Pope Francis Celebrates Holy Year with Canonization Ceremony

The Holy Year, also referred to as Jubilee, has drawn visitors from around Rome, Vatican City, and various parts of Italy. This Sunday, Pope Leo XIII will preside over a significant ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, where he will canonize Carlo Actis, a millennial computer programmer, alongside Piageroggio Fratti, a passionate Italian student and outdoorsman.

Charlie Gallagher, the pastor at the Immaculate Conception Church in Washington, D.C., made the journey to Rome for this occasion. “The atmosphere is already electric, filled with the joy of anticipation,” Gallagher shared while in Rome.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Italy, the Vatican expects over 32 million pilgrims to visit during this Jubilee year.

“I know there are dozens of people from D.C. here, and I have a small group of about six from my parish,” Gallagher noted. He anticipates a turnout of at least 250,000 participants on Sunday, emphasizing that the canonization holds great personal significance for him.

Gallagher has chosen Piageroggio Frassati as his patron saint. Reflecting on his decision to become a priest, he mentioned, “I began to connect with Wanda, who is Giorgio’s niece. Piageroggio passed away in 1925, and the following year, his younger sister Luciana had Wanda.”

Having known Wanda for two decades—having met her during his seminary years in Rome—Gallagher recalled how she described the impact her uncle had on her life.

“Pope John Paul II referred to Frassati as the ‘man of beatitudes’ for embodying the essence of the Gospel,” Gallagher remarked. He added that Frassati exuded joy and spontaneity, serving as a model for sharing faith with others.

On the other hand, Gallagher noted that Carlo Actis, despite his intelligence, struggled academically and even failed an exam. When his mother inquired about this, Actis pointed out that his true devotion was to spreading the miracle of the Eucharist.

Gallagher, who lived in Rome for four years and studied there until 2007, spoke about the lasting memories he holds from his time in the city. “It’s truly a blessing to revisit my favorite church,” he said, “and to experience the real culture here!”

As the Associated Press reported, Pope Francis expressed enthusiasm about the canonization of Carlo Actis, highlighting the need for modern figures to engage young Catholics facing the challenges of the digital age.

While the Vatican is honoring Actis, Pope Leo emphasized the pressing issues of technology and artificial intelligence as challenges for humanity. Frassati, known for his humble faith, dedicated his life to serving the less fortunate and passed away from polio in his early twenties, leaving a legacy of compassion.