Pilgrims have flocked to Assisi, Italy, to see the preserved body of Carlo Acutis, a British-born teenager, ahead of his canonisation as a saint next month.
Acutis, who passed away at the age of 15 from leukemia in 2006, will become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint, having been credited with several miracles since his death.
Born in London, Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020, who subsequently approved his canonisation, set for April 27, 2025. Following his final wish, Acutis was buried in Assisi at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in April 2019. His body is encased in a wax layer designed to resemble his appearance prior to burial, enabling the faithful to see him as he appeared in life, according to Aleteia.
Since his passing, Acutis has inspired a global following. His canonisation will take place during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers, scheduled from April 25 to April 27 this year.
This date was announced after a second miracle attributed to Acutis was confirmed in May 2024. The mother of a Costa Rican woman involved in a serious biking accident prayed at Acutis’s glass casket and left a note asking for her daughter’s healing in 2022. Remarkably, on the same day, her daughter began to breathe independently, and 10 days later, she was discharged from intensive care as the brain hemorrhage had disappeared.
The Vatican also reported that Acutis had interceded from heaven in 2013 to heal a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disease.
Acutis was beatified in Assisi, the home of his idol, Saint Francis, who devoted his life to helping the poor. His mother shared that her son was similarly dedicated, supporting struggling classmates, defending disabled friends from bullying, and providing meals to the homeless across the city.
Acutis died in Monza, Italy, in 2006 after moving to Milan as a child. He has been referred to as “God’s influencer” and “the patron saint of the internet” due to his commitment to promoting his faith online during his lifetime.
Typically, there is a five-year waiting period before the canonisation process begins, allowing for reflection. The bishop of the diocese where the individual passed away conducts an investigation to determine if their life exemplified holiness and they can be declared a “servant of God.”
Before his death, Acutis created a website titled “The Eucharistic Miracles of the World” and extensively researched various miracles for the site. His mother remarked to The Times, “He was a computer genius, making him relatable to today’s youth. He led a life similar to theirs, enjoying video games, the internet, and football.”
To achieve sainthood, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints evaluates the case. If approved, it is forwarded to the Pope, who may declare the individual as someone of “heroic virtue.” In July 2018, Pope Francis recognized Acutis as venerable, marking a significant step forward in the canonisation process. For beatification, a miracle must occur for someone who has prayed to the candidate, and a second miracle is required for canonisation.
