vatican Honors Theologian John Henry Newman with New Stamp, Recognizing “Doctor of the Church” Status
VATICAN CITY – November 7, 2023 – The Vatican Postal Service today issued a 1.35 euro stamp commemorating Saint John Henry Newman, a 19th-century theologian and cardinal recently recognized as a Doctor of the Church.The release coincides with continued veneration of Newman, canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019, and beatified by Benedict XVI on september 19, 2010.
Newman (1801-1890), described by the Vatican as “a luminous figure of the modern Church and a tireless witness to the sincere search for truth,” initially served as an Anglican pastor and key figure in the Oxford movement, seeking to rediscover the roots of the Church of England. He converted to Catholicism in 1845 and was ordained a priest in 1847.
Following his ordination, Newman founded the Oratory of Saint Philip neri in Birmingham, establishing a center for prayer, study, and outreach. his prolific writings are lauded for their “exceptional theological and spiritual depth,” and are credited with considerably contributing “to the dialog between faith and reason and to the reflection on the role of conscience as a place of encounter between man and God.”
Pope Leo XIII elevated Newman to the rank of cardinal in 1879. The designation as a Doctor of the Church acknowledges his profound and influential theological contributions.
The stamp,printed in a run of 67,000 specimens arranged in sheets of ten,features a portrait by Raul Berzosa. The cancellation design is the work of Edgar Owen Jennings. the appearance of Newman on a Vatican stamp was, according to reports, an unplanned but welcome addition to the postal service’s offerings.