A teenager from the UK is set to become the first saint of the millennial generation, following two inexplicable miracles attributed to him after his passing.
Carlo Acutis, although born in London, spent the majority of his life in Milan. During his time there, he was deeply committed to the Catholic Church and dedicated his efforts to assisting those in need.
He made his first communion at the age of seven and, even as a child, frequently donated money to support the less fortunate.
As he grew older, Acutis spent his evenings preparing hot meals for the homeless, earning him the nickname ‘God’s influencer’ due to his tech-savvy nature.
His mother, Antonia Salzano, described her son as having a ‘special relationship’ with God.
At the age of seven, Acutis wrote: “My life plan is to be always close to Jesus.”
In 2006, Acutis succumbed to leukaemia at the age of 15. However, he is being considered for sainthood after the Vatican concluded he was responsible for two inexplicable miracles.
His body, preserved and dressed in jeans and sneakers, is displayed in a glass tomb in Assisi, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
On Sunday, September 7, he will be canonized as the first millennial saint by Pope Leo XIV at a Vatican ceremony.
Canonization is the formal process of declaring someone a saint.
The first miracle attributed to Acutis involved a two-year-old Brazilian boy named Matheus Vianna.
Vianna suffered from a congenital disorder known as annular pancreas, where the pancreas encircles the initial segment of the small intestine.
Acutis’ mother sought assistance from the church, which she received through Father Marcelo Tenorio. Father Tenorio, involved in a pre-canonization blessing of Acutis’ body, placed a piece of the teen’s clothing on the toddler and prayed for healing.
The boy’s family reported that following this event, Vianna experienced no further health issues.
Acutis was also credited with another miracle.
The Vatican believes he played a role in the recovery of a woman named Valeria Valverde, who endured a brain haemorrhage following an accident.
Valverde’s mother prayed at Acutis’ casket, and the woman was later released from the hospital with doctors confirming her brain haemorrhage had completely healed.
The canonization of Acutis was initially planned for April, but it was delayed due to the passing of Pope Francis.
This will mark Pope Leo XIV’s first canonization ceremony since he assumed the papacy earlier this year.