Cardinal Antonio G. Tagle, pro-prefect for the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches in the Vatican, will represent Pope Leo XIV in the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen on Sept. 24 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Vatican announced that Tagle will act as the “papal legate, celebgrant and preacher of the beatification Mass.”

The Filipino cardinal will celebrate the beatification Mass at 2 pm CDT at The Dome at America’s Center, a stadium in St. Louis.

“Not only Cardinal Tagle, like Sheen, an incredibly gifted preacher, but he will no doubt be able to emphasize the contribution that soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen made and in many ways continues to make to the Church’s mission work,” said Monsignor Roger Landry, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies US.

The Holy See has disclosed that the cause for Sheen could proceed to beatification in February, following years of challenges and delays.

On Wednesday (March 26), the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced the “indescribable joy” that Sheen will be beautified on Sept. 24 in St. Louis.

Sheen was the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies from 1950 to 1966.

“Archbishop Sheen spent his life continuing the work of the Archangel Gabriel, calling us to rejoice because the Lord with us, and imitating the response of Mary in placing himself as a servant of the Lord, allowing his whole life to develop according to the Lord’s word,” said Landry.

Born in El Paso, Illinois on May 8, 1895, Fr. Peter John Sheen became known as “Fulton” in honor of his mother’s maiden name. He was ordained a priest of the Peoria Diocese on Sept. 20, 1919.

In 1951, he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. In 1966, he was named bishop of Rochester, New York and remained in the post until his retirement in 1969 at the age of 74.

He became popular as a pioneer for television evangelization in “LIfe is Worth LIving” that won an Emmy. The show aired from 1952 to 1957.

Sheen died of heart disease on Dec. 9, 1979.

The cause for his canonization was opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria. He was later referred to as servant of God. In June 2012, then Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable.

On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts awho advise the then Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved a reported miracle of Sheen’s when a stillborn baby survived due to his intercession.

Pope Francis approved the miracle on July 2019.