Pope Leo XIV has officially declared Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old computer prodigy who died in 2006, as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. The canonization took place Sunday during an open-air Mass at St. Peter’s Square attended by an estimated 80,000 people, many of them young Catholics and families with children.
Share Your Moment With The World
Inspired by stories of faith and legacy? Turn your own milestone into news that travels far and fast. Publish a press release that honors your mission and reaches readers everywhere.
Publish Your Press Release Now Powered by 24-7pressrelease.com
A Modern Saint for a Digital Age
Acutis, often called “God’s influencer,” gained recognition for using his computer skills to spread Catholic teachings online. His most notable project was a multilingual website cataloging Eucharistic miracles around the world. At a time when professional developers dominated the internet, Acutis built the site himself while still a teenager.
Pope Leo, delivering his first saint-making Mass, emphasized the importance of the two new saints, Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. “The greatest risk in life is to waste it outside of God’s plan,” he said. He urged young people to view the new saints as examples of how to live meaningful lives directed toward faith.
An Ordinary Life Turned Extraordinary
Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis grew up in a wealthy but not deeply religious family. Despite this, he developed an intense devotion to the Catholic faith. Friends and teachers recalled his joy, discipline, and deep prayer life. Acutis limited himself to just one hour of video games each week, choosing instead to spend hours in prayer before the Eucharist.
In October 2006, Acutis was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He died within days at just 15 years old. He was buried in Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, and his tomb has since drawn millions of pilgrims. His preserved body, often seen in jeans, Nike sneakers, and a sweatshirt, has become an enduring symbol of his relatability to modern youth.
A Saint for Millennials
Much of Acutis’ appeal lies in his blend of ordinary teenage life and extraordinary faith. For years, the Vatican has promoted him as a “saint next door,” someone young people could relate to while still aspiring to holiness. His canonization marks a new chapter in the Church’s effort to engage millennials and Generation Z.
Matthew Schmalz, professor of religious studies at Holy Cross College, said Acutis represents how Catholics can use technology responsibly. “He becomes an emblem or model of how Catholics should approach and use the digital world—with discipline and with a focus on traditional Catholic spirituality that defies the passage of time,” Schmalz said. (Reuters)
Global Pilgrimage and Public Devotion
Millions have already visited Acutis’ tomb, with some describing him as a spiritual guide for the digital era. His relics, including parts of his heart, have been displayed around the world. The Vatican said 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, and hundreds of priests joined the Mass, underscoring the importance of the event for Catholics worldwide. (New York Times)
Continuing a Tradition
Acutis was canonized alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian figure known for his charity and devotion to the poor. Frassati, who died of polio at age 24, has long been considered a role model for Catholic youth. Together, the two new saints reflect the Church’s effort to highlight examples of young, modern faith.
For many Catholics, especially the young, Acutis is not just a saint of the past but a patron for navigating the digital future. His life demonstrates how technology, often seen as a distraction from spirituality, can instead be a tool for spreading faith across the world.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through the ads.