Millennial Carlo Acutis, cyber advocate, on track to be declared a saint in the Roman Catholic Church

A Millennial Saint: Carlo Acutis to be Canonized by Pope Leo XIV

In a historic ceremony, Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who passed away from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, is expected to be made the first millennial saint by Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony will take place in St Peter's Square on September 7, marking Pope Leo's first canonization ceremony.

Born in 1991 in London, Acutis grew up in Milan. He had a passion for computer games and taught himself basic coding. However, his true calling was in documenting miracles and other elements of the Catholic faith online.

Acutis attended mass daily and was known for his kindness to bullied children and homeless people. His acts of charity and faith have led to his beatification in 2020 by Pope Francis, a necessary step on the path to sainthood. The Vatican has recognized Acutis as performing two miracles since his death.

The first miracle was the healing of a Brazilian child suffering from a rare pancreatic malformation. The second miracle was the recovery of a Costa Rican student seriously injured in an accident.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to attend the ceremony at the Vatican. Among the crowds are over 800 people traveling from Assisi, Italy, on a special train. Domenico Sorrentino, bishop of Assisi, urged young people to follow Acutis's example.

In a video published by the Assisi diocese, Antonia Salzano, Acutis' mother, stated that everyone is special and that they are all called to be saints. She believes that many will come to the ceremony and that her son would thank them.

A large tapestry featuring a photograph of Carlo Acutis has been hung on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica. Acutis' body lies in a glass-walled tomb in Assisi, visited by hundreds of thousands of people annually.

The ceremony, initially scheduled for April, was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. The Pope's successor, Pope Leo XIV, has chosen to honour Acutis as the first millennial saint, recognizing his impact on the Catholic faith and young people around the world.

Millennial Carlo Acutis, cyber advocate, on track to be declared a saint in the Roman Catholic Church