henry Newman is considered one of the great modern thinkers of Christianity
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed Saint John Henry Newman, the first Rector of the Catholic University of Ireland, the antecedent institution of University College Dublin, a Doctor of the Church.
During mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican on the Feast of All Saints, the Pontiff said it was “a great joy to include Saint John Henry Newman among the Doctors of the Church… [and] to name him, together with Saint Thomas Aquinas, as co-Patron of the Church’s educational mission”.
He drew a connection between the two saints, who, though separated by six centuries, were united by the mission of teaching within the Catholic Church, he said.
“Newman’s impressive spiritual and cultural stature will surely serve as an inspiration to new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite, and who, through research and knowledge, are willing to undertake that journey which, as the ancients said, takes us per aspera ad astra, through difficulties to the stars.”
The title of ‘Doctor of the Church’ is given by the Catholic Church to saints recognised as having made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their research, study, or writing.
Saint John Henry Newman is viewed as one of the great modern thinkers of Christianity, and is equally known in higher education for his views on learning in university communities through his lectures on university education, later published as The Idea of a University.
As the 38th person in the 2,000-year-old history of the Church to receive the title, he joins other influential philosophers and theologians such as St Gregory the Great, St Jerome, St Augustine of Hippo, St Catherine of Siena, and St Thérèse of Lisieux.
This morning, we were delighted to join the delegation from (opens in a new window)@ucddublin ; Vice President Prof. Colin Scott & Prof. Imelda Maher for Mass to mark (opens in a new window)#jubileeofeducation during which St. John Henry Newman, founder & first Rector of UCD, was declared Doctor of the Church by (opens in a new window)@Pontifex . (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/nGY3zpEzFM
— IrishEmbassy HolySee (@IrlEmbHolySee) (opens in a new window)November 1, 2025
Representing the UCD in the Vatican for the papal proclamation were UCD Registrar and Deputy President, (opens in a new window)Professor Colin Scott, and UCD Dean of Law, (opens in a new window)Professor Imelda Maher.
“St John Henry Newman is remembered every day in UCD through buildings named for him, a research centre and a student society," said Professor Scott.
"However, his enduring impact is setting an ethos which values learning across and between all disciplines and emphasises the importance of developing the whole student through formal learning and extracurricular activity.
"Newman’s ideas continue to animate initiatives in the modern University College Dublin focused on Learning for LIfe and UCD Student Experience which support students, in Newman’s own phrases, with enlargement of mind and human flourishing.”
Eight students from the (opens in a new window)UCD Newman Society, including a representative of the (opens in a new window)UCD Literary & Historical Society (L&H) - founded in 1855 by Saint John Henry Newman - were afforded the opportunity to meet with the Pope as part of the visit thanks to the efforts of UCD chaplain Fr. Brendan Ludlow, who also concelebrated the Mass.
Saint John Henry Newman founded the Catholic University in 1854. It became secular in 1908 and was renamed University College Dublin.
In the same year, Dr Denis J. Coffey was the first layperson to be appointed President of this new university. He served in the position until 1940 when he was succeeded by Dr Arthur W. Conway.
In 1947, the next UCD President Dr Michael Tierney envisioned the relocation of the University to its current home at Belfield.
UCD has grown substantially in scale and societal impact since it was first founded.
Today, it is Ireland’s largest and most influential university with a student population of over 38,000 and more than 334,000 alumni across 184 countries.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
