Blessed Fulton Sheen

Yesterday, 5 July 2019, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.  During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff approved the favourable votes expressed by the Cardinals and Bishops who are members of the Congregation and extended to the universal Church, liturgical worship in honour of Blessed Bartholomew of the Martyrs (born Bartholomew Fernandes), a member of the Order of Frairs Preachers, who served as Archbishop of Braga (Portugal).  He was born in Lisbon on 3 May 1514 and died in Viana do Castelo (Portugal) on 16 July 1590.  The Holy Father has thus inscribed the name of this Blessed in the catalogue of Saints (effectively granted him canonization and the status of Sainthood).

In addition, during the same audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate other decrees, including the Decree concerning a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Fulton Sheen, who served as Titular Archbishop of Newport and Bishop of Rochester (New York, USA).  He was born on 8 May 1895 in El Paso (Illinois, USA) and died on 9 December 1979 in New York (USA).

The Venerable Servant of God, Fulton Sheen will now be bestowed with the title of Blessed and after another miracle attributed to his intercession has been approved, he will be canonized.