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| People walk past a tapestry hanging from the facade of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican depicting an image of Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who will become the first millennial to be made a Catholic saint in a ceremony led by Pope Leo, as seen from Rome, Italy, September 4, 2025. — Reuters |
Carlo Acutis Becomes First Millennial Saint as Pope Leo Leads Historic Canonization at Vatican
A teenager who
died of leukemia in 2006 has become the first Catholic saint of the millennial
generation, canonized on Sunday in Vatican City during a ceremony led by Pope
Leo and attended by thousands of young worshippers from around the world. Carlo
Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who passed away at the age of 15, was known
for using his skills in computer coding to create websites that promoted his
Catholic faith. His story has resonated deeply with young Catholics, elevating
him to the same status as figures such as Mother Teresa and St. Francis of
Assisi.
Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States,
canonized Acutis alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian who devoted
his short life to helping the poor before dying of polio in the 1920s.
Addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, which overflowed into the
streets leading from Rome to the Vatican, Leo praised both Acutis and Frassati
as shining examples of holiness and compassion. “All of you, all of us
together, are called to be saints,” he told the young audience.
The canonization of Acutis had been eagerly awaited
by Catholic youths for months. Originally scheduled for April, the ceremony was
postponed following the death of Pope Francis. Sunday’s event marked the first
time Pope Leo has presided over a canonization since his election in May. For
many, Acutis’ story of faith, paired with his love of technology, symbolizes a
new kind of saint for the modern age.
Among the attendees was 24-year-old Antonio
D’Averio, a computer programmer who said he felt a strong connection with
Acutis. “He too was passionate about computer science. For a saint, it’s
certainly something new. It’s also something that, in my opinion, was needed,”
he said. For young Catholics like him, Acutis’ canonization felt like the
Church reaching out to a new generation.
Clara Marugan Martin, 20, who traveled from Spain
for the event, expressed similar feelings. “We are very pleased to be here
because Carlo and Pier Giorgio are two examples of young people full of God,
full of grace, and we want to follow their steps,” she said, reflecting the
enthusiasm many in the crowd felt for these youthful models of faith.
In Catholic tradition, sainthood means that the
Church believes a person lived a holy and virtuous life and is now in Heaven
with God. Carlo Acutis joins the ranks of other saints who died young, such as
St. Therese of Lisieux, who passed away at 24 in 1897 and became known for her
“Little Way” of charity, and St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who died at 23 in 1591 while
caring for victims of a plague in Rome.
As Acutis advanced through the Church’s official
process toward sainthood, his remains were moved to Assisi, the hometown of St.
Francis, in accordance with his wishes. There, his body rests in a tomb with a
wax figure molded in his likeness, dressed in his trademark casual attire of a
track top, jeans, and sneakers. The site has since become a place of
pilgrimage, drawing thousands of visitors daily who come to honor his memory
and seek inspiration from his life.
Carlo Acutis’ canonization marks a historic moment
for the Catholic Church, not only because of his youth but also because of the
way he connected spirituality with the digital age. His legacy continues to
inspire countless young believers across the globe who see in him a saint who
truly speaks to their time.