Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church, has announced the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints, marking a significant event in the church’s recognition of modern figures. The canonization took place during a Mass in St. Peter’s Square, where over 80,000 people gathered to witness the ceremony. Acutis, a 15-year-old computer genius, was recognized as the first millennial saint, while Frassati, a young Italian who died of polio in his early 20s, is celebrated for his dedicated service to the poor.
Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006, was born on May 3, 1991, and earned the nickname ‘God’s Influencer’ after creating a multilingual website documenting miraculous events recognized by the church. He finished the site at a time when such projects were in the realm of professionals. In October 2006, Acutis fell ill and was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He died within days at just 15 years old. He was entombed in Assisi.
Frassati, who died in his early 20s of polio in 1925, is celebrated for his dedication to serving the poor through humble and hidden service. The Frassati Catholic Academy notes that he lived simply and gave away food, money, or anything that anyone asked of him. It is believed that he contracted polio from those he ministered to in the slums of Turin, Italy, before his death.
Pope Francis has played a key role in advancing the Acutis sainthood case, convinced that the church needed someone like him to attract young Catholics to the faith while addressing the promises and perils of the digital age. Leo inherited the Acutis cause, but he, too, has pointed to technology—especially artificial intelligence—as one of the main challenges facing humanity.
The canonization of these two saints is seen as an invitation for all, especially young people, not to waste their lives outside of God’s plan but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces, as Pope Leo XIV said in his homily. The event is part of a broader effort by the church to engage with modern issues and attract younger generations to the faith.