St. John of Avila

Pope Benedict has announced he will add the name of St. John of Avila to the Catholic Church's list of doctors of the Church.

At the end of an Aug. 20 Mass at World Youth Day with seminarians from around the world, the pope announced he soon would add the 16th-century Spanish saint to the short list of saints formally recognized for making a big mark on Catholic theology through their teaching and writing.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, described St. John of Avila, who lived 1500-1569, as "a great master of priestly spirituality," and an important influence on Spanish Catholic luminaries like St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.