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Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen on May 8, 1895, in El Paso, Illinois, was an influential American bishop of the Catholic Church, renowned for his work in preaching, radio, and television. He was the eldest of four sons in a devout Catholic family and was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith. Sheen was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria on September 20, 1919, after completing his studies at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

Sheen quickly gained recognition as a theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923 from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. He later taught theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he became a prominent figure in religious education.

In 1930, Sheen began hosting The Catholic Hour, a weekly radio program on NBC that attracted millions of listeners and established him as a leading voice in American Catholicism. His charismatic preaching style and engaging content led to a significant following. In 1951, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, and he continued to expand his media presence.

Sheen transitioned to television with the show Life Is Worth Living, which aired from 1952 to 1957 and became immensely popular, drawing up to 30 million viewers weekly. His television career continued with The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968), where he maintained his engaging format. For his contributions to television, he received two Emmy Awards for Most Outstanding Television Personality and was featured on the cover of Time magazine.

In addition to his media work, Sheen served as Bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969 before being appointed Archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales. Throughout his life, he authored over 70 books on theology and spirituality.
Sheen’s cause for canonization was officially opened in 2002, and he was declared “Venerable” by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 after being recognized for living a life of heroic virtue. He passed away on December 9, 1979, and is buried at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.