The Catholic Church is about to witness history. On September 7, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, marking the first new saints of his pontificate. A millennial who combined a love for technology with a profound devotion to the Eucharist, Carlo Acutis is set to become the first millennial saint. But who was this remarkable young man? Here are eleven things to know about him:
1. Born in London, Raised in Milan
Carlo Acutis entered the world on May 3, 1991, in London, where his father was working. A few months later, the family moved to Milan, Italy, where Carlo would grow up immersed in both modern life and deep faith.
2. A Teenage Battle with Leukemia
Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager. Even in illness, he offered his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church, famously saying: “I offer all of my suffering to the Lord for the pope and for the Church in order not to go to purgatory but to go straight to heaven.”
3. A Deep Love for God and the Eucharist
Despite his parents not being especially devout, Carlo had a profound love for God from childhood. His mother, Antonia Salzano, recalls how he drew his family to daily Mass. Carlo’s devotion was magnetic, inspiring his relatives to join him in prayer and the sacraments. “There are queues in front of a concert, in front of a football match, but I don’t see these queues in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” he would remark, highlighting how central the Eucharist was in his life.
4. A Witness that Sparked Conversions
Carlo’s life inspired others to embrace the faith. Rajesh Mohur, a family au pair, converted from Hinduism to Catholicism because of Carlo’s example. Carlo’s attention to the poor, teaching of the rosary, and explanation of Christ’s Real Presence led many adults to rediscover or deepen their faith.
5. Courageously Defended Church Teaching
Even in school, Carlo stood firm in defense of Catholic teaching, particularly on life issues. Classmates recall him passionately defending the dignity of life from conception during debates about abortion.
6. A Champion for the Vulnerable
Carlo’s faith was never abstract; it was lived. He stood up for bullied classmates, befriended children from broken homes, and emphasized human dignity, confession, and chastity in his interactions with peers.
7. A Computer Whiz
A prodigy in coding, Carlo taught himself C and C++ and combined his tech skills with his faith. He helped develop a digital exhibition on Eucharistic miracles that has traveled to thousands of parishes across five continents, showing the real presence of Christ to countless visitors.
8. Balanced Fun with Faith
Carlo loved video games, from Game Boy and GameCube to PlayStation and Xbox. Yet he limited gaming to two hours per week and used his time to engage friends in discussions about Mass, confession, and Christian living. He also enjoyed Spider-Man and Pokémon, blending ordinary joys with extraordinary devotion.
9. Died Young, Beatified in 2020
Carlo passed away on October 12, 2006, at just 15 years old. Though early reports suggested his body was incorrupt, the bishop of Assisi clarified that it was not. Today, Carlo rests in a glass tomb in Assisi, wearing jeans and Nike sneakers a humble reminder of his youth and simplicity.
10. Miracles Attributed to His Intercession
Carlo’s intercession has been credited with miracles, paving the way for his sainthood. Pope Francis recognized a second miracle in May 2024, involving the healing of a young Costa Rican woman after a near-fatal bicycle accident. His beatification in 2020 was made possible by the earlier healing of a Brazilian child with a congenital pancreatic malformation.
11. A Pilgrimage Destination
Carlo’s tomb at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi has become a site of pilgrimage, drawing thousands from around the globe. Visitors come to see the young saint whose life, though brief, left an enduring legacy of faith, technology, and compassion.
As Carlo Acutis prepares to enter the canon of saints, his story reminds the faithful that holiness is not confined to cloisters or centuries past. It can thrive in the digital age, in the classrooms, playgrounds, and living rooms of our modern world a young saint for a new millennium.