In an unprecedented ceremony that bridges centuries-old tradition with the digital age, Pope Leo XIV has officially canonised Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian computer enthusiast who passed away from leukaemia in 2006. The teenager, now known as Saint Carlo Acutis, becomes the Catholic Church's first saint from the millennial generation.
The Patron Saint of the Internet
Acutis, who was profoundly devout from a young age, used his self-taught computing skills to create websites cataloguing Eucharistic miracles around the world. His work, which aimed to make church teachings accessible online, earned him the posthumous nickname 'God's Influencer'.
'He is a role model for today's youth,' declared Pope Leo XIV during the canonisation mass in St. Peter's Square. 'Carlo shows us that the new technologies, used with wisdom and heart, can be a powerful tool to spread light and goodness.'
The Path to Sainthood: A Modern Miracle
The Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints attributed a second miracle to Acutis's intercession, the final requirement for sainthood. The case involved a young Costa Rican woman, Valeria Valverde, who was miraculously healed from a severe head injury after her mother prayed at Acutis's tomb.
This followed the first recognised miracle in 2013, where a Brazilian boy was healed from a rare pancreatic disorder.
A Relic for the Digital Era
In a move befitting the new saint, a unique relic has been created—a fragment of one of Acutis's computer motherboards, encased and available for veneration. His body, dressed in trainers, jeans, and a tracksuit top, is also on display in a glass tomb in Assisi.
The canonisation of Carlo Acutis marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church, signalling its intent to engage with younger generations and acknowledge the modern, digital world within its sacred traditions.
