Pope Leo XIV has officially announced the date for the canonization of Carlo Acutis, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first Millennial to be declared a saint.
The announcement came during the Pope’s first public consistory earlier this month, following his election in May. During the gathering, Pope Leo confirmed the upcoming sainthood of eight individuals, including Acutis, a modern figure whose life and faith have resonated with Catholics around the world.
Carlo Acutis, born in London to Italian parents, spent most of his life in Milan. Known for his deep devotion to the Catholic Church from a young age, he received his first communion at just seven years old. He was equally committed to acts of charity, regularly donating money to those in need and, as he got older, preparing hot meals for the homeless in his community.
Originally scheduled for canonization on April 27, the event was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The new date, now confirmed by Pope Leo, is just weeks away.
Dubbed “God’s influencer,” Acutis embraced technology as a tool for evangelism, using his skills to share the Catholic faith online—further cementing his legacy as a modern-day role model for young believers.
Carlo Acutis will be canonised this year (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
He passed away at the age of 15 from leukaemia in 2006, but has been considered for sainthood after the Vatican determined he was behind two unexplainable miracles.
Vatican officials discovered the teen had helped a two-year-old Brazilian boy, Matheus Vianna, recover from a deadly disease.
Vianna was diagnosed with congenital disorder annular pancreas, which saw his mom turn to the church for help.
She received help from Father Marcelo Tenorio, who was blessing Acutis’ body as part of the pre-canonization stage, who touched a piece of the teen’s clothing to the toddler and asked for him to be healed.
Vianna’s family said after the incident, he was never sick again.
The Vatican also deemed Acutis responsible for another miracle when Costa Rican woman Valeria Valverde, who had suffered a brain haemorrhage after a serious crash, started to breathe again.
Valverde’s mom had prayed at Acutis’ coffin, and the woman was later discharged from hospital after medics said her brain haemorrhage had fully gone.
Carlo Acutis has been laid to rest and preserved in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
The late teen’s body has been preserved for the past 19 years, and was due to receive his sainthood from Pope Francis.
As per protocol for when a pope dies, several vital Catholic Church functions closed and shuttered.
Acutis’ canonization has been in the works for almost two decades since his death – it will now go ahead on September 7.
Pope Leo said Acutis will be canonised along with Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died at the age of 24 after contracting polio while helping the sick.
