The Holy See Press Office announced on July 31 that Pope Leo XIV, after meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, has formally approved the unanimous opinion of the cardinals and bishops of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Soon, the English cardinal will join the ranks of those honored for their theological and spiritual contributions to the Church across the centuries.

It’s a fitting recognition for a man whose writings and witness continue to shape modern Catholic thought. A theologian and philosopher, Newman was a soul in pursuit of truth, convinced that the Christian life is meant to be lived as a daily “heart-to-heart” with Christ. That phrase, in fact—Cor ad cor loquitur—became his motto, and it speaks volumes about how he saw the work of grace: not as an abstract concept, but as a personal invitation.

Born in 1801, Newman began his ministry as an Anglican priest and quickly earned a reputation for his brilliance. His words carried weight in both the pulpit and on the page. But his travels through Italy in 1832 stirred something deeper—a longing to know Christ not only through the mind, but through the richness of the early Church, the writings of the Fathers, and the fullness of Catholic tradition.

That longing bore fruit in 1845 with his conversion to Catholicism. In the years that followed, Newman would not only write some of the most influential theological works of the 19th century, like the “Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine,” but he would live out a quiet, faithful ministry to the people around him. He entered the Catholic Church not as a celebrity, but as a humble disciple. He became a priest, founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England, and poured his heart into forming a new generation of Catholics.

Despite setbacks and public criticism, Newman’s mind remained sharp and his heart undeterred. In 1879, Pope Leo XIII elevated him to the rank of cardinal. Newman wept when he heard the news. “The cloud is lifted forever,” he said.

He died on August 11, 1890, asking that his tomb bear only one line alongside his name: “From shadows and images into the Truth.” Pope Benedict XVI beatified him in 2010, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2019.

Newman simply wanted to follow Christ wherever that path led. And as Pope Francis noted, it was not Newman’s intelligence alone that brought him to the heart of the Church, but his prayer. He encountered Christ most deeply in the Eucharist. It was there, in silence and in presence, that he found peace and meaning.

Now, the man who once asked to be received into the Catholic Church is being recognized as one of her greatest teachers.