Carlo Acutis: Teen Tech Prodigy Becomes Catholic Church’s First Millennial Saint
Historic Canonisation at Vatican
Pope Leo XIV officially proclaimed Carlo Acutis as a saint of the Catholic Church on Sunday, during a ceremony attended by an estimated 70,000 people in St. Peter’s Square. Acutis, who died from leukaemia at age 15 in 2006, was known for using his computing skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith, including creating a website documenting reports of miracles.
A Modern Saint for the Digital Age
Nicknamed ‘God’s influencer,’ Acutis has become a pioneer of the church’s evangelizing efforts in the digital world. Often depicted wearing jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers, he represents a departure from traditional saints and has gained a global following among young people as a relatable figure.
The story of this cyber-apostle, who attended Mass daily and showed kindness to bullied children and homeless people, has attracted Catholic youth worldwide, elevating him to the same level as Francis of Assisi.
Miracles and Legacy
Two miracles have been attributed to Acutis’s intercession: the healing of Matheus Vianna, a 7-year-old Brazilian boy who recovered from a rare pancreatic disorder after coming into contact with one of Carlo’s T-shirts, and the complete healing of Costa Rican student Valeria Valverde from major head trauma sustained in a bicycle accident, after her mother prayed at his tomb.
Since his beatification, Catholic schools from the Australian outback to England have been named after Acutis, and countless ministries and parish initiatives have been established in his honour. Pope Francis has encouraged young people to imitate Acutis in prioritizing ‘the great gift of the Eucharist’.
Impact on Modern Catholicism
As noted by Leticia Arráez from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, ‘Their canonization confirms that holiness is not an abstract ideal but can manifest itself in contemporary ways, close to the sensibilities of young people, in the present and now… through friendship, study, family, the challenges of today, and even through illness faced with Christian hope’.
