What Made Fulton Sheen’s Beatification a Historic Moment for Catholic Media?

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the Catholic priest, preacher, author and pioneering broadcaster, was declared Blessed Fulton J. Sheen on September 24, 2026, during a beatification Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The celebration marked an important moment in the Church’s recognition of Sheen, who became widely known for using radio and television to communicate Catholic teaching to millions of people. A Beatification Years in the Making Pope Leo XIV issued the decree granting Sheen the title of Blessed. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle served as the Pope’s legate and principal celebrant and read the apostolic letter during the beatification Mass. Tens of thousands of faithful attended the celebration. Pope Leo XIV also announced that Blessed Fulton Sheen’s feast day will be observed on December 9, the anniversary of his death in 1979. Sheen's beatification followed years of investigation into his life, virtues and intercession. A miracle attributed to his intercession was approved by the Vatican in 2019. The Miracle Behind the Beatification The recognised miracle involved James Fulton Engstrom, who was born in Illinois in 2010 without a heartbeat. According to the case documentation, the child remained without a heartbeat for 61 minutes before his heartbeat returned. The case underwent medical and theological examination as part of the Church's investigation. In 2019, Pope Francis authorised the decree recognising the miracle attributed to Sheen's intercession. The recognition of the miracle became an important step in Sheen's cause for beatification. A Life Rooted in Faith and Service The Church's recognition of Sheen was connected not simply to his public reputation as a broadcaster but to his wider life of prayer, Eucharistic devotion, missionary commitment and service. Cardinal Tagle highlighted Sheen's relationship with Jesus Christ and his concern for people who were poor and vulnerable. Sheen also understood communication as a means of evangelisation. Through radio, television, preaching and writing, he sought to make Catholic teaching accessible to a broad audience. A Celebration in St. Louis The beatification Mass brought together 89 bishops, around 1,000 priests, seminarians and religious, hundreds of deacons and tens of thousands of pilgrims. Before the main celebration, participants had opportunities for Eucharistic adoration, confession and other events connected with the beatification. During the formal rite, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria requested that Sheen be declared Blessed. Cardinal Tagle then read Pope Leo XIV's apostolic letter. Following the proclamation, a new portrait of Blessed Fulton Sheen was unveiled, and a relic was presented for veneration. Celebrations Continue in Peoria The celebrations continue in Peoria, Sheen's home diocese, from September 25 to 26. The programme includes Masses of Thanksgiving, parish talks and the inaugural Sheen Awards Gala, recognising people involved in media, writing, preaching, music and missionary service. The celebrations will also include a Byzantine Divine Liturgy offered in thanksgiving for Sheen's life and witness. A Legacy for the Digital Age Although Fulton Sheen died in 1979, his approach to communication continues to receive attention in an era shaped by social media, streaming and digital platforms. His beatification highlights how he used the communication technologies of his time to reach people with the Gospel. For today's Catholic communicators, his life provides a historical example of using new forms of media while keeping faith and evangelisation at the centre. The beatification of Blessed Fulton Sheen therefore marks both a recognition of his life and an opportunity for the Church to reflect on how the Gospel can be communicated in a changing media environment.