Carlo Acutis, a London-born teenager who died at 15 from leukaemia, is set to become the first millennial saint in the Catholic Church, with his canonization scheduled for April 2024. Known as “God’s influencer” and the “patron saint of the internet,” Acutis gained recognition for his remarkable digital skills and deep religious commitment.
Born in the UK but spending most of his childhood in Italy, Acutis was a tech-savvy teenager who used his digital talents to serve the Catholic Church. He created websites for his parish and school, but his most significant online project was a comprehensive website documenting Eucharistic miracles. Launched just days before his death, the website has since been translated into multiple languages and formed the basis of a global exhibition.
The path to sainthood for Acutis began with his first miracle in 2020, which involved the healing of a Brazilian child with a congenital disease. The Catholic Church requires two verified miracles for canonization, and Acutis met this requirement with a second miracle in 2024. This miracle involved the healing of a university student in Florence who had suffered severe head trauma with brain bleeding.
The Catholic Church’s process for declaring a miracle is rigorous, typically involving months of investigation. A miracle is generally defined as an event that transcends natural possibilities, such as an unexpected and inexplicable healing of a person near death.
Pope Francis has been instrumental in advancing Acutis’s path to sainthood. In May, he cleared the way for the teenager’s canonization by attributing the second miracle to him. During a Vatican audience, the Pope announced that Acutis would be made a saint during the weekend of April 26th.
After his death in Monza, Italy, in 2006, Acutis’s body was moved to Assisi a year later. It now resides on display alongside relics associated with him, serving as a testament to his remarkable life and spiritual significance.
Acutis’s story is particularly notable because he represents a new generation of potential saints who leverage technology to spread religious messages. His website on Eucharistic miracles and his technological skills have made him a unique figure in contemporary Catholic discourse, bridging traditional religious practices with modern digital communication.
His upcoming canonization represents a significant moment for the Catholic Church, highlighting the potential for young people to make meaningful spiritual contributions and demonstrating the church’s ability to recognize holiness in unexpected forms.
The teenager’s legacy continues to inspire many, particularly young Catholics who see in him a relatable and modern approach to faith and service.
