Vatican City: The Catholic Church has officially designated annual feast days for two newly canonized saints, St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, both of whom were elevated to sainthood by Pope Leo XIV during a solemn canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square on September 7.
According to the Vatican announcement, the liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis will be observed on October 12, the date marking his death in 2006 at the age of 15. The young Italian, often referred to as the “patron saint of the digital age,” gained widespread admiration for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his innovative use of technology to spread the faith. His feast day had previously been established in the dioceses of Assisi and Milan after his beatification in 2020, and it is now extended to the universal Church.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a 24-year-old layman from Turin who died in 1925 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, will be commemorated each year on July 4, the anniversary of his death. Known for his vibrant spirituality, active charity, and love of the outdoors, Frassati was described by John Paul II as a “man of the Beatitudes” for his ability to embody Gospel values in everyday life.
Both saints’ feast days coincide with the day they “entered eternal life,” a longstanding tradition in the Church to honor saints on the anniversary of their passing. The Vatican underscored that their lives serve as powerful examples for young people worldwide Acutis for his integration of faith with the digital culture of the modern era, and Frassati for his tireless commitment to social justice and solidarity with the poor.
Their canonization has sparked renewed enthusiasm among youth movements and parish communities across the globe. Acutis’ Eucharistic devotion and digital evangelization continue to inspire young Catholics to share their faith online, while Frassati’s legacy motivates service-oriented initiatives rooted in faith and compassion.
By establishing their feast days in the universal liturgical calendar, the Vatican reaffirmed its recognition of both saints as enduring witnesses of holiness in contemporary times models of how ordinary young people can live extraordinary lives of faith, service, and love.