Pope Leo XIV praises Bishop Sheen: "New ways of evangelization"

Pope Leo XIV praised the evangelization work of Venerable Fulton Sheen during a general audience on Wednesday, September 23. The Pope highlighted Sheen's ability to use mass media to spread the Gospel, suggesting his example could inspire others to find new ways to share the faith with enthusiasm.

The remarks come ahead of the beatification of the American bishop, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 24. Sheen, who was born in Illinois, was ordained a priest in 1919 and became a bishop in 1951.

Sheen used radio and television to reach large audiences throughout the 20th century. His radio program, The Catholic Hour, reached approximately four million listeners, while his television program, Life Is Worth Living, reached about 30 million people.