Pope Francis and the College of Cardinals have approved the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian web designer who died of leukemia in 2006.
Acutis, known for his devotion to Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions, will be the first millennial saint.
Born in London in 1991, Acutis moved to Italy as a child. He used his computer skills to create a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles. Acutis was described as “welcoming and caring towards the poorest,” using his allowance to help the homeless and needy. His beatification in 2020 followed a miraculous healing of a Brazilian boy with a rare pancreatic disorder.
Acutis’ second miracle, approved in May, involved the recovery of Valeria Valverde from a severe head injury. After her mother prayed at Acutis’ tomb, Valverde began to recover, with doctors documenting her miraculous healing. His mother, Antonia Salzano, told CNN that her son was a “sign of hope.”
Acutis’ canonization reportedly could take place during the 2025 Jubilee Year.
He has become popular among Catholic youth, known for his ability to use technology for evangelization. His body, dressed in jeans and Nike sneakers, lies in a glass case in Assisi, attracting thousands of pilgrims yearly.
Photo credit: Ellywa via Wikimedia Commons
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