The Catholic nun who launched television network dedicated to spreading the Vatican's message has died at the age of 92.

Mother Mary Angelica, who founded Eternal Word Television Network, died on Easter Sunday in a monastery in suburban Birmingham, Alabama. She had been suffering ill health since Christmas Eve 2001, after having a stroke.

The nun, who broadcast her first show in 1981 on a $200 budget, saw her media empire grow to become the largest religious media network in the world, broadcasting to 145 countries, according to EWTN.

The network has Vatican approval. In 2009, Pope Benedict gave Mother Angelica and the executive Deacon Bill Steltemeier the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal, which is the highest honour a Pope can give.

Mother Angelica became a household name to millions of Catholics, starring in her own show "mother Angelica Live", and was once hailed by Time magazine as arguably the nation's most influential Roman Catholic woman.

"Mother has always, and will always, personify EWTN, the Network which she founded," Michael Warsaw, the CEO and Chairman of the network said.

"In the face of sickness and long-suffering trials, Mother's example of joy and prayerful perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so dear. We thank God for Mother Angelica and for the gift of her extraordinary life."

The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput said: "Mother Angelica was one of the great American Catholics of the past half-century, a woman of extraordinary faith, intelligence, energy and determination,

"In founding and growing EWTN into a major media resource for the global Church, she achieved things almost everyone thought impossible."