Influencer deemed holy by the Pope
In a historic open-air service held in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV, the successor of Pope Francis, canonized two new saints: Italian teenager Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. This marks the first canonization since Pope Leo's election four months ago.
Carlo Acutis, often referred to as the "Cyber-Apostle" by the Vatican, died in 2006 at the age of 15 from leukemia. His life has been viewed by the Catholic Church as exemplary, and the Church hopes that these "Young Saints" will make the Church more appealing.
The process of beatification and canonization for Carlo Acutis took less than 20 years, a remarkable speed in Church history. Over a million people visited the site of Carlo Acutis' body last year, and over 80,000 attended the ceremony, according to Vatican figures, making it only the second time a canonization has included the saint's family.
Pier Giorgio Frassati, known for his work with the poor and marginalized, was also elevated to sainthood during the service. The initiatives of canonizing Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati can be traced back to Pope Leo's predecessor, Francis.
The pope referred to Carlo Acutis as a model of young Christian who dedicated his life to God. He also referred to Acutis as "God's influencer" because he promoted his faith on the internet. Relics of both Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati were brought to the altar after the ceremony.
A cult has grown up around "Santo Carlo," with his body on display in a church in Assisi. Souvenir shops in Assisi now sell memorabilia of both Carlo Acutis and St. Francis of Assisi. Believers wore T-shirts featuring Carlo Acutis as Superman at the mass.
Two "miraculous healings" are claimed to have occurred after Carlo Acutis' death, in Florence and Brazil. The Vatican has yet to officially confirm these healings. Some question the authenticity of Carlo Acutis' devotion, as he comes from a wealthy Italian family.
Pope Leo XIV declared Carlo Acutis as the first saint of the new millennium. With his canonization, the Catholic Church now has over 10,000 saints, starting with the Virgin Mary and almost all the apostles.
The canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati is a significant event in the Catholic Church, reflecting the Church's continued commitment to recognizing and celebrating the lives of those who have lived exemplary Christian lives.
