Carlo Acutis, a devout teenager known for his deep faith and technological talent, is set to become the first Millennial saint. His canonization was initially scheduled for April under the late Pope Francis but was postponed due to the Pope’s unexpected death on April 21. Now, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV has confirmed that Acutis’ canonization will take place on September 7, alongside seven others, including fellow young Catholic Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Born in London to Italian parents and raised in Milan, Carlo Acutis led a life of extraordinary kindness and spiritual devotion. He received his First Communion at age seven, frequently donated to the poor, and, as he grew older, cooked meals for the homeless. Acutis was also known for using technology to spread the Catholic faith, earning him the nickname “God’s influencer.”
Acutis passed away in 2006 at age 15 from leukemia, but his legacy lived on through what the Vatican later declared as two miracles. The first involved a Brazilian toddler, Matheus Vianna, who suffered from a rare congenital disorder. After a priest touched the child with a piece of Acutis’ clothing, he reportedly experienced a full recovery.
The second miracle was the case of Valeria Valverde from Costa Rica, who miraculously recovered from a severe brain hemorrhage. Her mother had prayed at Acutis’ resting place shortly before Valeria regained consciousness and was later discharged from the hospital, with doctors noting the hemorrhage had disappeared.
Acutis’ body has been preserved in Italy’s Church of Santa Maria Maggiore since his death. After nearly two decades of devotion and investigation, he will officially be canonized—an event marking a new chapter in modern sainthood and youth spiritual leadership in the Catholic Church.
