A Doctor of the Church is a title given by the Catholic Church to saints who have made significant contributions to theology or doctrine through their research, study, or writing. The title is also referred to as Doctor of the Universal Church or Doctor Ecclesiae Universalis in Latin. The Catholic Church recognizes 36 saints as Doctors of the Church, whose writings and teachings have special authority and are considered true and timeless. The first four Doctors of the Church were recognized by Pope Boniface VIII in the 13th century, and since then, the Church has added many more names to the original four. The requirements for being named a Doctor of the Church include great sanctity, eminent learning, and a proclamation by the Church, usually made by the pope. Being named a Doctor of the Church does not imply that all their writings are free from error, but rather that the whole body of their work, taken together, serves to advance the cause of Christ and his Church.