In a historic ceremony, the Catholic Church has officially canonized Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager, as its first millennial saint. The open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, was a landmark event, attended by 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, and 212 priests, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
Acutis, who died in 2006 from an aggressive form of leukemia, was widely known as “God’s influencer” for his extraordinary use of the internet to spread the faith. He taught himself computer programming and used his skills to create a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, bringing the Church’s ancient traditions to a new generation online. His passion for both technology and his faith has made him a powerful patron for young people navigating a digital world.
The process of his canonization, which concluded with the two miracles necessary for sainthood, was expedited by the Vatican, a clear sign of the Church’s desire to have a relatable, modern saint for young believers. Acutis’s life, though short, has served as a testament to the idea that holiness can be found in ordinary life, even in the age of video games and social media.
