On February 3, 2026, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a decree by which the Pope formally included  Saint John Henry Newman  in the  General Roman Calendar . From now on, the entire Church may optionally celebrate his liturgical memorial on  October 9 , the date that commemorates his conversion to Catholicism in 1845.

The document, signed on November 9, 2025 (Solemnity of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica) by Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery, and by Archbishop Vittorio Viola, Secretary, establishes that this celebration be incorporated into all liturgical calendars and books of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the world.

A thinker who found peace in the Catholic Church

The decree emphasizes that “the benevolent light of divine grace” guided John Henry Newman to discover full communion within the Catholic Church. Throughout his life, the saint dedicated himself tirelessly to theological reflection, preaching, teaching, and service to the most needy. His thought left behind works of great value in the theological and ecclesial spheres, in addition to numerous poetic and spiritual compositions.

The text emphasizes that Newman’s life represents a constant journey toward truth, passing “from shadows and images to the fullness of light.” For this reason, he is recognized today as “a radiant light” for the Church and is officially included among the Doctors of the Church in the universal calendar.

Proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 2025

This liturgical step comes a few months after a historic moment: on  November 1, 2025 , the Solemnity of All Saints and the Jubilee Year for Education, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Saint John Henry Newman  a Doctor of the Church . On the same occasion, he designated him  co-patron  —along with Saint Thomas Aquinas—of all those involved in education.

The choice of  October 9  as the date of his memory is not accidental: on that day in 1845 Newman, who had been an Anglican pastor and prominent leader of the Oxford Movement, definitively embraced the Catholic faith.

A life marked by the search for truth

Born in London on February 21, 1801, into an Anglican family, Newman was ordained a minister in the Church of England in 1825 and served as a vicar at Oxford University. During the 1830s, he spearheaded the Oxford Movement, along with other thinkers, with the aim of renewing the spiritual and doctrinal life of his Church.

After years of deep reflection and inner crisis, he entered the Catholic Church in October 1845. Two years later, in 1847, he was ordained a priest in Rome. Influenced by Saint Philip Neri, he founded the Congregation of the Oratory in England, where he carried out much of his ministry.

In 1879, Pope Leo XIII created him a cardinal. He died in Birmingham on August 11, 1890. His beatification process culminated in 2010 under the pontificate of Benedict XVI, and he was canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019.

Liturgical texts now available

The decree includes the liturgical texts in Latin (collect, proper readings, antiphons and prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as the entry in the Roman Martyrology). These must be translated, adapted, and approved by the Episcopal Conferences, following the guidelines and confirmation of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

With this decision, Saint John Henry Newman —theologian, educator, poet and pastor— becomes a permanent part of the universal liturgical memory, offering his example of a sincere search for truth and fidelity to the grace of God.