The Cause of the Canonisation of John Henry Cardinal Newman

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Cardinal Avery Dulles R.I.P.: Latest Condolences

Categorised as News and published Monday, December 15th, 2008
Avery Dulles, Cardinal and Newman Scholar, dies at 90
Christmas Message from the Actor

Cardinal Dulles, pictured in Birmingham, England

Condolences from around the world have been made following the death of Cardinal Avery Dulles on Friday 12 December. He was 90.

Cardinal Dulles remarked in 2002 that he had been “greatly influenced” by the writings of John Henry Newman over “many decades”.

In a telegram to Cardinal Thomas Egan, Pope Benedict XVI said that he had “learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Avery Dulles”, and “joined in commending the late Cardinal’s noble soul to God, the Father of Mercies”. The Holy Father noted “with immense gratitude” Cardinal Dulles’ “deep learning, serene judgment and unfailing love of the Lord and his Church” which “marked his entire priestly ministry and his long years of teaching and theological research”. He went on to pray “that his convincing personal testimony to the harmony of faith and reason will continue to bear fruit for the conversion of minds and hearts and the progress of the gospel for many years to come.”

In England, Father Paul Chavasse, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory, and Actor of the Cause for Cardinal Newman’s Canonisation, said: “It was just five years ago, in December 2003, that Cardinal Dulles visited the Oratory in Birmingham”. Father Chavasse revealed that the American Cardinal was “both moved and fascinated” to see Newman’s rooms and library at the Oratory. In fact, as Father Chavasse noted, the “life and thought” of John Henry Newman had been for Cardinal Dulles “a very important influence on his own theological vision”. Father Chavasse concluded: “May he rest in peace”.

The Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of Vatican City State, described Dulles as a “theologian creative in his fidelity”, in an article published after his death.

In his 2002 book on Newman, Dulles spoke of the English Cardinal’s “depth of thought, breadth of knowledge, and keen sense of history”. It was while writing this book that Dulles himself was created a Cardinal.

John Henry Newman and Avery Dulles had notable points in common: they were both converts to Catholicism from other Christian traditions, both theologians, and both Cardinals of the Roman Church.