Pope Leo to canonize Carlo Acutis as first millennial saint

Friday 13 June 2025 - 11:04

By: Zahouani Ilham

Pope Leo to canonize Carlo Acutis as first millennial saint

Pope Leo has announced that Carlo Acutis will be officially canonized on September 7, becoming the first Catholic saint from the millennial generation. Born in the UK but raised in Italy, Acutis passed away in 2006 at just 15 years old due to leukemia. Originally, the canonization was scheduled for April 27 but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.

Although the exact location of the ceremony has not been disclosed, such events typically take place in St. Peter's Square, and this particular canonization is expected to attract a large crowd of young Catholics to Rome.

Carlo Acutis gained recognition as "God’s influencer" because of his early talent in computer programming, which he used to create websites promoting his faith. His mother, Antonia Salzano, highlighted that Carlo’s appeal lies in his ordinary teenage life combined with his extraordinary devotion to Jesus.

Sainthood is a declaration by the Catholic Church that a person is in Heaven with God. The process involves a thorough investigation by the Vatican, including the confirmation of two miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession. In Acutis’ case, two miracles have been recognized: the healing of a young Brazilian boy with a pancreatic defect and a Costa Rican woman who recovered after a severe bicycle accident, both credited to prayers made to Acutis.

On the same day, Pope Leo will also canonize Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian known for his charity and who died of polio in the 1920s.