The Holy See has officially authorized the resumption of the beatification process for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the celebrated mid-century American television and radio personality. This announcement marks the end of a protracted six-year suspension that halted the path to sainthood for one of the most recognizable figures in the history of the United States Catholic Church. The Diocese of Peoria, located in Sheen’s home state of Illinois, confirmed on Monday that the Vatican has cleared the way for the ceremony to proceed in the city where the archbishop was ordained and where his remains are currently interred.
While a specific date for the formal beatification has not yet been established, the Vatican’s approval represents a definitive conclusion to an investigation that began in late 2019. Bishop Louis Tylka of the Peoria Diocese expressed gratitude for the decision, stating that the Holy See had informed him that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen may now proceed. The diocese is currently coordinating with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to finalize the logistics of the upcoming event.
The decision to move forward comes after a rare and significant delay that frustrated many of Sheen’s devotees. In July 2019, Pope Francis had initially confirmed a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession, which involved the recovery of a stillborn infant in 2010. Following that confirmation, a beatification date was set for December 21, 2019. However, with only three weeks remaining before the scheduled ceremony, the Vatican postponed the event indefinitely at the request of the Diocese of Rochester, New York.
The request for a delay stemmed from concerns regarding Sheen’s tenure as the Bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969. Specifically, officials sought to investigate how Sheen managed assignments for priests who were later accused of clerical sexual misconduct. The inquiry focused on two particular cases to determine if Sheen had acted appropriately in accordance with the standards of the time or if there had been any lapses in oversight. Although Sheen was never accused of personal misconduct, the Vatican sought to ensure that no archival documentation would later surface to compromise the integrity of the sainthood cause.
Throughout the investigation, supporters of the archbishop maintained his innocence and argued that his record was clear. Monsignor James Kruse, a canonical official in Peoria, previously stated that internal reviews found no evidence of wrongdoing on Sheen’s part. The tension between the dioceses of Peoria and Rochester became public at times, with some officials in Illinois suggesting that the concerns were being used to unfairly obstruct the process. The current statement from Bishop Tylka did not explicitly reference the specifics of the investigation, focusing instead on the future of the cause.
Beyond the administrative and ecclesiastical hurdles, the path to beatification was previously entangled in a lengthy and expensive legal dispute over Sheen’s remains. Following his death in 1979 at the age of 84, the archbishop was buried in a crypt beneath the high altar of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. For years, the Archdiocese of New York and Sheen’s surviving family members, supported by the Diocese of Peoria, were locked in a court battle. His niece, Joan Sheen Cunningham, sought to move his body to Peoria, citing her uncle’s desire to be buried in his home diocese. After multiple appeals, the New York Court of Appeals eventually ruled in favor of the family, and Sheen’s remains were transferred to Peoria’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in June 2019.
The beatification of Fulton Sheen is viewed as a landmark event for the Catholic Church in the United States, given his unique role in 20th-century culture. Born in El Paso, Illinois, Sheen rose to national prominence as a pioneer of religious broadcasting. His radio program, The Catholic Hour, reached millions of listeners for two decades before he transitioned to television. His 1950s series, Life Is Worth Living, was a massive commercial success, competing in primetime against major network programs and earning him an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality.
Sheen was widely praised for his ability to translate complex theological concepts into accessible, practical advice for a broad audience. His presence on the cover of Time Magazine and his prolific writing career, which included over 60 books, cemented his status as a leading public intellectual. Educators at the Catholic University of America, where Sheen both studied and taught, have consistently noted his influence on the American religious landscape and his role in integrating Catholicism into the mainstream of American life during the Cold War era.
The timing of the Vatican’s renewed approval is also seen as symbolically significant within the hierarchy of the church. The beatification will take place during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, who, like Sheen, was born in Illinois. This connection adds a layer of local regional pride to the international religious proceedings. Church historians note that the elevation of an American media figure to the rank of Blessed—the final step before potential canonization as a saint—reflects the Vatican\’s recognition of modern methods of evangelization.
The process for sainthood in the Catholic Church is traditionally rigorous and divided into several stages. Following a local investigation into a candidate\’s life and writings, the Vatican may declare them \”Venerable,\” a title Sheen received in 2012. Beatification requires the verification of one miracle attributed to the candidate\’s intercession after their death. For Sheen, this miracle involved James Fulton Engstrom, a baby born without a pulse who began breathing 61 minutes after birth after his parents prayed to the archbishop. A second miracle will be required for Sheen to be canonized as a saint.
The Diocese of Peoria is expected to release further details regarding the liturgy and public attendance in the coming months. Because of Sheen’s enduring popularity and the long wait for this announcement, church officials anticipate a large international gathering for the ceremony. The event is expected to serve as a major moment of reflection on the history of American Catholicism and the legacy of a man who used the emerging technology of his time to reach a global congregation.
Vatican Formally Resumes Beatification Process for Influential American Archbishop Fulton Sheen
