Carlo Acutis to Become First Millennial Saint
This September, the Catholic Church will mark a historic moment with the Carlo Acutis canonization, a milestone that makes him the first millennial saint.
At just 15 years old, Carlo, affectionately nicknamed “God’s Influencer,” left a lasting legacy of faith, compassion, and a surprising mastery of technology.
Now, nearly two decades after his death, he’ll officially be recognized as a saint by the Church, thanks to two confirmed miracles and a life lived with extraordinary spiritual purpose.
Pope to Declare Carlo Acutis the First Millennial Saint
Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 but grew up in Italy. His mom described him as a normal kid with a deep love for Jesus from an early age.
He wasn’t raised in a particularly religious household but, by age 7, he was attending daily Mass and praying the rosary. His enthusiasm for the faith was contagious. He inspired his parents, friends, and even teachers to return to the Church.
What really set Carlo apart was how he blended modern tools with ancient beliefs. He taught himself how to code so he could build a website documenting the Carlo Acutis Eucharistic miracles – proofs, he believed, of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. His mission was to help other people recognize the miracle happening in front of them at every Mass.
When he wasn’t in church or building faith-based websites, Carlo was just like many other teens of his generation. He played on his Game Boy and PlayStation, but made a point to limit screen time so he could spend more time helping others and connecting with God.
It was this everyday holiness – helping the poor, defending bullied classmates, comforting friends – that made him extraordinary.
The Road to Sainthood
The Catholic Church's sainthood process is famously long and complex. It usually takes decades, if not centuries, for a candidate to be canonized. In Carlo’s case, it’s taken only 19 years. He died from leukemia in 2006, marking a strikingly short timeline in Church history.
Pope Francis initially announced plans to canonize Carlo but, after his passing, it was Pope Leo XIV’s canonization that made it official.
On June 13, the new pontiff announced that Carlo Acutis’s canonization will take place on September 7, 2025, along with fellow saint-to-be Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The Vatican officially recognized two Carlo Acutis miracles as evidence of his sanctity. The first involved a Brazilian boy who unexpectedly recovered from a serious illness after prayers were offered to Carlo. The second occurred in 2022, when a Costa Rican woman suffered major head trauma in a bicycle accident. Her mother prayed for Carlo’s intercession, and the woman recovered against all odds, something doctors still can’t explain.
Final Resting Place and Lasting Legacy
Before he died, Carlo requested to be buried in Assisi, the hometown of his spiritual hero, St. Francis. His body now rests there, inside a glass tomb.
Dressed in jeans, a hoodie, and Nike sneakers, his wax likeness reminds pilgrims that sainthood isn’t just for people from long ago. It’s something possible today, even for the youth of our time.
His legacy continues online through the website he created and the lives he touched, both in person and posthumously. Countless people say they’ve been drawn closer to the Church because of his example, and that’s the essence of what he wanted.
What the Carlo Acutis Canonization Means Today
The Carlo Acutis canonization is more than a ceremony. It’s a sign that sainthood is accessible to ordinary people living in a modern world. Carlo’s story reminds us that you don’t need to be a monk, missionary, or martyr to become a saint. You just need to live with purpose, faith, and love.
As the first millennial saint, Carlo represents a new kind of holiness – one that’s plugged in, compassionate, and radically committed to doing good in everyday life.
Whether through his coding skills, his compassion for others, or his devotion to the Eucharist, Carlo’s life shows that the light of faith can shine just as brightly in a digital age.