Pope to declare Spanish saint 'doctor' of church

[August 20, 2011]  MADRID (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday he would soon confer one of the Catholic Church's highest honors on an influential 16th-century Spanish saint, making a surprise announcement during a Mass at the church's world youth festival.

Benedict drew sustained applause from the seminarians, priests, bishops and cardinals gathered in Madrid's main cathedral when he announced at the end of the service that he would "soon" declare St. John of Avila a doctor of the church. Such a title is reserved for those churchmen and women whose scholarly writings have greatly served the universal church.

There are currently 33 such doctors, including St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and St. Teresa of Avila. Pope John Paul II added St. Therese of Lisieux to the list in 1997, the last time one was proclaimed.

St. John of Avila, who lived from 1500-1569, is the patron saint of Spain's diocesan clergy and was considered one of the greatest preachers of his time. In announcing his decision to declare St. John a church doctor, Benedict appeared to be giving the priesthood -- tarnished by the clerical sex abuse scandal -- a model of holiness, intellectual rigor and piety.

"In making this announcement here, I would hope that the word and the example of this outstanding pastor will enlighten all priests and those who look forward to the day of their priestly ordination," Benedict said.

Later Saturday, Benedict is to preside over a vigil service with the estimated 500,000 young people who have gathered in Madrid for the church's World Youth Day, a weeklong religious festival that culminates Sunday with a final Mass on a great airport field. It isn't clear if media estimates that 1 million people might attend the Mass will bear out.

Overnight, riot police once again clashed with protesters opposed to the pope's visit, charging several groups that had been trying to reach the Puerta del Sol square late Friday.

Several hundred protesters had gathered outside the Atocha train station aiming to march toward Sol but were stopped before they reached their destination by police blocking the route.

[Associated Press; By NICOLE WINFIELD]

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