Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager and computer programmer, is on the path to becoming the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Born in London in 1991, Acutis moved to Milan, Italy, with his family. He died at the young age of 15 from leukemia in 2006.
During his life, Acutis created a website documenting miracles and leveraged his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith, earning him the nickname “God’s influencer.” He was deeply committed to daily Mass and acts of charity, even inspiring his non-religious mother to reconnect with the Church. Friends and family remember him for his love of video games and generosity towards the less fortunate.
Acutis’ beatification took place on Oct. 10, 2020, at the St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy, after the Vatican recognized his first miracle – the healing of a Brazilian boy with a congenital disorder of the pancreas. Recently, Pope Francis confirmed a second miracle attributed to Acutis, involving the recovery of a Costa Rican girl who suffered severe head trauma. Her mother had reportedly prayed at Acutis’ tomb, and shortly afterward, the girl’s condition dramatically improved.
Acutis’ potential canonization represents a significant milestone for the Catholic Church, especially in connecting with younger generations in the digital age. His story exemplifies how, even in this technology-driven world, one can possess faith and spread it to others.