Carlo Acutis: Digital Pioneer and Modern Saint Inspires Global Youth Movement

Historic Canonization Approaches

Carlo Acutis is scheduled to be canonized as a saint on September 7, 2025, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church. This teenage computer whiz, who died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006, is already known as ‘God’s influencer’ and the ‘patron saint of the internet’ for his groundbreaking work in cataloging Eucharistic miracles worldwide.

A Modern Saint for the Digital Age

Acutis has achieved near rockstar-like fame among young Catholics globally, with the Vatican actively promoting him as a relatable, modern-day role model who used his technological talents to spread the faith. During his short life, he taught himself programming, created spiritually-focused websites, helped the homeless, and defended bullying victims.

Global Impact and Legacy

Since his beatification, Catholic schools from Australia to England have been named after Acutis, along with countless ministries and parish initiatives. Pope Francis has encouraged young people to follow Acutis’s example in prioritizing ‘the great gift of the Eucharist’.

Technological Pioneer with Spiritual Focus

Despite being precociously talented with computers before the social media era, Acutis maintained a balanced approach to technology, limiting himself to one hour of video games weekly, believing that human relationships were more valuable than virtual ones. His spiritual director noted that Acutis believed evidence of Eucharistic miracles could help people understand Jesus’s presence at Mass. He worked with his family for two and a half years to create an exhibition on Eucharistic miracles that has been displayed at thousands of parishes across five continents.

Preparing for Sainthood

As the canonization approaches, schools and institutions worldwide are preparing to update their names, with changes coming to uniforms, letterheads, and signage to reflect his new status as the Church’s first computer-coding saint. His popularity continues to grow, especially among young Catholics who flock to his tomb in Assisi, inspired by his example of balancing normal teenage activities with deep spiritual commitment and service to others.