Assisi, Italy – Thousands of Catholic faithful are flocking to the historic Italian city of Assisi to venerate the preserved body of Carlo Acutis, a teenager dubbed “God’s influencer,” before his canonization next month.
Crowds have gathered at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Acutis’ wax-encased body has been displayed for over five years.
Pilgrims and admirers have come to pray and pay tribute to the 15-year-old computer whiz, who used his digital skills to document Eucharistic miracles before his untimely death from acute leukaemia on October 12, 2006.
Shops in the medieval town of Assisi are selling mementoes bearing Acutis’ image as the excitement grows for his canonization. In May 2024, the Vatican formally approved a second miracle attributed to his intercession, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint.
His canonization is expected during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers between April 25 and April 27.
Acutis, born in the United Kingdom and raised in Italy, was a devout Catholic who sought to spread his faith through the internet. His website, dedicated to documenting miracles, gained widespread recognition, and his legacy inspires Catholics worldwide. He was beatified in October 2020 after the Vatican recognized the first miracle attributed to him.
Canonization is a meticulous, four-step process. A candidate must first be declared a Servant of God, followed by proof of a life of “heroic virtue.” After a verified miracle, they are beatified and named “Blessed.” A second confirmed miracle leads to sainthood.
Acutis had expressed his desire to be buried in Assisi, a city he loved and admired for its association with St. Francis of Assisi and his devotion to people with low incomes. His heart is displayed in a reliquary near St. Francis Basilica, while his whole body remains in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Vatican’s recognition of Acutis as a saint marks a historic moment in the Catholic Church. He becomes the first canonized saint born between 1981 and 1996.
His digital evangelization efforts and deep faith have cemented his place as a modern inspiration for young Catholics worldwide.
