When you think of saints, you often picture figures from centuries past. However, recent developments indicate that the first millennial saint may soon be recognized—someone who passed away not too long ago!
Meet Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006 at just 15 years old due to leukemia. The Vatican recently announced that Pope Francis has initiated the process for his sainthood. Carlo is often referred to as the patron saint of the Internet, celebrated for his remarkable computer skills and how he utilized them to express his faith.
Born in London to Italian parents, Carlo moved to Milan early in his life. His passion for Catholicism blossomed at a young age, inspiring his mother, Antonia Acutis, to return to the church when he was just seven. He regularly attended Mass and was committed to helping those in need, often donating to the homeless.
In the months leading up to his death, Carlo leveraged his self-taught computer expertise to create a website dedicated to showcasing miracles. Following his passing, his mother received countless accounts from individuals worldwide claiming miraculous healings after praying to Carlo, including cures for cancer and infertility. “Carlo was a shining light against the dark side of the web”, his mother remarked, with some calling him “God’s influencer”.
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Carlo’s path to canonization began in 2020 when the Assisi diocese petitioned the Vatican. Pope Francis credited him with healing a boy with a malformed pancreas after the child came into contact with one of Carlo’s shirts.
For canonization to proceed, the Pope must approve a second miracle, which the Vatican says involves a Costa Rican college student who suffered severe injuries from a bicycle accident in Florence. After her mother prayed at Carlo’s tomb, the young woman showed remarkable improvement, leading doctors to believe she would survive a critical surgery.
The Pope announced plans to gather a group of cardinals to evaluate Carlo’s sainthood, though no date has been set for the official canonization ceremony. The potential canonization of Carlo as the first saint born in the millennial era promises to be a fascinating event.