In preparation for the proclamation of Saint John Henry Newman as a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV, the International Centre of Newman Friends – in cooperation with the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, the National Institute of Newman Studies and the De Nicola Centre of the University of Notre Dame – organized an academic symposium entitled ‘Saint John Henry Newman. Doctor of the Universal Church: His Relevance Today’. The symposium took place on 31 October 2025 at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Newman experts from around the world helped the numerous participants to understand the striking importance of this new Doctor of the Church for today’s challenges.
After the official welcome by Fr Mark Lewis SJ, Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, a letter from Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute of the Secretariat of State, to the Director of the Newman Centre was read. Through this letter, which highlights Newman’s relevance in many areas of the Church’s mission, the Holy Father conveyed heartfelt greetings and God’s blessing on the participants of the symposium (➞link to the letter).
The two sessions in the morning featured several lectures on the thought of the new Doctor of the Church. The first session, chaired by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, was devoted to the importance of the Church Fathers for Newman (Joseph Carola SJ) and the development of his ecclesiology (Kathleen Dietz FSO). The contributions to the second session, opened by Bishop Emeritus Edoardo Cerrato CO, dealt with the central theme of the development of Christian doctrine according to Newman (Hermann Geissler FSO) and his balanced vision, which can be summarized with Gabriel Marcel’s expression ‘fidelité créatrice’ (Nicolas Steeves SJ).
The two afternoon sessions, introduced by Prof. Donna Orsuto and Prof. Kenneth Parker, featured short presentations on specific topics by experts who had contributed to the preparation of the Positio on Newman’s eminent teaching: development, its reception and impact (Kenneth Parker, C. Michael Shea); ecumenism and interreligious dialogue (Christopher Cimorelli); faith, reason, and assent (Fred Aquino, Logan Gage, Andrew Meszaros); scriptural inspiration (Matthew Muller); Newman’s patristic formation and its consequences (Benjamin King); the Magisterium (Ryan Marr); conscience (Bernard Dive); education (Paul Shrimpton); the sensus fidelium (Jennifer Martin); a synodal Church (Shaun Blanchard); new evangelization (Geertjan Zuijdwegt); Newman as preacher (Eamon Duffy); and Newman as mystic (Brian Hughes).
In this way, the participants gained an overview of Newman’s obvious relevance for our times and the many reasons for his proclamation as Doctor of the Church. Sr. Lutgart Govaert FSO, herself an expert on Newman, translated all the presentations and subsequent discussions into Italian.
The symposium ended with Newman’s famous hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light’ sang by the Sisters of the Work and all participants (see video).
All contributions to the symposium are available on the YouTube channel @UniGregoriana.