Pope Leo XIV declares first two saints of his papacy, including Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be made a saint.

Pope Leo XIV Canonizes First Saints of His Papacy

On Sunday, in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, Pope Leo XIV canonized his first two saints, an event marked by its significance as it includes two figures from the first generation of millennials.

Blessed Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, both Italians born in the 20th century, were recognized alongside revered figures like Mother Teresa and Francis of Assisi. The ceremony, attended by thousands, began at 10 a.m.

During the canonization, Acutis’ family, including his mother Antonia Zarzano and his siblings, were present to witness this meaningful moment.

“After much reflection and countless prayers for divine guidance, along with the advice of my brother bishops, we proclaim Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis as saints, acknowledging them to be venerated by the entire Church,” Pope Leo XIV stated.

Carlo Acutis, who was born in England in 1991 but raised in Milan, utilized his love for technology to further his devotion to the Church. He created a website dedicated to documenting Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions.

His skills in technology allowed him to reach a younger audience with the Church’s teachings.

Known as the “first millennial saint of the internet,” Acutis passed away from leukemia in 2006 at just 15 years old.

Following his death, two miracles attributed to him led to his beatification by the late Pope Francis in October 2020. Interestingly, Pope Francis was set to canonize Acutis himself, but the event was postponed after the pope’s passing.

The first miracle involved the sudden and unexplained healing of a Brazilian boy in 2013 who prayed for Acutis’ intercession. The second miracle, recognized by the Vatican in May 2024, occurred when a Costa Rican woman experienced recovery from a severe head injury after visiting Acutis’ grave.

In a compelling account, the mother of the woman, who had little hope for her daughter’s survival, found solace in Acutis’ legacy and witnessed a miraculous turnaround in her daughter’s condition.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, born in 1901 in Turin, was noted for his profound spirituality and compassion for the poor. An avid outdoorsman and member of the Dominican Third Order, he dedicated his life to serving others before succumbing to illness in 1925 at the young age of 24.

Frassati’s miracles, leading to his sainthood, spanned ninety years. The first involved the healing of a 40-year-old man suffering from a debilitating spinal disease in 1933 after he prayed for Frassati’s intercession. The Vatican recognized this miracle in May 1990.

Another miracle occurred in 2017, when Juan Gutierrez, a seminarian, recovered from a severe Achilles tendon injury after praying for Frassati’s intercession. Gutierrez described feeling a warmth in his ankle that led him to a full recovery.

Pope Francis confirmed this as a miracle in November 2024.

According to the Church, the process to canonization involves three critical steps. Initially, a deceased person must be declared “venerable,” recognizing their heroic virtue. After a miracle is attributed to them, they can be beatified as “blessed.” For canonization, a second miracle is required, allowing them to be formally recognized as saints.

The most recent canonization ceremony took place on October 20, 2024, when Pope Francis named 14 saints at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Among them were eleven martyrs from Damascus who were killed in 1860 for their Christian faith, along with three founders of a 19th-century religious order.