A young boy, aged 15, is on the verge of becoming the first saint of the millennial generation. Carlo Acutis, hailed as ‘God’s influencer’, is being prepared for canonization by the Catholic Church.
Born in London to Italian parents, Acutis was raised in Milan, where he developed a strong religious devotion and became an active member of the Catholic community.
From an early age, he was deeply engaged in religious activities and dedicated his efforts to aiding the less fortunate. Tragically, he passed away from leukemia in 2006 at just 15 years old.
His body has since been preserved and is displayed in a glass tomb in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, known for his teachings that emphasize helping those in need and living a life of simplicity.
Due to his virtuous life, the Church is moving forward with plans to canonize Acutis, bestowing upon him the title of ‘God’s Influencer’.
Carlo is set to be the first saint whose life story, known as a hagiography, was initially shared via social media platforms. Unlike the traditional lengthy exchanges of letters among early saints, Acutis documented his experiences with miracles and saints on his online blog starting at age 11.
His mother, Antonia Salzano, recalled that her son would “go to mass and do the rosary each day.” She added, “We lived in the center of Milan in a building surrounded by beggars. He wanted to help them, speak to them, bring them food and blankets.”
The canonization ceremony, led by Pope Leo, is scheduled for Sunday, September 7. It is seen as a move by the Vatican to adapt to contemporary times.
Andrea Vreede, a Vatican correspondent for Dutch public radio and TV network NOS, explained, “The church wants to have a young saint who is a millennial, somebody who belongs to the modern age.”
Acutis is associated with several miracles, a necessary condition for canonization.
The first miracle credited to Acutis involves a two-year-old Brazilian boy named Matheus Vianna, who had a congenital disorder known as annular pancreas.
This condition causes pancreatic tissue to encircle the small intestine’s initial segment.
Salzona sought the Church’s intervention for Vianna and received assistance from Father Marcelo Tenorio, who was part of the pre-canonization rituals involving Acutis’ body.
Father Tenorio placed a piece of Acutis’ clothing on Vianna and prayed for his healing.
Following this act, the boy’s family reported that he did not fall ill again.
Another miraculous event involved Valeria Valverde, a woman from Costa Rica, who suffered a critical head injury while cycling in Florence.
Her mother visited Acutis’ resting place in Assisi, resulting in Valverde’s complete recovery.