Assisi: In a heartfelt Mass marking the first liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin reflected on the young saint’s radiant joy and his deep devotion to Jesus Christ. Celebrated at the Shrine of the Renunciation (Santuario della Spogliazione) in St. Mary Major Church, Assisi, the Mass honored the millennial saint, canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025.
Cardinal Parolin emphasized the unique way Carlo communicated his faith. “Many, when they see his picture, are touched by his smile: Carlo spoke of Jesus above all with his radiant, luminous, and smiling face,” he said during his homily. He highlighted how the saint embodied St. Paul’s exhortation: “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and described Carlo as a model of joy and faith for young people.
The Mass was attended by civil, military, and religious authorities, as well as Carlo’s parents, Antonia Salzano and Andrea Acutis. Before the liturgy began, Cardinal Parolin spent several minutes in prayer before Carlo’s final resting place, where the saint’s body is displayed in a glass case on the side of the church nave. “Carlo is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people,” the cardinal remarked.
Reflecting on the readings from Scripture, Cardinal Parolin noted how St. Paul’s words mirrored Carlo’s life. He explained that just as Christ emptied Himself for humanity, Carlo’s life reflected a selfless devotion to God while embracing the beauty and goodness in the world. The shrine, named “Spogliazione” or renunciation, recalls St. Francis of Assisi’s gesture of renouncing material wealth to follow Christ a parallel Cardinal Parolin drew to Carlo’s own simplicity and holiness.
The cardinal also recalled Carlo’s cheerful personality, sharing that his mother misses most his jokes and sense of humor. He underlined that Christianity is a message of joy and salvation, stressing that “sad and complaining Christians are not good witnesses of the Gospel.” Despite life’s inevitable hardships, Cardinal Parolin encouraged embracing compassion without losing joy, peace, or hope.
Highlighting Carlo’s unique contribution, the cardinal described him as a “teacher of beauty and goodness” who lived fully in the world while keeping Jesus at the center of his life. He reminded young people that faith does not take away from the joys of life; instead, it allows them to see the beauty in God’s creation. Carlo’s originality, Parolin noted, lay in his determination to remain true to himself while united to Jesus, rejecting superficial conformity or imitation.
Central to Carlo’s spiritual life, Cardinal Parolin said, was the Eucharist, which the saint considered the “special highway” to holiness. Visitors to the shrine, as well as those receiving his relics, are drawn to follow his example, demonstrating how Carlo continues to inspire devotion and virtue worldwide.
Concluding his homily, Cardinal Parolin affirmed: “Carlo is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people.” Through his joyful faith, simplicity, and devotion, St. Carlo Acutis remains a guiding light for young Catholics seeking holiness in daily life.