Carlo Acutis, a beloved Italian teenager known for his deep Catholic faith and tech-savvy spirit, will officially be canonized on September 7, as announced by Pope Leo XIV. This will mark a historic moment for the Catholic Church, as Acutis becomes its first millennial saint. The canonization ceremony will be held in St. Peter’s Square and is expected to attract a massive turnout, particularly among the youth, who have found a relatable spiritual figure in Acutis.
Acutis passed away from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Despite his short life, he left a significant mark on the Catholic community by utilizing his passion for technology to promote the faith. He created a website dedicated to documenting reported miracles, helping spread Catholic teachings to a wider, modern audience. His digital evangelism earned him the nickname “God’s influencer.”
This upcoming canonization will also include another young figure, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died in 1925 at the age of 24. Both names were confirmed for canonization by the Vatican following a meeting between Pope Leo and senior cardinals. Initially, Acutis’ canonization had been set for April 27, but the event was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.
The September event will be particularly noteworthy because it will be the first canonization led by Pope Leo XIV, who recently became the first American to hold the papacy. This added significance is expected to draw considerable attention from the global Catholic community.
Though Acutis was born in the United Kingdom, he spent much of his life in Italy and quickly became admired for his relatable personality and devout spirituality. With a love for video games and a casual style—often pictured in jeans and sneakers—he resonates strongly with Generation Z. His approachable image has made him a role model not just among devout Catholics but also among non-religious youth exploring spirituality.
His rising popularity comes at a time when surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom show growing interest in Catholicism among younger generations. This trend suggests that Acutis’ canonization could further inspire a renewed sense of faith among Gen Z.
Becoming a saint in the Catholic Church typically requires a person to have two recognized miracles attributed to them. Each reported miracle is carefully reviewed and must be verified as medically inexplicable. In May, Pope Francis acknowledged a second miracle linked to Acutis, which paved the way for his official canonization.
Acutis was first beatified in 2020 after the Vatican recognized his role in a healing regarded as his first miracle. In that instance, a Brazilian boy who suffered from a birth defect that left him unable to eat solid food was reportedly cured. According to reports, the boy’s mother prayed for Acutis’ intercession, and the child later recovered.
The second miracle credited to Acutis involved the healing of a young woman from Costa Rica. She had sustained a serious head injury in a bicycle accident while studying in Florence, Italy. Her mother said she prayed at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi, asking for her daughter’s recovery. The girl later regained her health, and the case was investigated by the Church before being deemed a miracle.
In addition to his spiritual life and technical interests, Acutis was known for his charitable actions. His mother, Antonia Salzano, has spoken publicly about his generosity and compassion. In an earlier interview with CNN, she said her son frequently helped homeless individuals in Milan, often giving away his pocket money to people sleeping on the streets.
“He used to give his pocket money to buy sleeping bags or food for the homeless,” Salzano shared. “He would also take food to them and talk to them. He really lived his faith.”
As his canonization nears, Catholics around the world are reflecting on the teenager’s unique path to sainthood. By merging technology and traditional spirituality, Carlo Acutis has become a beacon for how faith can evolve while maintaining its core values. His life demonstrates that holiness can exist in ordinary, modern-day contexts—something especially significant to younger generations seeking meaning in an increasingly digital world.
For many, Acutis’ life also exemplifies a deeper message about using personal talents to serve a greater purpose. His digital efforts to catalog miracles created a widely accessed resource that inspired countless individuals. The Vatican has since highlighted his website as a model of evangelism in the internet age.
His canonization, coinciding with another youthful saint in Pier Giorgio Frassati, adds to the Church’s broader mission to emphasize that sanctity is not confined to the elderly or clergy. Rather, it can be lived by young people in everyday settings—from classrooms to city streets to online platforms.
Thousands are expected to attend the September 7 event, not just to honor Carlo Acutis but also to witness a pivotal moment for the Church under new leadership. Pope Leo XIV’s role in this canonization adds another layer of significance, as he leads the ceremony as the first American pope. His participation also underscores the global and generational dimensions of Acutis’ story.
Ultimately, Carlo Acutis is being recognized not just for his faith but for the way he practiced it in the contemporary world. His blend of digital outreach, charitable deeds, and unwavering devotion provides a powerful example of how holiness can flourish in today’s context. As one Vatican official noted, “He showed that the internet can also be a tool for doing good. He’s a saint for our times.”
With his canonization now confirmed, Carlo Acutis is set to take his place among the saints of the Catholic Church, serving as a guiding light for a generation that finds itself searching for meaning and faith in the 21st century.