AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is approaching

Peoria (Agenzia Fides) – The beatification of the American Archbishop Fulton Sheen is approaching.
The announcement that the Cause for the Canonization of the Archbishop may now proceed toward beatification was made by the Bishop of Peoria, Louis Tylka, in a written and video statement released on Monday, February 9, on the websites of the diocese and the Sheen Foundation.
“The Holy See,” Bishop Tylka stated, “has informed me that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification,” adding that “we are working with the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to determine the details for the upcoming beatification.”
The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States promptly issued a statement expressing joy at the announcement from Peoria. “Archbishop Sheen,” the statement from the U.S. Pontifical Mission Societies recalls, “served as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States from 1950 to 1966.” His preaching, writings, and pioneering presence on radio and television “ignited in countless American Catholics a deep love for the Church’s mission ad gentes.”
It is also recalled that the future Blessed “entrusted much of his patrimony to the Pontifical Mission Societies, including his writings, audio recordings and other assets.”
“It is profoundly moving that, in God’s providence, the first U.S.–born Pope is able to advance the cause of his fellow Illinois native, the most iconic evangelizer ever produced by the American Church,” emphasized Monsignor Roger J. Landry, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
“Archbishop Sheen,” Landry recalled, “reminded Americans that the Lord’s final command — ‘Go and teach all nations’ — was not a suggestion but a mandate. His passion for the missions remains a contagious example and bright light for the Church today.”
Shortly before his death in 1979, Fulton Sheen had declared: “My greatest love has always been the missions of the Church.”
From 1930 to 1950, he hosted the evening radio program ‘The Catholic Hour’ on NBC.
In 1950 he was appointed National Director of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the United States, a role he held until 1966. During that period, his television program ‘Life Is Worth Living’ was widely followed, with an average audience of more than 30 million viewers, and earned him two Emmy Awards for his communication skills. From 1961 to 1967 he hosted ‘The Fulton Sheen Show’.

On May 28, 1951, Pope Pius XII appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of New York. He took part in the Second Vatican Council, and on October 21, 1966, Pope Paul VI appointed him Bishop of Rochester. A professor of philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, Fulton Sheen was also the founder of the magazine ‘Christ to the World’ and wrote approximately 300 books and articles.
His Cause for Canonization was opened at the diocesan level in 2002, and its Roman phase began on April 15, 2008, at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On June 28, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI recognized his heroic virtues. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree concerning the miracle attributed to his intercession. At the beginning of December 2019, a statement by Daniel Jenky, then Bishop of Peoria, announced “with deep regret” that the liturgy for his beatification, scheduled for December 21 of that year, had been postponed to a later date. The postponement—according to the statement—occurred “at the request of a few members of the Bishop’s Conference who asked for further consideration. In our current climate,” the text specified, “it is important for the faithful to know there has never been, nor is there now, any allegation against Sheen involving the abuse of a minor.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 10/2/2026)

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