Full Breakdown
Pope Leo XIV Calls Fulton Sheen an Inspiration Ahead of Beatification
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
On September 24, 2026 the Catholic Church will celebrate the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in St. Louis, Missouri. The Mass will be held at The Dome at America’s Center and presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Vatican’s top evangelization official.
Background & Context
Fulton Sheen (born May 8, 1895 in El Paso, Ill.) entered the priesthood in 1919 and later became auxiliary bishop of New York and bishop of Rochester. In the 1950s he pioneered televangelism with *Life Is Worth Living*, winning an Emmy in 1953 and drawing a weekly television audience of about four million. He also hosted the NBC radio program *The Catholic Hour* (1930-1950).
The cause for his canonization opened in 2002; Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable in 2012. Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession in 2019, clearing the way for beatification. A second miracle will be required before canonization.
Timeline
- May 8, 1895 – Birth.
- 1953 – Emmy Award for *Life Is Worth Living*.
- June 1 – Pope Leo XIV’s speech to the Pontifical Mission Societies, noting Sheen’s influence.
- December 2019 – Pope Francis confirms a miracle; original beatification date set for Dec. 21, 2019.
- Early December 2022 – Vatican postpones ceremony to investigate Sheen’s handling of abuse accusations; investigation finds no wrongdoing.
- February 2026 – Vatican gives final approval for the September ceremony.
- September 23, 2026 – Pope Leo XIV’s remarks to pilgrims.
- September 24, 2026 – Beatification Mass in St. Louis.
Data & Statistics
- Emmy Award (1953) for *Life Is Worth Living*.
- Weekly radio audience of 4 million by the end of *The Catholic Hour*.
- Confirmed miracle: a stillborn child in 2010 whose heart began beating after parents prayed to Sheen; the child is now 16 and healthy.
Official Statements & Responses
Cardinal Tagle will serve as papal legate for the Mass. Pope Francis, in 2019, confirmed the Engstrom miracle, enabling the beatification to proceed.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Bishop John O. Barres, baptized by Sheen in 1960, reflected that Sheen’s message “remained the same: Jesus Christ” across every medium he used.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The beatification was delayed after a Vatican-ordered review of Sheen’s tenure concerning alleged mishandling of abuse cases. The investigation, concluded in early 2022, found no wrongdoing, and no further allegations have been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whether speaking from a radio studio, standing before a television camera, teaching in a university classroom, or preaching from a pulpit, Archbishop Sheen’s message remained the same: Jesus Christ,” — Bishop John O. Barres
- “Barres says: “Archbishop Sheen would have us turn with missionary boldness to this frontier and encourage us to use the emerging technologies of that world, including artificial intelligence, ethically and wherever they can serve the Church’s global mission.” — Bishop John O. Barres
Why It Matters / Impact
The beatification marks the first time a 20th-century American bishop has been elevated to the altar of sainthood, highlighting the Church’s recognition of modern media evangelism. Vatican officials cite Sheen’s “missionary conversion” model as a template for using new technologies ethically in evangelization.
What’s Next
A second miracle must be verified before Sheen can be canonized as a saint. The Vatican has not set a date for that verification, and the timeline for a possible canonization remains open.