diff --git a/gnu/packages/augeas.scm b/gnu/packages/augeas.scm
index 0b3233e960e..8a784f48175 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/augeas.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/augeas.scm
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
                 "1zzdp5bwnszza5q6cjw66hkicay8b49n5pda7cbcgfg4hbbzv2rn"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list libxml2-next))
+     (list libxml2))
     (native-inputs
      (list readline pkg-config))
     (home-page "https://augeas.net")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm b/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
index 5d218e6a690..ef285ddf835 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
@@ -23600,7 +23600,7 @@ The output is in SAM format.")
                                #$(this-package-input "libxml2")
                                "/include/libxml2"))))
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list libxml2-next))
+     (list libxml2))
     (native-inputs
      (list check swig))
     (home-page "https://sbml.org/Software/libSBML")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/elf.scm b/gnu/packages/elf.scm
index 40558a4c6ca..0b435993ef4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/elf.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/elf.scm
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ object or archive file), @command{eu-strip} (for discarding symbols),
      (list pkg-config texinfo python-sphinx python))
     (propagated-inputs
      (list elfutils ;libabigail.la says -lelf
-           libxml2-next))           ;in Requires.private of libabigail.pc
+           libxml2))           ;in Requires.private of libabigail.pc
     (synopsis "Analyze application binary interfaces (ABIs)")
     (description
      "@dfn{ABIGAIL} stands for the Application Binary Interface Generic
diff --git a/gnu/packages/engineering.scm b/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
index 0d5748b3c0d..f398fab48b5 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
@@ -1566,8 +1566,7 @@ use on a given system.")
            parallel
            perl
            pkg-config
-           python-wrapper
-           python-libxml2))
+           python-wrapper))
     (inputs
      (list pcre2))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm b/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
index 89a0a0f6ec8..d5589fba198 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
@@ -2234,7 +2234,7 @@ between protocols to provide a unified interface for applications.")
       (inputs (list sqlite))
       (propagated-inputs
        ;; telepathy-logger-0.2.pc refers to all these.
-       (list libxml2-next telepathy-glib))
+       (list libxml2 telepathy-glib))
       (synopsis "Telepathy logger library")
       (home-page "https://telepathy.freedesktop.org/")
       (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gl.scm b/gnu/packages/gl.scm
index 255b4526243..ae2abd3bd1f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gl.scm
@@ -357,7 +357,6 @@ also known as DXTn or DXTC) for Mesa.")
             glslang
             libclc
             pkg-config
-            python-libxml2              ;for OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0 support
             python-mako
             python-ply
             python-pyyaml
diff --git a/gnu/packages/glib.scm b/gnu/packages/glib.scm
index 8347359a846..acdf9268cda 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/glib.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/glib.scm
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ The intltool collection can be used to do these things:
                "1jl7gsr7aclb9nvqazr039m86y7f7ivfhl2pixcrbfqjkb97r6kb"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (inputs
-     (list bash-minimal libxml2 python-libxml2 python))
+     (list bash-minimal libxml2 python))
     (arguments
      (list
       #:phases
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ by GDBus included in Glib.")
                          pkg-config
                          vala))
     (inputs (list check python python-pygobject))
-    (propagated-inputs (list glib libxml2-next sqlite))
+    (propagated-inputs (list glib libxml2 sqlite))
     (arguments
      (list #:tests? #f                  ;one test fails.
            #:imported-modules `((guix build python-build-system)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index bff88c49477..bca1a8d22ab 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ services.")
                                                      "/share/gtk-doc/html"))))
     (native-inputs (list docbook-xml-4.1.2 gobject-introspection gtk-doc/stable
                          pkg-config))
-    (propagated-inputs (list glib libsoup-minimal-2 libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+    (propagated-inputs (list glib libsoup-minimal-2 libxml2))
     (synopsis "Glib library for feeds")
     (description "LibGRSS is a Glib abstraction to handle feeds in RSS, Atom,
 and other formats.")
@@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ Library reference documentation.")
      ;; These inputs are required by the pkg-config file.
      (list glib
            libsoup
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+           libxml2))
     (synopsis "WebDav server implementation using libsoup")
     (description "PhoDav was initially developed as a file-sharing mechanism for Spice,
 but it is generic enough to be reused in other projects,
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ a debugging tool, @command{gssdp-device-sniffer}.")
            gsettings-desktop-schemas    ;for ‘org.gnome.system.proxy’.
            gssdp
            libsoup
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+           libxml2))
     (synopsis "PnP API for GNOME")
     (description "This package provides GUPnP, an object-oriented framework
 for creating UPnP devices and control points, written in C using
@@ -2018,7 +2018,7 @@ and system administrators.")
       (inputs
        (list graphene
              gtk+
-             libxml2-next-for-grafting
+             libxml2
              libxslt
              poppler
              python-minimal
@@ -2068,7 +2068,7 @@ formats like PNG, SVG, PDF and EPS.")
        ("json-glib" ,json-glib)
        ("liboauth" ,liboauth)
        ("libsoup" ,libsoup-minimal-2)
-       ("libxml2" ,libxml2-next-for-grafting)))
+       ("libxml2" ,libxml2)))
     (home-page "https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/libgdata")
     (synopsis "Library for accessing online service APIs")
     (description
@@ -3600,7 +3600,7 @@ XML/CSS rendering engine.")
            zlib))
     (propagated-inputs
      (list glib
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+           libxml2))
     (synopsis "G Structured File Library")
     (description "Libgsf aims to provide an efficient extensible I/O abstraction
 for dealing with different structured file formats.")
@@ -4215,7 +4215,7 @@ ported to GTK+.")
     (inputs
      (list python)) ;; needed for the optional libglade-convert program
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list gtk+-2 libxml2-next-for-grafting)) ; required by libglade-2.0.pc
+     (list gtk+-2 libxml2)) ; required by libglade-2.0.pc
     (native-inputs
      (list pkg-config))
     (home-page "https://developer.gnome.org/libglade")
@@ -4254,7 +4254,7 @@ widgets built in the loading process.")
                ;; Therefore we must do it.
                (zero? (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb ~a &" xorg-server disp)))))))))
     ;; Mentioned as Required by the .pc file
-    (propagated-inputs (list libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+    (propagated-inputs (list libxml2))
     (inputs
      (list popt pangox-compat libgnome libgnomecanvas libglade))
     (native-inputs
@@ -4911,7 +4911,7 @@ GLib and GObject, and integrates JSON with GLib data types.")
        ("libtool" ,libtool)))
     (propagated-inputs
      ;; Required by libxklavier.pc.
-     (list glib libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+     (list glib libxml2))
     (inputs
      (list iso-codes/pinned libxi libxkbfile xkbcomp xkeyboard-config))
     (home-page "https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/LibXklavier/")
@@ -5040,7 +5040,7 @@ files.")
      (list `(,glib "bin") gobject-introspection pkg-config))
     (propagated-inputs
      ;; rest-0.7.pc refers to all these.
-     (list glib libsoup-minimal-2 libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+     (list glib libsoup-minimal-2 libxml2))
     (home-page "https://www.gtk.org/")
     (synopsis "RESTful web api query library")
     (description
@@ -5202,7 +5202,7 @@ as OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap, OpenAerialMap and Maps.")
            libpsl
            nghttp2 ;for pkg-config
            `(,nghttp2 "lib")
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting
+           libxml2
            sqlite
            zlib))
     (inputs
@@ -6010,7 +6010,7 @@ service via the system message bus.")
      (list gtk+
            gdk-pixbuf
            json-glib
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting
+           libxml2
            libsoup
            geocode-glib))
     (inputs
@@ -6129,7 +6129,7 @@ settings, themes, mouse settings, and startup of other daemons.")
     (list intltool
           `(,glib "bin") gobject-introspection pkg-config))
    (propagated-inputs
-    (list glib gmime libarchive libgcrypt libxml2-next-for-grafting))
+    (list glib gmime libarchive libgcrypt libxml2))
    (inputs
     (list libsoup))
    (home-page "https://projects.gnome.org/totem")
@@ -8114,7 +8114,7 @@ to display dialog boxes from the commandline and shell scripts.")
            libxext
            libxfixes
            libxkbcommon
-           libxml2-next-for-grafting
+           libxml2
            libxrandr
            mesa
            pango
@@ -8940,7 +8940,7 @@ the available networks and allows users to easily switch between them.")
         (base32 "0gp8irc5ny9i6bw9fp21p8djgksi1s8l5flbn5blisgfpcb2w820"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list libxml2-next-for-grafting))  ;required by .pc file
+     (list libxml2))  ;required by .pc file
     (native-inputs
      (list autoconf
            automake
@@ -13877,7 +13877,7 @@ developed with the aim of being used with the Librem 5 phone.")
            sqlite
            vala))
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list libxml2-next-for-grafting))  ; required by libgda-5.0.pc
+     (list libxml2))  ; required by libgda-5.0.pc
     (home-page "https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libgda")
     (synopsis "Uniform data access")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gtk.scm b/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
index 2899b4bc699..e9bdb59964f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ diagrams.")
            fribidi
            glib
            gtk
-           libxml2-next
+           libxml2
            pango
            pcre2))
     (home-page "https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GtkSourceView")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/image-processing.scm b/gnu/packages/image-processing.scm
index 9f2f1afd454..520ceeb0d8f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/image-processing.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/image-processing.scm
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ the OpenCV-Python library.")
            libpng
            (librsvg-for-system)
            libtiff
-           libxml2-next
+           libxml2
            libwebp
            matio
            openexr
diff --git a/gnu/packages/libreoffice.scm b/gnu/packages/libreoffice.scm
index a0b3cd353ae..a23b980bdf6 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/libreoffice.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/libreoffice.scm
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ into other word processors.")
     (native-inputs
      (list cppunit gperf pkg-config))
     (propagated-inputs ; in Requires or Requires.private field of .pkg
-     (list icu4c liblangtag librevenge libxml2-next))
+     (list icu4c liblangtag librevenge libxml2))
     (inputs
       (list boost))
     (arguments
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ working with graphics in the WPG (WordPerfect Graphics) format.")
     (native-inputs
      (list autoconf automake libtool cppunit pkg-config))
     (propagated-inputs                  ;in Requires field of .pkg
-     (list curl libxml2-next))
+     (list curl libxml2))
     (inputs
      (list boost cyrus-sasl openssl))
     (arguments
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ as Alfresco or Nuxeo.")
     (native-inputs
      (list doxygen gperf perl pkg-config))
     (propagated-inputs ; in Requires or Requires.private field of .pkg
-     (list librevenge libxml2-next))
+     (list librevenge libxml2))
     (inputs
      (list boost))
     (home-page "https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/DLP/Libraries/libabw")
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ CorelDRAW documents of all versions.")
     (native-inputs
      (list cppunit doxygen gperf pkg-config))
     (propagated-inputs ; in Requires or Requires.private field of .pkg
-     (list liblangtag librevenge libxml2-next zlib))
+     (list liblangtag librevenge libxml2 zlib))
     (inputs
      (list boost glm mdds))
     (home-page "https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/DLP/Libraries/libetonyek")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/mate.scm b/gnu/packages/mate.scm
index 286252b6ed0..64f92318362 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/mate.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/mate.scm
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ desktop and the mate-about program.")
     (propagated-inputs
      ;; both of these are requires.private in mateweather.pc
      (list libsoup-minimal-2
-           libxml2-next))
+           libxml2))
     (home-page "https://mate-desktop.org/")
     (synopsis "MATE library for weather information from the Internet")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
index 26ea6d55fe7..65de945b71d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ XMPP-based sessions.")
            gtk-doc/stable
            pkg-config))
     (inputs (list libxcrypt ncurses))
-    (propagated-inputs (list glib libxml2-next))
+    (propagated-inputs (list glib libxml2))
     (synopsis "GLib Ncurses Toolkit")
     (description "GNT is an ncurses toolkit for creating text-mode graphical
 user interfaces in a fast and easy way.  It is based on GLib and ncurses.")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/patches/python-libxml2-utf8.patch b/gnu/packages/patches/python-libxml2-utf8.patch
index e39672faa1b..9c4ca4fdb29 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/patches/python-libxml2-utf8.patch
+++ b/gnu/packages/patches/python-libxml2-utf8.patch
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ that 'itstool' stumbles upon when processing UTF-8 data:
 Patch by Jan Matejek
 from <https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1065270>.
 
---- libxml2-2.9.5.orig/python/libxml.c
-+++ libxml2-2.9.5/python/libxml.c
-@@ -1620,6 +1620,7 @@ libxml_xmlErrorFuncHandler(ATTRIBUTE_UNU
+--- a/python/libxml.c
++++ b/python/libxml.c
+@@ -1499,6 +1499,7 @@ libxml_xmlErrorFuncHandler(ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED void *ctx, const char *msg,
      PyObject *message;
      PyObject *result;
      char str[1000];
 +    unsigned char *ptr = (unsigned char *)str;
  
- #ifdef DEBUG_ERROR
-     printf("libxml_xmlErrorFuncHandler(%p, %s, ...) called\n", ctx, msg);
-@@ -1636,12 +1637,20 @@ libxml_xmlErrorFuncHandler(ATTRIBUTE_UNU
- 	    str[999] = 0;
+     if (libxml_xmlPythonErrorFuncHandler == NULL) {
+         va_start(ap, msg);
+@@ -1510,12 +1511,20 @@ libxml_xmlErrorFuncHandler(ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED void *ctx, const char *msg,
+            str[999] = 0;
          va_end(ap);
  
 +#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from <https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1065270>.
 -        message = libxml_charPtrConstWrap(str);
 +        message = libxml_charPtrConstWrap(ptr);
          PyTuple_SetItem(list, 1, message);
-         result = PyEval_CallObject(libxml_xmlPythonErrorFuncHandler, list);
+         result = PyObject_CallObject(libxml_xmlPythonErrorFuncHandler, list);
 +        /* Forget any errors caused in the error handler. */
 +        PyErr_Clear();
          Py_XDECREF(list);
diff --git a/gnu/packages/rdesktop.scm b/gnu/packages/rdesktop.scm
index d341c59e629..bfb0bb82b55 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/rdesktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/rdesktop.scm
@@ -252,8 +252,7 @@ of parts of the Windows API.")
                   linux-pam
                   openssl
                   pixman
-                  python
-                  python-libxml2))
+                  python))
     (native-inputs
      (append
        (list bison
diff --git a/gnu/packages/virtualization.scm b/gnu/packages/virtualization.scm
index a06082d9503..2f19b50d78c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/virtualization.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/virtualization.scm
@@ -1775,7 +1775,7 @@ to integrate other virtualization mechanisms if needed.")
            `(,glib "bin") vala))
     (propagated-inputs
      ;; ‘Required:’ by the installed .pc files.
-     (list glib libvirt libxml2-next gobject-introspection))
+     (list glib libvirt libxml2 gobject-introspection))
     (home-page "https://libvirt.org")
     (synopsis "GLib wrapper around libvirt")
     (description "libvirt-glib wraps the libvirt library to provide a
@@ -1901,8 +1901,8 @@ virtualization library.")
            libosinfo
            libvirt
            libvirt-glib
+           libxml2
            python-minimal
-           python-libxml2
            python-libvirt
            python-pycairo
            python-pygobject
diff --git a/gnu/packages/vpn.scm b/gnu/packages/vpn.scm
index f961feab3de..6d07462f4d3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/vpn.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/vpn.scm
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ the user specifically asks to proxy, so the @dfn{VPN} interface no longer
                                                      "etc/vpnc/vpnc-script")))))
     (native-inputs (list gettext-minimal pkg-config))
     (inputs (list lz4 vpnc-scripts))
-    (propagated-inputs (list libxml2-next gnutls zlib))
+    (propagated-inputs (list libxml2 gnutls zlib))
     (synopsis "Client for Cisco VPN")
     (description
      "OpenConnect is a client for Cisco's AnyConnect SSL VPN, which is
diff --git a/gnu/packages/xml.scm b/gnu/packages/xml.scm
index b7482bfbe97..20cb0e0bc85 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/xml.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/xml.scm
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2024 Nicolas Graves <ngraves@ngraves.fr>
 ;;; Copyright © 2024 gemmaro <gemmaro.dev@gmail.com>
 ;;; Copyright © 2025 Antoine Côté <antoine.cote@posteo.net>
+;;; Copyright © 2025 John Kehayias <john.kehayias@protonmail.com>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -192,15 +193,16 @@ hierarchical form with variable field lengths.")
 (define-public libxml2
   (package
     (name "libxml2")
-    (version "2.9.14")
+    (version "2.14.6")
     (source (origin
-             (method url-fetch)
-             (uri (string-append "mirror://gnome/sources/libxml2/"
-                                 (version-major+minor version)"/libxml2-"
-                                 version ".tar.xz"))
-             (sha256
-              (base32
-               "1vnzk33wfms348lgz9pvkq9li7jm44pvm73lbr3w1khwgljlmmv0"))))
+              (method url-fetch)
+              (uri (string-append "mirror://gnome/sources/libxml2/"
+                                  (version-major+minor version)"/libxml2-"
+                                  version ".tar.xz"))
+              (sha256
+               (base32
+                "0fi0jysncjpvhvp29qcx3bydndapwphgkx7ial5kzf7ymyh5ir3w"))
+              (patches (search-patches "python-libxml2-utf8.patch"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (outputs '("out" "static" "doc"))
     (arguments
@@ -218,6 +220,13 @@ hierarchical form with variable field lengths.")
                                       (string-append "/bin/" file)) "."))
                                   '("config.guess" "config.sub")))))
                  #~())
+          (add-before 'configure 'configure-python
+            (lambda _
+              (substitute* "python/setup.py.in"
+                ;; The build system ignores C_INCLUDE_PATH & co, so
+                ;; provide the absolute directory name.
+                (("/opt/include")
+                 (string-append #$output "/include/libxml2")))))
           (add-after 'install 'use-other-outputs
             (lambda _
               (let ((doc (string-append #$output:doc "/share/"))
@@ -245,7 +254,7 @@ hierarchical form with variable field lengths.")
     (native-inputs (append (if (target-loongarch64?)
                                (list config)
                                '())
-                           (list perl)))
+                           (list perl pkg-config python-minimal)))
     (native-search-paths
      (list $SGML_CATALOG_FILES $XML_CATALOG_FILES))
     (search-paths native-search-paths)
@@ -254,58 +263,6 @@ hierarchical form with variable field lengths.")
 project (but it is usable outside of the Gnome platform).")
     (license license:x11)))
 
-(define-public libxml2-next
-  (package
-    (inherit libxml2)
-    (name "libxml2")
-    (version "2.14.5")
-    (source (origin
-              (method url-fetch)
-              (uri (string-append "mirror://gnome/sources/libxml2/"
-                                  (version-major+minor version)"/libxml2-"
-                                  version ".tar.xz"))
-              (sha256
-               (base32
-                "0jylv2kkyzih710blg24al7b43iaqg6xsfn52qy865knagrhdl03"))))
-    (native-inputs (modify-inputs (package-native-inputs libxml2)
-                     (append pkg-config
-                             python-minimal)))))
-
-(define-public libxml2-next/fixed
-  (package
-    (inherit libxml2)
-    (properties '((hidden? . #t)))
-    (name "libxml2")
-    (version "2.14.5")
-    (source (origin
-              (method url-fetch)
-              (uri (string-append "mirror://gnome/sources/libxml2/"
-                                  (version-major+minor version)"/libxml2-"
-                                  version ".tar.xz"))
-              (sha256
-               (base32
-                "0jylv2kkyzih710blg24al7b43iaqg6xsfn52qy865knagrhdl03"))))
-    (arguments
-     (substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments libxml2-next)
-       ((#:phases phases #~%standard-phases)
-        #~(modify-phases #$phases
-            (add-after 'install 'symlink-hardcoded-lib-for-grafts
-              (lambda _
-                (let ((lib (string-append #$output "/lib/libxml2.so")))
-                  ;; XXX: When grafting, we need to reproduce the file paths to
-                  ;; the libraries too.
-                  (symlink (string-append lib ".16")
-                           (string-append lib ".2")))))))))
-    (native-inputs (modify-inputs (package-native-inputs libxml2)
-                     (append pkg-config
-                             python-minimal)))))
-
-(define-public libxml2-next-for-grafting
-  (package
-    (inherit libxml2)
-    (replacement libxml2-next/fixed)
-    (properties '((hidden? . #t)))))
-
 (define-public libxml2-xpath0
   (package/inherit libxml2
     (name "libxml2-xpath0")
@@ -320,34 +277,7 @@ provides an @code{--xpath0} option to @command{xmllint} that enables it
 to output XPath results with a null delimiter.")))
 
 (define-public python-libxml2
-  (package/inherit libxml2
-    (name "python-libxml2")
-    (source (origin
-              (inherit (package-source libxml2))
-              (patches
-                (append (search-patches "python-libxml2-utf8.patch")
-                        (origin-patches (package-source libxml2))))))
-    (build-system pyproject-build-system)
-    (outputs '("out"))
-    (arguments
-     (list
-      ;; XXX: Tests are specified in 'Makefile.am', but not in 'setup.py'.
-      #:tests? #f
-      #:phases
-      #~(modify-phases %standard-phases
-          (add-before 'build 'configure
-            (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-              (chdir "python")
-              (let ((libxml2-headers (search-input-directory
-                                      inputs "include/libxml2")))
-                (substitute* "setup.py"
-                  ;; The build system ignores C_INCLUDE_PATH & co, so
-                  ;; provide the absolute directory name.
-                  (("/opt/include")
-                   (dirname libxml2-headers)))))))))
-    (native-inputs (list python-setuptools))
-    (inputs (list libxml2))
-    (synopsis "Python bindings for the libxml2 library")))
+  (deprecated-package "python-libxml2" libxml2))
 
 (define-public libxlsxwriter
   (package
@@ -1256,7 +1186,7 @@ XSL-T processor.  It also performs any necessary post-processing.")
                 "1shk40mpaqaf05skgyxa7qxgcarjd6i1fadn2sk0b8lakfv96bnq"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (propagated-inputs                  ; according to xmlsec1.pc
-     (list libxml2-next libxslt))
+     (list libxml2 libxslt))
     (inputs
      (list gnutls libgcrypt libltdl))
     (native-inputs