Pope Leo XIV has praised Venerable Fulton J Sheen 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. Source: OSV News.
Speaking at a Vatican audience with members of the Pontifical Mission Societies yesterday, 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 evangelisation 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 evangelisation.”
The beatification of Archbishop Sheen is scheduled for September 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 canonisation; 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, was elected last year on Archbishop Sheen’s birthday.
During the audience with the Pontifical Mission Societies, Pope Leo called 2026 “a year truly rich in missionary milestones,” noting that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI at the request of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
In Australia, the Pontifical Mission Societies is known as Catholic Mission.
This year’s World Mission Sunday falls on October 18, under the theme “One in Christ, united in mission”.
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Pope Leo calls Archbishop Fulton Sheen ‘a light of faith’ who touched millions with the Gospel (By Courtney Mares, OSV News)
