St. Peter’s Square was packed on Sunday, September 7, as Pope Leo XIV declared Carlo Acutis a saint, making the 15-year-old the first millennial to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
According to The Washington Post, thousands filled the plaza outside the Vatican, many holding up photos of the teenager nicknamed “God’s influencer.”
Acutis’ story has resonated with young Catholics worldwide. Born in London in 1991 and later raised in Milan, he was a regular kid who loved video games, soccer, and hanging out with friends.
But he also had a deep devotion to faith—and a knack for tech. On the family’s outdated computer, he taught himself how to code and created an online archive of more than 100 Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Church.
The canonization was part of a large Mass that also honored Pier Giorgio Frassati, another young Italian figure admired for his faith in Catholicism. Pope Leo presided over the canonization alongside 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, and hundreds of priests.
This moment almost happened earlier. The Vatican had originally scheduled Acutis’ canonization for April, but plans shifted after the death of Pope Francis. Francis was instrumental in championing Acutis, calling the internet a “gift from God” and pushing for a saint who could speak directly to younger generations.
Two miracles are attributed to Acutis. In 2020, he was credited with helping a seven-year-old boy in Brazil recover from a rare pancreatic disorder after contact with one of his shirts. Last year, the Vatican recognized the full recovery of a Costa Rican student from traumatic brain injuries after prayers at his tomb.
For Acutis’ mother, Antonia Salzano, the recognition is both extraordinary and ordinary. “He was a normal kid, he was a normal person, but he opened the door of his heart to God,” she said.