Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSV Newscast for Monday, June 1st, 2026. Today we mark the start of the month in which the Catholic Church honors the sacred heart of Jesus. And next week, the U.S. Catholic bishops will consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart. So stay tuned for our coverage of that. And today we also mark the feast of St. Justin Martyr. He lived during the second century and converted to Christianity after having studied Greek and pagan philosophies. Among other things, his writings helped the Church to better understand that the divine plan is at work in human history. He also gave us some of our best descriptions of the early church's celebration of the Eucharist and baptism. He and several companions were martyred in Rome around the year 165. Saint Justin Martyr, pray for us. Now let's catch you up on the Catholic news of the day, and here we go. Today, Pope Leo XIV praised Venerable Fulton Sheen, whose pioneering radio and television broadcasts brought the gospel to millions of Americans, including the Pope himself as a child. Speaking to members of the Pontifical Mission Societies at the Vatican, Pope Leo said it's providential that Archbishop Sheen will be beatified in September in St. Louis during the centennial year of the mission societies he once led. The Pope said, I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up. Archbishop Sheen was a light of faith, hope, and love that shone through the radio and television media for decades. His broadcasts touched millions with the hope of the gospel, and his initiatives and efforts resulted in enormous spiritual and material aid to the churches in areas of first evangelization. Sheen was born in Illinois in 1895, and he became one of the most influential Catholic communicators in U.S. history through NBC Radio's The Catholic Hour and the television program Life is Worth Living. He also spent 16 years leading the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which is one of the four pontifical mission societies, and he raised significant support for missions worldwide. Several hundred people gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington this past Saturday to join Pope Leo in a worldwide rosary for peace, seeking Mary's intercession to bring that peace to the hearts of people and to nations at war. The Pope led the rosary from the Lord Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, and the gathering united Marian shrines across continents in simultaneous prayer to close the Catholic Church's month of devotion to Mary. The rosary was coordinated by the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, and it was live streamed from the Vatican. Among the participating shrines were the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima, Portugal, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Mejegoria, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Warhorn Ukraine, the Sanctuary of the Mother of God in Zaravanitia took part, as did the shrine of St. Charbel Anaya in Byblos, Lebanon. In Washington, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia led the rosary. He was presiding at his first liturgy at the nation's largest Catholic Church in his new role as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Father Anthony Odeyang, a priest of the diocese of Uyo, Nigeria, had been charged under Texas state law with several felony counts of sexual assault. After listening to graphic testimony from several witnesses, the jury found the 57-year-old priest guilty of one charge of sexual assault in the first degree and two in the second degree. The May 29th verdict was delivered at the 19th State District Court in Waco, Texas. The priest had also fathered at least one child with another woman in Louisiana who had been under his spiritual direction. That's according to DNA evidence cited by prosecutors. In addition, Father Odeong, who had served at a student Catholic center at Baylor University in Waco, was arrested in Southwest Florida in 2024 for possession of child pornography. That's why he was living near a Catholic university at which he hoped to gain employment. The case has been extensively covered since 2023 by investigative journalist Ramon Antonio Vargas for The Guardian, and it highlights the Catholic Church's ongoing challenges in addressing clerical abuse of adults in situations where they're vulnerable, while states such as Texas and Georgia have passed laws to criminalize such acts. Sentencing for Father Odeon is expected to take place this week, according to local media. Pope Leo's first stop in Spain will send a clear message about his priorities. After arriving in Madrid on June 6th and receiving a traditional welcome from King Felipe IV, the Pope will travel to Cedilla, a Caritas-run center serving people experiencing homelessness. Cedilla is located in Madrid's Lucero neighborhood, and it provides meals, counseling, psychological support, showers, and overnight shelter. The center hosts 70 people each night and it assists about 90 people daily. Caritas leaders say the papal visit will help vulnerable people feel seen and valued. Maria Angeles Altosano, spokeswoman for Caritas Madrid, said they are people worthy of love. Among those waiting for the Pope is Elmer Leon, a Peruvian immigrant who received support from Cedilla after losing his housing and struggling to find work. The papal visit also highlights Madrid's growing social challenges. Caritas reports that 1.3 million residents face financial vulnerability, while one in six live in a situation of social exclusion. Staff hope the Pope's presence will draw attention to those on society's margins and the church's efforts to restore dignity and hope. And finally, Catholic dioceses across the U.S. are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and they see the global tournament as both a major pastoral opportunity and a unique moment of international encounter. The expanded competition is the largest in FIFA history, and it will feature 48 teams and 104 matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Here in the U.S., 11 cities will welcome matches from June 11th to June 19th, culminating in the championship game at MetLife Stadium near New York City. Church leaders in host communities are already planning how to engage millions of visitors while highlighting parish life and the church's public witness. Many diocesan preparations are rooted in the Catholic understanding of universality. The word Catholic comes from the Greek Catholicos, meaning universal. Church leaders also point to Pope Leo's episcopal motto, in ilo uno unam. In the one, we are one, saying it's a fitting reflection on unity among cultural diversity. For many Catholics, the World Cup represents more than sport. It's a visible expression of global communion. The U.S. portion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Los Angeles. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Gina Christian. Check out the show notes for a link to our website where you can find the stories in this episode. As always, please make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. And wherever you are in the world as you're tuning in, thanks so much for listening and God bless. This has been an Osv News production. To learn more, visit osvnews.