Carlo Acutis: what to know about the new millennial saint of the Catholic Church
Carlo Acutoset to become the Catholic ChurchThe first millennial saint is Already drawing crowds of pilgrims TO AssisiItaly.
His remains, casually dressed in sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt, lie in a sanctuary, testifying to the uncommon devotion that inspires.
A mass of canonization, scheduled for April 27 in Piazza di San Pietro, will formally recognize its holiness.
But who was this teenager who caught the heart of so many?
Born in London on May 3, 1991 from a rich Italian family, Carlo spent his training years in Milan.
His profound connection to his faith began early, after receiving his first communion at seven years. From that moment on, daily mass, praying the rosary and Eucharistic adoration have become full parts of his life.
As he loved typical teenage research such as excursions, video games and spending time with friends, Carlo also dedicated himself to serving others.
He taught Catechism in his local parish and actively worked with the homeless, demonstrating a profound commitment to his faith and community.
He used his computer expert to create an online exhibition of over 100 Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Church over many centuries, focused on the real presence of Christ that Catholics believe both in the consecrated bread and wine.
In October 2006, at the age of 15, he fell ill. Ten days later, he died of acute leukemia in a hospital in northern Italy.
His body was subsequently transferred to a cemetery of Assisi as Acutis had asked, due to his devotion to the medieval saint of the hometown, St. Francis.
Why is Carlo Acutis to become a saint?
His way to holiness – the canonization process – began more than 10 years ago to the initiative of a group of priests and friends, and formally took off shortly after Pope Francis He started his papacy in 2013.
Carlo was appointed “venerable” in 2018 after the church recognized his virtuous life and his body was brought to a sanctuary in the Sanctuary of the changing room of Assisi, an important site linked to the life of San Francesco.
He was therefore declared “Benedetto” in 2020 after the Vatican Dicasterly who studies the processes of holiness have recognized a miraculous healing through the intercession of Carlo – a child in Brazil who recovered in a “scientifically inexplicable” way.
In 2024, the Church made his way towards holiness attributing to him a second miracle: the complete healing of a cost -cost student in Italy with the main head injury in a bicycle accident after his mother prayed to Carlo’s tomb.
When will it be canonized?
The canonization of Carlo’s canonization will be on Sunday 27 April at 10:30 in front of the St. Peter Basilica of the Vatican.
It will be held in collaboration with the celebration of the Jubilee of the sacred year for teenagers.
How popular is Carlo, the first millennial saint?
Rev. Domenico Sorrentino, the bishop of Assisi, said that in the last year, a million pilgrims have made their way to the sanctuary of Carlo in this medieval city in the city of central Italy.
The images of Carlo, usually who interpret it with a backpack and smile widely, are in shops throughout the city, from pocket cards to statuettes. A religious souvenir shop near the Vatican has recently shown in his window a statue of great life of the adolescent next to a mother Teresa of Calcutta.
For many pilgrims, the draw is its adolescent relationship of this time.
“It is surprising that this saint, a young man – can propose to our people to imitate because everyone can be a saint,” said Rev. Jacinto Bento, a Portuguese priest who was guiding a group of 30 pilgrims of the Jubilee from the Azores islands in Assisi at the beginning of this month.
On the same day, Tomaso Baron from Treviso, in Northern Italy, was visiting the sanctuary with his wife and three children, two of whom are teenagers.
“It looks like one of our children,” said Carlo Di Carlo. “A special prayer for him is really welcome.”
