ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI — September 26, 2026. The Catholic Church has officially declared Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, following his beatification on September 24 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, serving as the papal representative of Pope Leo XIV, proclaimed the beatification decree during the Mass, attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims, bishops, priests, religious and faithful from the United States and other countries.

A historic milestone

The beatification recognizes Sheen’s holiness and his lifelong dedication to proclaiming the Gospel. Born in Illinois in 1895, he became one of the most recognizable Catholic communicators of the 20th century through his preaching, radio broadcasts and television program Life Is Worth Living, which reached millions of viewers during the 1950s.

Pope Leo XIV praised Sheen’s media apostolate ahead of the ceremony, expressing hope that his example would inspire others to find new ways of sharing the Gospel with joy and enthusiasm.

The miracle behind his beatification

The Church recognized the miraculous recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, a baby born without a pulse in 2010, following prayers seeking Sheen’s intercession. The Vatican approved the miracle in 2019, clearing the way for his beatification.

What happens next?

Beatification is an important step toward canonization, but it does not mean that Sheen has been declared a saint. A second miracle attributed to his intercession, recognized by the Church, is ordinarily required for canonization.

For now, Catholics may honor him as Blessed Fulton J. Sheen and seek inspiration from his life of faith, prayer and evangelization.

A message for the faithful: Archbishop Sheen’s beatification reminds us that the Gospel can reach millions through the faithful use of modern communication. His legacy challenges Christians today to proclaim Christ with wisdom, courage and joy — bringing the light of faith into homes, communities and the digital world.