The cause of the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is moving forward after a six-year delay, the Diocese of Peoria announced Monday in a statement. 

“The Holy See has informed me that the Cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to Beatification. The next step in the process is the celebration of the Beatification, in which Fulton Sheen would be declared Blessed,” Bishop Louis Tylka, Diocese of Peoria, wrote.

Beatification is the first major step toward sainthood, granting a deceased person the title “Blessed” and allowing limited public veneration (such as in a region) after proving heroic virtue and the existence of one verified miracle. Canonization is the final step: it declares the person a saint, permits worship throughout the Church, and requires a second miracle after beatification, making their veneration universal. Beatification opens the door for local honor, while canonization opens it for the whole world, recognizing a saint as being in heaven with God.

Archbishop Sheen was declared Venerable when Pope Benedict XVI recognized his life of heroic virtue on June 28, 2012. The miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession was recognized by Pope Francis on July 6, 2019.

“I am particularly thankful for the collaboration, assistance, generosity, and prayers from the Holy See, my brother Bishops, clergy, and lay people from around the world in moving this cause forward. Archbishop Sheen will be a special blessing for the Church in the United States, where he was a powerful evangelist on radio, television, and in personal appearances. Throughout the world, Sheen led the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and sustained the work of the Missions throughout the world. The Church in Peoria rejoices with all of you in honoring this heroic Bishop and leader in the Church,” Bishop Tylka wrote.

“The Archdiocese of New York joins with the Church Universal in rejoicing at Monday’s announcement that the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will soon take place,” Archbishop Ronald Hicks said in a statement.

“Although justly famous as a groundbreaking pioneer in using radio and television as a means of evangelizing and teaching, Archbishop Sheen’s entire life was devoted to making disciples and spreading the good news of the Gospel. Whether as a priest in his home diocese of Peoria, professor at The Catholic University of America, National Director of the Propagation of the Faith, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, Bishop of Rochester, or prolific author of classic works of spiritual reading, Archbishop Sheen always strove to bring people closer to Jesus and His Church. We look forward to calling him Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, and, please God, someday soon seeing him raised to the altars as a saint.”