Venerable Carlo Acutis, a young man of the modern era, is recognized and declared a saint by Pope Leo XIV.

A New Era in Sainthood: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati Canonized

In an historic event that drew an estimated 80,000 people, including many millennials and families with young children, the Catholic Church welcomed two new saints on a sunny day in St Peter's Square. Among them was Carlo Acutis, the Church's first millennial saint, and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

The journey towards sainthood for Carlo Acutis began in Milan in 2013, following his death from acute leukaemia at the tender age of 15. His funeral was held in Milan, but his final resting place is in Assisi.

The path to sainthood is a long and arduous one, requiring evidence of miracles attributed to the individual's intercession. In 2020, a child in Brazil recovered from a pancreatic deformation, a miracle that was declared as such, attributed to Acutis' intercession. A second miracle was declared in 2021, the complete healing of a Costa Rican student in Italy from major head trauma in a bicycle accident, after her mother prayed at Acutis' tomb.

Born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy, but not particularly observant Catholic family, Carlo Acutis had a normal, happy childhood. His religious fervor was nurtured by his Polish Catholic nanny. He insisted on going to Mass daily as a youngster and received First Communion at the age of seven.

As he grew older, his interest in computer science flourished, and he created a computer website documenting over 100 Eucharistic miracles recognized by the church. His tomb in Assisi reinforces the ordinariness of his life, as he is depicted wearing jeans, Nike sneakers, and a sweatshirt.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, born into a prominent Turin family, shared a special connection with Pope Leo XIV. Frassati joined the Italian People's Party, a Catholic-inspired political party, and died at the age of 24 of polio. Leo described both new saints as individuals who created "masterpieces" out of their lives by dedicating them to God.

The canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati took place during an open-air Mass, a testament to the enduring power of faith and the impact these individuals had on the world. While the journey to sainthood is a long and arduous one, the lives of these two individuals serve as a reminder of the transformative power of faith and the potential for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.

Venerable Carlo Acutis, a young man of the modern era, is recognized and declared a saint by Pope Leo XIV.