A teenager known for his deep faith, technological skills, and inspirational humility will soon be canonized, becoming the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint.
At a Glance
- Carlo Acutis will be canonized on September 7, becoming the first millennial saint.
- Known for combining faith with technology, Acutis created a website cataloging Eucharistic Miracles.
- Acutis is entombed in Assisi, dressed simply in a sweatshirt and jeans.
- Pope Leo XIV is overseeing the canonization alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati’s.
A Modern Saint for a New Generation
The Catholic Church will recognize Carlo Acutis, a teenager who passed away from leukemia in 2006, by canonizing him on September 7. Acutis, known for his deep-seated faith and remarkable integration of technology into religious devotion, stands as a symbol of modern sainthood. Pope Leo XIV announced last Friday, “A teenager who died of leukemia in 2006 will become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint on September 7”.
This remarkable young individual used his skills as a coder and gamer to create an extensive digital archive of Eucharistic Miracles, seamlessly blending faith with technology. In a world often at odds with religious devotion, Acutis served as “a model for young people of the 21st century,” according to the late Pope Francis.
An Unassuming Legacy
Acutis’s resting place in Assisi has become a site of pilgrimage, with visitors able to see him through a glass coffin, symbolizing his ordinary yet profound life. Choosing to rest in casual attire underscores his relatable and approachable nature. His innovation and dedication to promoting Eucharistic devotion earned him the fitting title “patron saint of the internet”.
“Definitely, Carlo was an ordinary child like everybody. He used to play, to have friends, to go to school. But his extraordinary was the fact that he opened the door of his heart to Jesus, and he put Jesus at the first place in his life.” – Acutis’s mother.
Despite his youth, Carlo was recognized for defending the faith fearlessly. In the classroom, he passionately argued for the sanctity of life, displaying early signs of the “heroic virtue” pivotal to his canonization process.
Faith Meets Modernity
The canonization of Carlo Acutis emphasizes the Catholic Church’s intent to show that faith need not be abandoned in an age of scientific advancement. This move coincides with the Vatican’s revisions to confirm supernatural phenomena, while continuing to celebrate personal testimonies and reported miracles, such as when a boy recovered from a pancreatic abnormality.
“a model for young people of the 21st century” – Pope Francis.
This canonization procedure, notably swift at less than two decades, highlights a significant shift in the Church’s engagement with modernity and its followers. Through Carlo’s story, the Church nods towards a future where faith-driven innovation is not only accepted but celebrated. His canonization, alongside that of Pier Giorgio Frassati, shines a light on a profound, new phase in understanding sainthood in our technologically driven world.
