Before he was known worldwide as the “Millennial Blessed” and a soon-to-be saint, Carlo Acutis was simply another boy in a school uniform, carrying his backpack through the corridors of Milan’s Tommaseo Institute. His teachers, however, still remember him with remarkable clarity not just for his faith, but for his joy, humor, and kindness.
A Curious Student with a Cheerful Spirit
Sister Monica Ceroni, Carlo’s middle school religion teacher, describes him as far from flawless. “He was certainly not a perfect student,” she admitted. Sometimes he forgot homework or arrived late, but what set him apart was his determination to understand. “He had a healthy curiosity. When he became passionate about something, he never gave up.”
At the Tommaseo Institute, where Carlo spent nearly eight years, religion was his favorite subject. His report cards revealed that while he struggled elsewhere, he thrived in faith-related discussions. “He liked to be involved in the classroom conversations, especially in religion,” Sister Monica recalled. But he was not always solemn; classmates and teachers remember him as a joker who enjoyed pranks, adding laughter to the everyday rhythm of school life.
A Heart for the Marginalized
Beyond academics, Carlo’s compassion stood out. Sister Miranda Moltedo, then the principal, recalled a boy in the class abandoned by his mother. “Carlo took him under his wing, protecting him and giving him care,” she said. He also defended a classmate with mental disabilities who was bullied, later telling his teacher, “He is a great friend of mine, and I want to help him.”
Such acts revealed a natural gift for inclusivity that was extraordinary in someone so young. “My strongest memory of Carlo is of a cheerful, lively boy with many dreams, but also a deep concern for those around him,” Sister Monica said.
At the Jesuit High School
After graduating from Tommaseo, Carlo entered Milan’s Leo XIII Institute, run by the Jesuits. Here, his faith grew even more visible. Father Roberto Gazzaniga, the chaplain, recalled: “Carlo used to go to the chapel in the morning before class and during breaks to pray. Nobody else did that.”
Carlo’s convictions whether about the Eucharist, the sanctity of life, or the value of chastity were never hidden. He engaged respectfully with classmates, yet never diluted his beliefs. “He had a transparent and joyous interior life that united love for God and love for people,” Father Gazzaniga said. “You could point to him and say: here is a happy and authentic young man and Christian.”
Even in the midst of wealth and fashion-conscious peers, Carlo stood apart. When his mother once bought him a new pair of sneakers, he asked her to return them so the money could go to the poor. He also enlisted a cloistered convent to pray for classmates who had fallen into destructive lifestyles.
A Short Life, A Lasting Witness
Carlo’s high school years were tragically cut short when he was diagnosed with leukemia at 15. He offered his suffering for the pope and for the Church before passing away in October 2006.
Sister Monica remembers her final encounter with him just weeks before his death. They met outside Santa Maria Segreta, his parish church. “He was happy to be back at school. He said he wanted to focus on computer science. I will always remember him this way.”
Carlo’s funeral soon followed, drawing crowds that included many poor people he had quietly helped. “It was extraordinary,” Sister Monica said. “A testimony to the kind of boy he was.”
A Legacy of Joy for Today’s Students
Today, Carlo’s teachers continue to share his story with new generations of students walking the same hallways he once did. “Carlo is presented as a child who was a friend of Jesus and found joy, because Christianity is joy,” Sister Miranda explained.
For them, Carlo is not just a figure destined for sainthood, but a memory of a boy who lived his faith with humor, kindness, and an open heart and who showed that holiness can begin with simple acts of love in the classroom and the schoolyard.