July 17, 2026
Pope Leo calls Archbishop Fulton Sheen ‘a light of faith’ who touched millions with the Gospel
Vol. LXII, No. 7
One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
By Courtney Mares
P
Vatican City
ope Leo XIV praised Venerable Fulton J. Sheen on June 1 as “a light of faith, hope, and love” whose radio and television broadcasts brought the Gospel to millions of Americans— including the pope himself as a child. Speaking at a Vatican audience with members of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the pope called it providential that the beloved archbishop will be beatified during the centennial year of the Pontifical Mission Societies he once led as the national director of the US Society for the Propagation of the Faith. “Archbishop Sheen was a light of faith, hope, and love that shone through the radio and television media for decades,” Pope Leo said. “I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up,” the pope added. “His broadcasts touched millions with the hope of the Gospel and his initiatives and efforts resulted in enormous spiritual and material aid to the Churches in areas of first evangelization.” The beatification of Archbishop Sheen is scheduled for Sept. 24 in St. Louis. His beatification had previously been postponed by the Vatican in 2019. Archbishop Sheen was declared venerable in 2012. Beatification is the final step before canonization; Archbishop Sheen will require one more miracle attributed to his intercession to be declared a saint. “May our new Blessed be an example for all of the National and Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies throughout the world,” the pope said. Pope Leo, 70, has said that he watched Archbishop Sheen’s television program
as a child. The American pope was elected last year on Archbishop Sheen’s birthday.
CATHOLIC VOICE OF AMERICA
Born in El Paso, IL, on May 8, 1895, Venerable Sheen was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria on Sept. 20, 1919. He went on to become one of the most recognized Catholic voices in American history, rising to national prominence during the 1930s and 1940s as host of “The Catholic Hour” on NBC radio. Beginning in 1952, then-Bishop Sheen reached tens of millions of viewers each Tuesday evening through his television program “Life VENERABLE FULTON J. SHEEN—Venerable Fulton J. Is Worth Living.” Armed with little Sheen is remembered as one of the most influential and more than his intellect, charisma, innovative evangelists in American history. On March 25, a cape and a chalkboard, he won an 2026, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced Emmy Award for best television the beatification of Archbishop Sheen will take place on personality after his first season, Sept. 24 in St. Louis. Tickets are available and going fast! famously thanking his writers: (OSV News file photo) “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” Throughout his 60-year GENEROUS MISSIONARY priesthood, Bishop Sheen sought to According to Msgr. Roger J. Landry, the conform himself more closely to Christ by current national director of the Pontifical observing a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour, Mission Societies in the US, Archbishop what he called “the hour that makes my Sheen donated more than $10 million day.” of his media earnings to the missions He also was intensely devoted to the during his lifetime, raised $200 million Mother of God. For 16 years, Archbishop Sheen served for missionary work (the equivalent of nearly $2.1 billion today), and left 40% of as the national director of the Society his estate along with book royalties to the for the Propagation of the Faith, one of ongoing work of evangelization. the four Pontifical Mission Societies, “It would be almost impossible during which he sought to form American to enumerate the churches, schools, Catholics in missionary spirituality and seminaries, convents, and monasteries identity and help raise funds to spread that exist today because of his work, not to the faith and build the Church across the Continued on page 3... globe.
BEATIFICATION OF ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN Peoria, IL
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ickets to the September Sept. 24, 2026, beatification of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen at The Dome at America’s Center, in St. Louis, are quickly being snapped up. Bishop Louis Tylka—whose Diocese of Peoria, IL, has oversight of Archbishop Sheen’s sainthood cause— explained that The Dome, located in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, was chosen for the beatification to enable as many of the faithful to share in the occasion. “We could have done this event in our cathedral, where there would have been 800 people,” said the bishop. “But we’re trying to maximize people’s participation.” Bishop Tylka stressed that the
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ticketing fees were not equivalent to “paying” to attend a liturgy, a practice strictly forbidden by canon law. Rather, the tickets reflect the practical realities of hosting a major event—and those are “just not free,” he said.” ©OSVNews
Tickets for the Beatification Mass are selling fast! Limit of 10 tickets per person. If you are interested in puchasing tickets, SCAN THE QR CODE or go to www.celebratesheen.com. If you have parishioners that have purchased tickets and are interested in bus transportation, please reach out to Lynn Melendez, at lmelendez@dioscg.org. If there is enough interest, the diocese will coordinate bus transportation to St. Louis, MO.