COMMENTARY: Meet some saints whose holiness and wisdom may earn them one of the Church’s rarest titles.
The Italian term papabile (“pope-able”) means “a likely candidate for the papacy.” It’s a relatively old word — the earliest documented use of the term is from the late Renaissance. The word appears in English for the first time after the 1823 conclave which elected Pope Leo XII.
Before Pope Leo XIV’s declaration naming him a Doctor of the Church, St. John Henry Newman had been doctorabile for a very long time — even from before he was canonized. His books have made a great impact on many lives, Catholic and otherwise.
The Church requires three characteristics for such recognition: First, holiness of life. Second, eminence in doctrine. Third, a universal impact on Christian teaching and spirituality. Newman’s life and writings exemplify these qualities in a way that resonates across the modern Church.
In addition to his academic and spiritual writings, Newman led a heroic life. His conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1845 entailed personal sacrifice, social ostracism and material hardship. Shunned by everyone who wasn’t Catholic, Newman had to suffer a great deal. Despite it all, he persevered in fidelity and humility.
Pope St. Paul VI praised Newman’s contributions to theology and Pope St. John Paul II described him as a “sure guide” for deepening the relationship between faith and reason. At Newman’s beatification in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI identified him as a master of integrating intellect and faith for the modern age. Pope Francis recognized Newman’s lasting impact on the Church at his canonization in 2019 and called him a pastor and teacher for our time.
As of Nov. 1, the Catholic Church now has 38 Doctors:
- St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202)
- St. Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373)
- St. Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306–373)
- St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315–367)
- St. Basil the Great (c. 329–379)
- St. Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390)
- St. Ambrose (c. 340–397)
- St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)
- St. Jerome (c. 347–420)
- St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386)
- St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)
- St. Peter Chrysologus (c. 380–450)
- St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461)
- St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)
- St. Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636)
- St. John of Damascus (c. 675–749)
- St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)
- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109)
- St. Peter Damian (1007–1072)
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
- St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
- St. Gregory of Narek (951–1003)
- St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231)
- St. Albert the Great (c. 1200–1280)
- St. Bonaventure (1221–1274)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
- St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380)
- St. Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)
- St. John of Ávila (1499–1569)
- St. Peter Canisius (1521–1597)
- St. John of the Cross (1542–1591)
- St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559–1619)
- St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
- St. Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621)
- St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787)
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)
- St. John Henry Newman (1801–1890)
Though no one can predict with any accuracy who will be the next Doctor after St. John Henry Newman, if anyone at the Vatican is reading this article and needs a new cause of saintly célèbre, the following are my picks for, to coin a word, dottorabíli (“candidate for Doctor of the Church”).
- Blessed John Duns Scotus (c. 1266–1308) – Franciscan theologian, “subtle doctor,” defender of the Immaculate Conception.
- Blessed Raymond Lull (1232–1316) – Logician, missionary and pioneer of interfaith dialogue.
- St. Bernardino of Siena (1380–1444) — Preacher on the Holy Name of Jesus. He revitalized lay spirituality and Franciscan reform across Italy.
- St. Bridget of Sweden (1303–1373) – Mystic and reformer with significant influence on late medieval piety.
- St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) – Reforming cardinal of Trent, model bishop, catechetical influence.
- St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, 1891–1942) – Philosopher and Carmelite nun, developed a profound Christian anthropology.
- St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) – Mystic and apostle of Divine Mercy, widely influential devotion.
- St. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302) – Benedictine mystic who offered profound insights into the Sacred Heart.
- St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213–c. 270) – Miracle worker and defender of Trinitarian faith.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) – Founder of the Jesuits, master of discernment and spiritual exercises.
- St. John Bosco (1815–1888) — Innovative Educator and Preacher who synthesized pastoral theology, pedagogy and spirituality in the formation of youth
- St. John Cassian (c. 360–435) – Spiritual master bridging Eastern monasticism and Western theology.
- St. Josemaría Escrivá (1902–1975) – Founder of Opus Dei, theology of sanctification in ordinary life.
- St. Julian of Norwich (1343–c. 1416) – English anchoress, first female writer in English with profound Trinitarian and Christological insights.
- St. Louis de Montfort (1673–1716) – Marian theologian and promoter of consecration to Mary.
- St. Maximus the Confessor (580–662) – Brilliant Christologist, defender of dyothelitism, foundational for Byzantine and Western theology.
- St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn (1241–1298) – Closely tied to Gertrude; contributions to mystical theology.
- St. Melito of Sardis (d. c. 180) – Influential early bishop, paschal homilist and apologist.
- St. Óscar Romero (1917–1980) – Archbishop and martyr, defender of justice and theological witness to the poor.
- St. Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) – Theologian of the body, philosopher and one of the most influential magisterial teachers of modern times.
- St. Theodore the Studite (759–826) – Defender of icons and monastic renewal.
- St. Thomas More (1478–1535) – Martyr and lay theologian of conscience, influential in Catholic humanism.
- St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660) – Reformer of charity, pastoral theology and clerical formation.
Consider learning more about these dottorabili and their writings. As Daniel 12:3 points out: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”