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Why is Thomas More considered the patron saint of lawyers and politicians?

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Portrait of Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein the Younger, showing More in dark robes and a black hat, wearing a gold chain of office, seated against a green and yellow draped background. — Thomas More *Sir Thomas More*, oil on panel by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1527; in the Frick Collection, New York City.

Thomas More is recognized as the patron saint of lawyers, statesmen, and politicians due to his integrity and commitment to his conscience while serving in high government office.12

As a prominent humanist and the lord chancellor of England, More navigated complex political landscapes while maintaining his moral principles. His eventual martyrdom in 1535, which resulted from his refusal to accept King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England, solidified his legacy as a figure who prioritized his faith and conscience over political expediency.234

While he was long venerated as the patron saint of lawyers, Pope John Paul II formally declared him the patron of statesmen and politicians in 2000. His life serves as an enduring example of the ethical challenges inherent in public service, emphasizing the importance of remaining "the king’s good servant and God’s first".14