A priest who hosts a popular TV show on Alabama-based EWTN Global Catholic Network in Irondale is battling cancer and can no longer make public appearances, his religious order has announced.

The Rev. Andrew Apostoli, host of the popular "Sunday Night Prime" show since 2012, is in the "final stages of a battle with cancer," according to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

Apostoli was also previously host of the EWTN series, ''The Word Was Made Flesh,'' and spoke at the EWTN Family Celebration at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham in 2006.

At that 2006 event, he praised EWTN founder Mother Angelica, saying she kept U.S. Catholicism from getting too liberal.

''She stopped the church in America from going over Niagara Falls,'' Apostoli said.

Mother Angelica founded EWTN in Irondale in 1981 and hosted her own show, "Mother Angelica Live!" that still airs in re-runs. She died on Easter in 2016.

The cancer diagnosis for Apostoli was revealed in a web post on his religious order's web site.

"The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the Apostoli family continue to be grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers for Fr. Andrew over the past month as he has entered into the final stages of a battle with cancer, which has caused a very serious decline in his health," the post said. "In this final stage of Fr. Andrew's life he continues to receive great care from healthcare professionals and friars who are always at his side. During these final days the Apostoli family and the CFR community ask for continued prayers and also privacy for Fr. Andrew as it has become evident that he can no longer receive public visitors or phone calls at this time."

EWTN Global Catholic Network is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN's 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 268 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories.