Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006, will be canonized by Pope Leo at a ceremony in St. Peter's Square (Vatican) expected to be attended by thousands of young people.
Antonia Salzano poses in front of a poster of her son Carlo Acutis on April 4, 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
Acutis was just 15 when he died. But during his short life, he used his computer skills to raise awareness of the Catholic faith by creating a website documenting reports of miracles.
The Vatican decides to canonize Carlo Acutis
On June 13, the Vatican said after a meeting with cardinals that Pope Leo XIV would canonize Acutis in September, along with another young saint, Pier Giorgio Frassatti (who died in 1925) at the age of 24. Acutis' canonization was scheduled for April 27 but was postponed after Pope Francis' death.
The September 7 ceremony will be the first canonization to be presided over by Pope Leo, the first American pope.
Acutis is a Christian influencer who has developed a large following among young Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The British-Italian teenager is a fan of video games and often wears jeans and sneakers , making him a relatable figure to a younger generation of Catholics.
A nun prays before the tomb of Carlo Acutis at the shrine in Assisi on April 3, 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
Acutis' canonization comes amid recent surveys in the UK and US showing a rise in interest in Catholicism among Gen Y.
The church’s canonization process typically requires candidates to have two miracles attributed to them, with each reported supernatural event subject to scrutiny. In May 2025, a second miracle attributed to Acutis was recognized by Pope Francis, a decision that paved the way for the teenager’s canonization.
Acutis’ second miracle involved the healing of a Costa Rican girl who suffered a head injury after falling off her bicycle in Florence, Italy, where she was studying. Her mother said she prayed for her daughter’s recovery at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi, Italy.
Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, previously told CNN that her son spent time helping homeless people in Milan and giving pocket money to people sleeping on the streets.
Acutis was beatified (the third step on the path to sainthood) in 2020 after his first miracle – the healing of a Brazilian boy born with a birth defect that prevented him from eating properly. The boy was cured after his mother said she prayed to Acutis for help in healing her son.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-thanh-dau-tien-thuoc-the-he-gen-y-185250614085706593.htm
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