“Archbishop Sheen was a light of faith, hope, and love that shone through the radio and television media for decades,” Pope Leo XIV said on Monday, June 1, 2026. He was speaking to participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, in the year of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of World Mission Sunday.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to those who work in the Pontifical Mission Societies “and to everyone who works with you throughout the world, for all of your efforts, great and small, in promoting World Mission Day.”
The annual observance of this day “set apart for prayer, reflection and contributing to the Church’s mission of evangelization” takes place on the second-to-last Sunday of October. Pope Pius XI approved its creation on April 14, 1926, in reply to a petition by the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith.
Venerable Fulton Sheen’s missionary connection
It was in this context that Leo XIV spoke about Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. Although he was famous for his radio and television ministry, he was also national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. He will be beatified this year on September 24, in St. Louis. The fact that it takes place in this centennial year is a coincidence that Leo XIV considered "providential."
“I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up,” Pope Leo XIV recalled. “His broadcasts touched millions with the hope of the Gospel,” the Pope added, “and his initiatives and efforts resulted in enormous spiritual and material aid to the Churches in areas of first evangelization.”
Leo XIV expressed his hope that the late archbishop “be an example for all of the National and Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies throughout the world.”
Indeed, World Mission Sunday reminds people in the “established churches” of the importance of joining in “the missionary spirit of the whole Church,” by praying and offering “spiritual and material sacrifices for the missionary efforts in areas of first evangelization and for the support of young churches,” Leo XIV explained.
The need is in fact great. As the Pontiff pointed out, there are “over 1,130 ecclesiastical circumscriptions that depend on the Dicastery for Evangelization.” The funds from the collection help them to “establish necessary ecclesiastical infrastructure and support diverse missionary initiatives.”
Funds from the collection also support “the ongoing formation of priests, and consecrated women and men” from those new churches at five colleges in Rome.
Peace and unity, in and through evangelization
The theme for this year’s World Mission Sunday is “One in Christ, united in mission.” This focus “highlights the unity of believers” and invites all the faithful to a “deeper communion in Christ” and in his “divine mission of love.”
Pope Leo XIV has made unity and peace key messages of his pontificate. His papal motto reflects this priority: “In the one Christ, we are one.” And since his election, he has promoted peace and unity in words and deeds, within the Church, on the level of ecumenical dialogue, and even — speaking specifically of peace — in dealing with other religions.
“In a world increasingly marked by division, war and conflict among nations and peoples,” the Pontifical Mission Societies “render an invaluable service to the Church’s mission of proclaiming Christ, the Prince of Peace and the incarnate revelation of Divine Love for humanity.”
“I invite you all to appreciate the urgency of embracing an ongoing missionary conversion and to look together for ways of being a missionary Church for the healing of our world, so fraught with tensions, conflicts and wars,” he said, calling especially for Jesus to be placed at the center of all evangelization.
