The Greek Catholic Church heraldic emblem

Archbishop Sheen

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — Bishop, Theologian & Evangelist

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in episcopal vestments.

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

Archbishop Fulton John Sheen (1895–1979) was one of the most influential Catholic bishops and communicators of the twentieth century. A prolific author, radio host, and television personality, he brought the message of Christ to millions across America and the world.

Declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2019, Archbishop Sheen's cause for canonization continues to advance. His life of prayer, sacrifice, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary remains a guiding light for the Greek Catholic Church and all who seek the unity of East and West.

Life & Ministry

A young Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in clerical vestments.
Archbishop Sheen in both Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic vestments, reflecting his bi-ritual ministry.

Archbishop Sheen in Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic vestments — a testament to his bi-ritual ministry bridging East and West.

Born Peter John Sheen on May 8, 1895, in El Paso, Illinois, he was ordained a priest in 1919 and quickly distinguished himself as a scholar, earning his doctorate from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. He joined the faculty of The Catholic University of America and became one of the foremost Catholic intellectuals of his era.

Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York in 1951 and later Bishop of Rochester (1966–1969), Archbishop Sheen was elevated to the titular rank of Archbishop by Pope Paul VI in 1969. Throughout his ministry he was a tireless advocate for the poor, for the conversion of souls, and for the renewal of the Church.

His nationally broadcast television program Life Is Worth Living (1951–1957) reached an audience of thirty million viewers each week, earning him an Emmy Award and making him one of the first great evangelists of the television age.

Our Lady of Guadalupe — the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of Archbishop Sheen's ministry.

Legacy & Cause for Canonization

Archbishop Sheen died on December 9, 1979, in New York City. He was interred at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where his tomb continues to draw pilgrims from around the world. His writings — numbering more than seventy books — remain widely read and continue to form the faith of countless Catholics and Christians of every tradition.

Pope John Paul II opened his cause for beatification in 2002. Pope Francis declared him Venerable on July 6, 2019, recognizing that Archbishop Sheen had lived a life of heroic virtue. The investigation of a miracle attributed to his intercession continues to advance through the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

The Greek Catholic Church venerates Archbishop Sheen as a model of priestly holiness, ecumenical charity, and evangelical zeal — a witness to the truth that the riches of East and West, when united in Christ, bear abundant fruit for the salvation of souls.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen — the cause for canonization advanced under Pope Francis who declared Sheen Venerable in 2019.
Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is on September 24, 2026 in St. Louis, MO.
"The only way to win the world for Christ is to love it."

— Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen