At the red carpet premiere for the upcoming film, “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist,” two relics were displayed: Saint John Paul II’s signed zucchetto and Bishop Fulton Sheen’s mitre.
Producer and relic owner Oscar Delgado explained the meaning of each item and how he received them.
Both are second-class relics, which means they are items that belonged to a saint (or in the case of Fulton Sheen, a Venerable).
Saint John Paul II Relic: Signed Zucchetto
Saint John Paul II’s Zucchetto / Photo credit: Jacqueline Burkepile
Delgado, also a former NBC News war reporter, met Saint John Paul II and told him of his plans to change careers.
“When I told him I was transitioning from news to entertainment, he was very moved because I want to do something with the faith. He took off his Zucchetto, he put it on my head, and he signed it.”
Delgado then went on to be an associate producer for the film “Love and Mercy: Purgatory,” and produced “St. Michael—Meet the Angel,” in addition to his work on “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist.”
Here’s Saint John Paul II’s signed Zucchetto:
Oscar Delgado holds John Paul II’s signed Zucchetto / Photo credit: Jacqueline Burkepile
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Favorite Mitre
Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s favorite mitre / Photo credit: Jacqueline Burkepile
“This is the mitre given to me by Joan Cunningham– [Archbishop Sheen’s] great niece. It was his favorite mitre,” Delgado explains.
As ChurchPOP mentioned in this article, Delgado helps create Eucharistic adoration chapels throughout the world.
“I opened up the first adoration chapel dedicated to Archbishop Sheen at the University of Chicago: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom.”
Delgado said Cunningham attended the opening of the adoration chapel and “was very moved.”
“She said, ‘My uncle would want you to have this because of what you’re doing with the Eucharist.’ So she gave me this mitre.”
