The Vatican has announced that the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, will be canonized on September 7. Acutis, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 15 from leukemia, is being recognized for his teachings on Catholicism, his volunteer work, and his website on eucharistic miracles. The miracle needed for his canonization was recently recognized, following Pope Leo XIV’s announcement during a meeting with cardinals. Acutis’s life, which balanced teenage activities with religious devotion, has resonated with many, particularly younger Catholics. His tomb in Assisi has become a popular site for pilgrimages, especially among youth. The Vatican has also acknowledged a second miracle attributed to Acutis, involving a Costa Rican woman who recovered from a severe brain injury after praying at his tomb.
Acutis, born in November 1991 in northern Italy, spent much of his time like any normal teenager would, while also giving time back to both the church and the community. He taught Catholicism at a local church and volunteered to help the homeless, using his computer coding skills to create a website highlighting over 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church. His mother, Antonia, who was initially non-religious, described a transformation after her son’s death. She recounted that four years after his passing, she experienced a vision from Carlo, who told her she would become a mother again. This vision came true when she became pregnant shortly after. The first intercession by Acutis came from his mother, and the Vatican recognized a second miracle on May 23, 2024, involving a 21-year-old Costa Rican woman named Valeria Valverde.
Valverde sustained a serious brain injury in a bicycle accident while living in Florence, Italy, in 2022. She was not expected to survive the injury. However, she made a full recovery after her mother visited Acutis’s tomb and prayed for his intercession, according to the National Catholic Register. Acutis’s tomb, located in Assisi, has been a site of frequent visits by Catholics, particularly younger Catholics. He will be joined by the blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in the Book of Saints, highlighting the Vatican’s commitment to recognizing young figures within the Catholic faith. The Pope’s decision to canonize Acutis reflects a growing trend of recognizing contemporary figures whose lives align with traditional religious values and community service.