In his first official act as the new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV on Sunday canonised Carlo Acutis, officially naming him the first saint of the millennial generation.
The historic event took place at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, drawing tens of thousands of faithful, especially young people who came to witness the elevation of the 15-year-old Italian teen known as “God’s Influencer.”
Carlo Acutis was born in 1991 in London but spent most of his life in Milan, Italy.
From a young age, he showed deep spiritual devotion, frequently attending Mass and spending time in Eucharistic adoration.
What made Acutis stand out in the modern era was how he embraced technology to serve his faith.
He created a multilingual website documenting Eucharistic miracles, using the internet to spread the Catholic message in a way that resonated with the digital generation.
Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15.
He was beatified in 2020, a step below sainthood, after the Vatican recognized one miracle attributed to his intercession.
Earlier this year, the Catholic Church confirmed a second miracle, the healing of a Costa Rican student who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
This cleared the way for canonisation, the final step in declaring someone a saint.
Originally, the canonisation ceremony was scheduled for April 27, 2025, but it was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.
With the recent election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, the ceremony was rescheduled and held on September 7.
The occasion was shared with another figure, Pier Giorgio Frassati, an early 20th-century Italian known for his service to the poor and strong Catholic faith.
However, it was Acutis’ youth and digital legacy that captured the spotlight.
Pope Leo XIV’s decision to make Acutis his first canonisation is being interpreted as a powerful message to young Catholics.
By elevating someone who blended faith and modern technology, the pope signals a desire to reconnect the Church with younger generations and embrace innovation without losing tradition.
Acutis’ story has inspired millions around the world, particularly young Catholics navigating faith in a fast-changing world.
His devotion, humility, and use of technology have made him a symbol of modern holiness, showing that sainthood isn’t confined to cloisters or centuries past.
As Pope Leo XIV declared him a saint, the square erupted in applause, a moment both sacred and symbolic of a Church stepping confidently into the 21st century.
