By Brigetta Margarietta
Article Image: By Dobroš – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127377421
On September 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. Rome time, the Catholic Church officially canonized Carlo Acutis, marking a historic moment as he became the first Millennial saint during a Mass led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square AP News+1Reuters.
Despite his young age—only 15 when he died of leukemia in 2006—Carlo’s legacy resonates deeply in our digital era. Raised in Milan after being born in London in 1991, his profound Eucharistic devotion and programming talents led him to create a website cataloging miracles of the Eucharist—an act that earned him the title “God’s Influencer” AP NewsThe GuardianWikipedia.
A Faithful Teen in the Digital Age
A Life Rooted in God
Carlo’s holiness wasn’t grandiose—it was ordinary and deeply relatable. He attended daily Mass, helped the poor, and served as a youthful catechist. Though tech-savvy, his heart was anchored in devotion to the Eucharist Wikipedialittlewithgreatlove.com.
He famously said:
“All people are born as individuals, but many die as photocopies.”
A timeless reminder that authenticity, grounded in faith, matters Medium.
Tech Meets the Eucharist
Carlo taught himself programming in languages like C and C++, and at just 14 was already building webpages for his parish and school—voluntarily, and with excellence Catholic365ABC7 New YorkWikipedia.
In 2004 he launched his most ambitious project: a website documenting Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions worldwide. This resource, completed shortly before his death, has become a powerful tool for faith formation Wikipedialittlewithgreatlove.com.
A Canonization That Speaks to Today’s World
| Feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| First Millennial Saint | Bridges generational gaps; gives young people a modern role model |
| Tech Enthusiast | Demonstrates how digital tools can serve evangelization |
| Deep Devotion | Daily Mass, Eucharist, catechism, and charitable acts rooted his faith |
| Popular Cultivation | Relics, pilgrimages to Assisi, and widespread storytelling expand his legacy |
Saint Carlo had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist, go to this link for the Eucharistic Miracles (in Italian) website that he founded: https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html
From Devotion to Sainthood
Two miracles attributed to Carlo’s intercession expedited his sainthood:
- A Brazilian child healed from a pancreatic defect, attributed to Carlo’s intercession in 2013 The Wall Street JournalWikipedia.
- A Costa Rican woman miraculously recovered from a brain hemorrhage in 2022 Wikipedia.
Beatified in 2020 by Pope Francis, Carlo’s canonization was initially planned for April but delayed by papal transitions—until being held on September 7, 2025 USCCBWikipediaReuters.
Words of Inspiration
People continue to speak about Carlo’s holiness and the Church’s embrace of youth and digital discipleship:
- Pope Leo XIV called him and Pier Giorgio Frassati “examples of youthful holiness in the modern world” Reuters.
- Carlo’s casual tomb in Assisi—dressed in jeans and sneakers—invites the faithful to connect with a saint who felt next door, not distant AP NewsThe Wall Street Journal.
Legacy and Impact
Carlo’s life shows that sainthood isn’t about separation from culture—it’s about sanctifying it.
- The Eucharistic miracles site continues to travel worldwide and inspire devotion WikipediaWord on Fire.
- His story encourages young people to use their unique talents—even in technology—to glorify God.
- He is now recognized as a spiritual patron for our digital world—often regarded as the Patron Saint of the Internet WikipediaThe Wall Street Journal.
Saint Carlo Acutis, canonized today, stands as a beacon: a young technophile whose love for the Eucharist, humility, and creativity continue to inspire modern believers. His life urges us to ask, What gifts do we have that God might use in extraordinary ways?
May his example embolden us to live authentically, digitally engaged yet deeply rooted in Christ.
For more information about Saint Carlo, please visit his website: https://www.carloacutis.com/en/association
Bibliography
- “From coding to canonization: The extraordinary life of Carlo Acutis,” AP News, 2025 AP News
- “Teen coder made first millennial Catholic saint,” Reuters, 2025 Reuters
- Wikipedia: Carlo Acutis (accessed 2025) Wikipedia
- “Saint Carlo Acutis: I need (computer) help!” Catholic365, 2024 Catholic365
- “All people are born as individuals…” (Medium) Medium
#SaintCarloAcutis #GodsInfluencer #MillennialSaint #EucharisticDevotee #SpiritLoveSong #CatholicYouth #DigitalEvangelization #SaintOfTheInternet
