For the first time in nearly eight centuries, the face of one of Christianity’s most influential thinkers has been revealed. St. Thomas Aquinas, the great theologian and philosopher whose teachings continue to shape Catholic doctrine and Christian theology, has been brought to life through a groundbreaking scientific reconstruction.

Alongside this remarkable revelation, a new study has also shed light on the long-debated mystery surrounding his death, suggesting that a traumatic brain injury, rather than illness or assassination, was the likely cause.

Born in the 13th century, St. Thomas Aquinas is revered as one of the greatest minds in Christian history. His work, Summa Theologica, remains a cornerstone of Catholic theology, offering a synthesis of faith and reason that continues to influence scholars, theologians, and even legal experts today.

Aquinas’ famous Five Ways presented logical arguments for the existence of God, blending Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine. His emphasis on reason as a path to understanding divine truth reshaped not only religious thought but also secular philosophy, linking morality to human nature and exploring the role of government in relation to personal freedom.

The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy calls him “the most influential thinker of the medieval period,” and his impact continues to be felt in theological and philosophical circles.

Now, after 750 years, modern forensic science has given the world a glimpse of Aquinas’ likely appearance. Using advanced digital reconstruction techniques, a team of scientists analyzed the saint’s skull—housed in Toulouse, France—to create a detailed facial image.

Lead researcher Cicero Moraes explained the process:

“We initially reconstructed the skull from photographic and structural data. The skull did not have teeth or a jaw, so we had to project these structures based on CT scans of living individuals.”

The team used anatomical deformation, a technique that involves digitally mapping facial features onto the skull using data from contemporary human subjects. Skin thickness and facial structure were estimated based on similar skeletal dimensions.

The result? A “humble” face, according to Moraes—a fitting description for a man who devoted his life to faith, reason, and scholarship.

Alongside the facial reconstruction, new research has also uncovered a compelling theory about Aquinas’ death.

Historical accounts describe how Aquinas, en route to the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, suffered a severe head injury when he struck a fallen tree while traveling from Naples. Though he initially appeared to recover, he soon fell gravely ill and passed away weeks later at the Abbey of Fossanova.

Medical experts now believe he suffered a chronic subdural hematoma, a condition in which blood slowly accumulates between the brain and skull after trauma. The study, published in World Neurosurgery, explains how his gradual decline fits the typical symptoms of this condition.

“Aquinas was not ill prior to the head injury, and the violent collision with the tree on the Via Latina marked the beginning of his demise,” the researchers wrote.

They ruled out theories of poisoning, assassination, or an infectious disease, noting that the symptoms described by historical witnesses closely match those of a slow-progressing brain hemorrhage.

Though Aquinas’ life was cut short, his influence has endured for centuries. His teachings continue to shape Catholic doctrine, theological education, and even modern philosophical and legal thought.

José Luis Lira, a co-author of the study, summed up his impact:

“Scholasticism, which reconciles Christianity with a system of rational thought, especially that of Greek philosophy, has as its essential work Aquinas’ Summa Theologica… His teachings underpin the Christian faith, which is essentially what he desired as a priest.”