Rome, August 1, 2025 – Here are this week’s most important updates from the Holy Father and the Vatican.
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St. John Henry Newman to Be Declared Doctor of the Church
On August 31st, Pope Leo XIV approved the decision to declare St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. The 19th-century English saint was a former Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism and became the founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England. He joins just 37 other saints — including four women — who have received the title. The designation recognizes a canonized saint’s significant contribution to the Church’s knowledge of doctrine, theology, and spirituality.
New Director for Vatican Observatory
Jesuit priest and astronomer Fr. Richard Anthony D’Souza will be the new director of the Vatican Observatory. The Indian priest succeeds Br. Guy Consolmagno, also a Jesuit, whose ten-year mandate ends next month. Born in Goa in 1978, Fr. D’Souza joined the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained a priest in 2011 after completing studies at the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology in India.
Pope Leo XIV Addresses Youth and Digital Missionaries
On Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV surprised thousands of young people in St. Peter’s Square and welcomed them to the Jubilee of Youth after the opening Mass. He reminded them of Jesus’s words from the Gospel of Matthew: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” The Pope said, “The world needs messages of hope. You are this message and you must continue to give hope to everyone."
The Holy Father also participated in the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers. During Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, he encouraged participants to create “encounters between hearts” regardless of how many followers they have. More than a thousand Catholics from different countries took part in the event.
Catholic Music Awards Debut in Rome
The first-ever Catholic Music Awards brought musicians from around the world to Rome. The international event aims to promote, encourage, and recognize the talent of Catholic singers. It seeks to celebrate the Catholic faith and honor artists who evangelize through music. Finalists were evaluated based on content, artistic value, and technical professionalism. The final decision was made by an international jury of more than 60 experts from around the world.
Among the winners was Nathalí Paredes Lozano, a singer-songwriter and anchor for EWTN Noticias, the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News. She won Best Praise and Worship Song in the Spanish category.
Andreas Thonhauser is EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief. He holds an MBA from WU Executive Academy and a Master’s in German Philology and Americanistics from the University of Vienna. He previously worked in media and as Director of External Affairs for a global human rights organization, and for several media outlets in Vienna, Austria.
