Pope Leo receives a relic of Blessed Fulton Sheen from Peoria’s bishop
Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria presented Pope Leo XIV with a relic of Blessed Fulton Sheen during a private audience at the Vatican. The audience included Msgr. Jason Gray of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation; Tylka called presenting the relic to the first American pope a profound privilege. Pope Leo has spoken warmly about Sheen, recalling watching his broadcasts as a child and praising his work bringing the Gospel to millions. The pope also met with other U.S. bishops, including Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami and leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Pope Leo XIV received a relic of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen from Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka during a private Vatican audience on Oct. 5, a meeting that joined the Illinois-born pontiff with the recently beatified evangelist, who also had roots in Illinois. The presentation followed Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification in St. Louis. 1
Tylka was accompanied by Msgr. Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation. Tylka described presenting the relic on behalf of the Diocese of Peoria and those who supported Sheen’s cause as a “profound joy and privilege.” 1
Tylka said the gift held particular meaning because Leo has spoken warmly about Sheen and his work using the communications media of his era to spread the Gospel. Gray likewise called the encounter moving, noting that both Sheen and the first American-born pope came from Illinois. 1
Leo has recalled watching Sheen’s television broadcasts with his family as a child and said he would have liked to attend the beatification. Sheen, a pioneer of Catholic radio and television, was beatified at a Mass attended by about 50,000 people, according to OSV News.
Tylka’s audience took place on a day when Leo also met with other U.S. church leaders. His first private audience that day was with USCCB President Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Vice President Bishop Daniel E. Flores, accompanied by conference officials; the annual visit gives the conference leadership an opportunity to update the pope on the U.S. Church.
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami also met individually with Leo. Coakley was due to take part in the pope’s Oct. 7–14 meeting on marriage and family, titled “Ten Years After ‘Amoris Laetitia’: Proclaiming the Gospel With Families Today.”*
Catholic media can advance evangelization and public witness
Catholic media can advance evangelization not only by explicitly explaining the Gospel, but also by reporting truthfully on the Church’s service to people and by presenting human life in a way that opens hearts to Christian hope. Catholic publications and broadcasting can strengthen faith, provide continuing formation, and bring Christian moral perspectives into public discussion.
This witness is strongest when it is professionally competent, truthful, and suited to the medium—not simply a sermon transferred onto a screen or page. Excellence in the work itself can be a Christian testimony, while Catholic media should serve the public rather than seek to dominate it.
Effective public witness also requires understanding the culture and language of contemporary media, training Catholic communicators, and planning communication deliberately. Because media shape people’s outlook and can also cause harm, evangelization should be creative and responsible, helping audiences discern media critically and keeping human dignity and moral values in view.