Proclamation of St John of Avila and St Hildegarde of Bingen as "Doctors of the Church"

[Papal Encyclicals Online webmaster]

Pope Benedict XVI recently named St John of Avila and St Hildegard of Bingen as "Doctors of the Church". The title of Doctor of the Church is bestowed upon a saint whose writings are deemed to be of universal importance to the Church. The Pope must also declare the individual to be of “eminent learning” and “great sanctity.” 

This brings the number of Doctors of the Church to thirty-five. Among the other doctors are St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis de Sales, St Thomas Aquinas, and St. Catherine of Siena.

A link to Pope Benedict XVI's proclamation may be found on the Papal Encyclicals Online homepage. 

http://www.papalencyclicals.net

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