VIDEO: Archbishop Fulton Sheen Beatified in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS — More than 45,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Louis for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who was formally declared Blessed Fulton Sheen during a Mass at the Dome at America’s Center.
The historic celebration marked the culmination of a yearslong cause for canonization for Blessed Sheen, the Illinois-born Catholic theologian and pioneering television evangelist who became one of the most recognizable Catholic communicators of the 20th century.
“Whenever a beatification happens, it’s truly a grace for the entire church, not just for the people here, but for the whole body of Christ,” said pilgrim Paul Kim.
The beatification Mass began with Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, making a formal request that Blessed Sheen be numbered among the blessed of the Catholic Church.
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“I, Louis Tylka, bishop of Peoria, humbly request that the servant of God, Fulton John Sheen, be numbered among the blessed of the church,” Bishop Tylka said.
Peoria was significant to the ceremony because Blessed Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois, and grew up in the Peoria area. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria in 1919.
Following Bishop Tylka’s request, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the papal delegate for the beatification, received the petition.
A biography highlighting Blessed Sheen’s life and virtues was then read by his grandnephew, Paul Cunningham.
Cunningham recalled a 1979 meeting between Blessed Sheen and St. John Paul II.
Blessed Sheen had recently undergone heart surgery and was physically weak when he approached the pope.
“The archbishop came forward and tried to genuflect to kiss the pope’s ring,” Cunningham said. “The Holy Father lifted up and embraced him, saying, ‘You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus. You are a loyal son of the church.’”
Archbishop Sheen was officially declared Blessed after an apostolic letter from Pope Leo XIV was read aloud in Latin and English.
The letter described Blessed Sheen as “a tireless preacher of the Gospel” and stated that he could “henceforth be called blessed.”
The declaration makes Blessed Sheen the first American-born bishop to be beatified.
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A relic of Blessed Sheen’s jawbone was carried to the altar by James Fulton Engstrom, whose case played a central role in the beatification process.
Engstrom was stillborn in 2010 but was later revived. The Vatican recognized his recovery as a miracle attributed to Blessed Sheen’s intercession, clearing a key step toward beatification.
A portrait of Blessed Sheen with a halo was also unveiled during the Mass. In the painting, Blessed Sheen holds a piece of chalk, a reference to the teaching tool he famously used during his television programs.
“He was completely himself and with nothing more than a cape and chalk. He could preach the Gospel,” said pilgrim Katie Prejean.
During his homily, Cardinal Tagle highlighted Blessed Sheen’s commitment to serving the poor and following the example of Jesus.
Cardinal Tagle recalled Blessed Sheen’s visit to a facility in Uganda that housed about 500 people with leprosy.
Blessed Sheen had brought a silver cross as a gift but initially dropped it when he saw the physical suffering of the people there.
Cardinal Tagle said Blessed Sheen eventually embraced the vulnerability of those suffering from leprosy and held their damaged flesh.
The cardinal connected Blessed Sheen’s actions to the ministry of Jesus, who reached out to people who were sick, marginalized and vulnerable.
Blessed Sheen became one of the best-known Catholic broadcasters in the United States through programs including “Life Is Worth Living” and “The Fulton Sheen Program.”
His television programs brought Catholic teaching into millions of American homes and established Blessed Sheen as a pioneer of Catholic communications.
His influence continues to be remembered by Catholics who see his preaching and example as relevant to the Church today.
“His example is more needed than ever for the church,” Kim said. “We need shepherds who are not afraid to speak the truth and love.”
For Prejean, Blessed Sheen’s beatification was deeply personal.
“I’m so excited for Fulton Sheen to be called Blessed because he’s been such a friend to me,” she said.
Following his beatification, Blessed Sheen may now be publicly venerated in accordance with the the Catholic Church.
His feast day will be celebrated Dec. 9.